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I don’t think there would be any advantage in stopping yearly releases.
I think individuals should stop buying new phones often and that you should still be able to use a 15 year old phone just like you can use a 15 year old computer without security risks (with Linux).
That’s what the system or laws should encourage.
Well 15 years won't quite work as well due to cell frequency changes and the occasional fundamental software changes, but people could really stand to keep their phones for like 5 years no problem. New stuff coming out isn't usually "revolutionary" most of the time. AI isn't cool enough to want right now, and picture stuff only ever gets a minor improvement. Same for battery life or screen quality.
Do people really buy new phones every year? I keep mine for a minimum of 4-5 years and always have. I had one for so long that it was no longer supported and I was forced to upgrade.
I guess I just never paid attention to how often other people get new phones, but every year seems excessive.
I'd say every other year is pretty close to average.
Well we can use computers, consoles and TV’s which are 15 years old everyday and still connected to the internet.
I know it’s not doable right now, but I think we should change the way we consume and get rid of technology.
And I’m not talking about a car that you can use for way more than 15 years reliably.
OEMs only recently started offering 5+ years of security fixes. Two years was common until just 6 years ago. Apple got a lot of crap for not supporting older models but the truth is they supported longer than anyone else and only cut support when the hardware literally couldn't take it. Yet everyone ignored that most android makers might not even release a single update much less more than the two years worth needed to cover a phone for a two year contract.
I don't like saying that because I can't stand apple devices. But it's what happened. Then the EU started getting involved. They hated all this ewaste caused by people constantly upgrading. IT security people were speaking up too because phones were a complete risk with people using them for work but not getting updates that stopped them from being owned. It was getting bad for OEMs from multiple angles and they needed to act before the US government made them. And all those factors are the only reasons we are just now seeing all phones come with 5+ year plans.
As right to repair laws get integrated into new releases we will actually be able to take advantage of these 5+ year plans because we will be able to replace the batteries that are normally useless after three years.
I wish most phones had a battery saver option that would stop charge at 80% unless you manually overrode it each and every time you wanted to go over. This would dramatically cut down on the need to replace batteries.
But here is the rub. Even if you convince the majority logically that their phone is still good at year three they are going to upgrade at year two when the phone is paid off. The people that use phones as an identity and brand marker are still going to upgrade as fast as new devices come out.
And devices are going to continue to come out yearly. If you don't ship a new flagship product each year then shareholders will revolt. There must always be something new for the customer. Technology moves fast. If you are an OEM not releasing then you are an OEM that isn't keeping up.
All these forces of market, psychology, legal and repairability and more fight each other to create a situation where most people will upgrade in two years or less. Only a small portion of people will ever try to get 5+ years out of a device. Even the population trying to get 3 years will be two standard deviations out of the majority. Even if the battery is replaceable and the security patches keep coming.
By the way, I am not sure if it is a standard function of lineage OS, a standard function of Android 13 and above, or something with lineage OS on my specific OnePlus device. But I am able to limit my charge to 80% and it will never charge above that unless I turn it off. I bought the phone brand new and have been using that function since day one and it works extremely well.
Manufactures are not going to offer replacement part, its more valuable for them to make you buy a new phone than replace a part yourself
They will with batteries since the EU is forcing the issue starting in 2026.
it has been for a few years already.
I just haven't really seen it brought up as a point of discussion.
We passed that when iPhone x hit
I mean it gets the customers status symbols and the manufacturers money. As long as those phones later end up on the used market it's a win-win.
My still new-ish phone is a pixel 4a I got used. My laptop is a 2012 model and my car from 2006.
The release cycles are insanely fast and have been for a while.
Are you me? The only difference is I just switched to a Pixel 5. My 2006 car should run for many more years, 10 at least.
My pixel 4 I bought used years ago is still fine
Replying from my pixel 4a with grapheneOS. Phone just works, friendly pocketsize and with proper fingerprint reader.
I'm still using my Galaxy S8 with only one problem: Verizon's voicemail app won't run on something this old. Every other app is fine. It figures that the only app that encourages me to upgrade is from the phone company.
