What is the average lifespan of the smartphone? | Everphone (2024)

In this article, we discuss the average lifespan of smartphones, what affects their lifespan, and how you can extend the life of your phone.

What is the average mobile life expectancy?

There is still a big difference of opinion about the average lifespan of a mobile device.

Many sources believe that the average lifespan of smartphones is currently 2.5 years. However, other sources claim it could be closer to 15-18 months for newer generation devices.

However, a much clearer picture becomes apparent when we break down life expectancy by brand. We see that the larger brands have a longer lifespan. The lifespan of smartphones such as Samsung and iPhone is much longer than that of smaller brands.

Here is an overview of the average mobile lifespan according to the different brands:

• iPhone – four to eight years
• Samsung – three to six years
• Huawei – two to four years
• Xiaomi – two to four years
• Oppo – two to three years

Even though the lifespan is so short, it is possible to extend the lifespan of your smartphone even further with proper care. Some devices can even last up to five years if treated with care.

However, you may start to notice a decline around the three-year mark. It is normal at this point for your hardware to become outdated, without new operating system updates from developers. When this happens, you will see that your phone has problems installing new applications.

It is also at this point that you may notice that your device's battery is not lasting as long as it initially did. When the battery starts to run out and you can no longer install new apps, people start looking at replacing their devices.

Factors that affect the lifespan of your smartphone

There are a few different factors that influence the average lifespan of smartphones. Here are a few things that will affect the lifespan of your device.

Injury

Damage is one of the biggest reasons why a smartphone doesn't last as long as expected. Although cracks can be repaired, it is often so expensive that it may be cheaper to buy a new one.

If you make telephones available to employees, that is good to look atphone rental options, such as those provided by Everphone, including device repairs and replacements. This can save companies a lot of money because accidents happen and paying to replace or repair phones can quickly drain your budget.

alternativeborrow or lease a smartphonemeans that you have to pay for the repair if the device breaks down. If the device cannot be repaired, you are still responsible for honoring your contract and purchasing a new smartphone.

Battery status

Batteries are another important factor that can affect the lifespan of your smartphone. The used batteries only have a certain amount of charge before they stop working. Each battery can be charged between 500 and 800 times on average.

If you charge your device multiple times a day, it will most likely have a shorter lifespan than someone who charges their device every other day. Modern devices also no longer have replaceable batteries. Once your batteries no longer hold a charge, you run the risk of replacing them manually, which requires some knowledge, or you can pay someone to do it for you, but that can be quite expensive. In many cases it is cheaper to purchase a new device.

Heat is also very bad for batteries. When devices heat up when placed in a warm environment such as direct sunlight, the batteries have to work harder, which reduces their lifespan.

Outdated operating system Your device's operating system is tied to your hardware. At some point, your hardware becomes so outdated that it can no longer perform new system updates.

Android

It is common at this point for developers to stop releasing system updates for these devices. However, manufacturers with a very large portfolio often tend to concentrate on the premium and mid-range models with the updates. Entry-level phones are often neglected and become unsupported after a while.

iOS

In general, most iPhone devices receive system and security updates five to seven years after release. Android devices have a much shorter window, receiving these updates only 2-3 years after a device's release. So if you buy an older model or a used device, the life expectancy is already shorter.

How to extend the life of your cell phone

There are ways to extend the life of your device so that you can use it for as long as possible before replacing it. Here are a few ways to improve the lifespan of your smartphone.

Keep your phone between 20% and 80% charged

Charging your device to 100% will drain the battery by more than 80%. It also uses a full charge cycle, and since there's a limited supply of these, you'll actually want to use them sparingly. The same goes for letting your battery drain to zero before recharging it. That's why it's a good idea to make sure your charge stays between 20% and 80%.

Use a screen protector

Screen protectors are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to protect your device's screen and extend its lifespan. There are a wide variety of screen protectors available, but we can assure you that even using the more expensive ones will be cheaper than repairing your screen if it breaks or replacing your device.

Buy a durable phone case

Phone cases, like screen protectors, are an excellent way to protect your device if it accidentally falls. Again, there are many different types of phone cases that vary in durability and protection.

Example:protective covers from Pelais available in many designs and is made of sustainable materials

You can get a special case designed to protect the device from major damage. These are ideal if you work in areas such as construction or other physically demanding industries where injuries may be more common. These cases can be too bulky if you work in an office or handle your device with care, so there are also thinner cases that protect.

Get rid of underutilized apps

Most of us have apps that we hardly ever use. The problem with this is that these apps can continue to run in the background, draining your battery and hardware resources. That's why it's a good idea to regularly go through your apps and uninstall the ones you no longer use.

What should you do when your smartphone reaches the end of its life?

What do most of us do when our devices have run their course and no longer work? Some of us keep them in boxes in a cupboard for years before throwing them away. Others immediately throw away their old devices.

The problem with this is the effect this has on the environment. It takes years for the materials used to make a smartphone to begin to break down, filling landfills, but the materials used also release chemicals that can contaminate soil or even water sources due to runoff. Therefore, smartphones must be disposed of properly.

Recycle uw smartphoneis one of the best ways to get rid of your old device as almost 80% of a cell phone can be recycled. Most phone recycling services will also first check whether the device can be refurbished to give it a new life.

Final thoughts

The average cell phone lifespan may not be as long as we would like, but the lifespan of your smartphone can be extended with proper care and maintenance. By paying close attention to your battery and how often you charge your device, and making sure it is updated regularly without any unused apps running in the background, you can potentially extend its life by three years (maybe even up to five years ).

If you're considering smartphones for your business and are concerned about the cost of purchasing and then regularly replacing devices, renting devices through a service like Everphone may be the best solution for you.