Smartphones are an essential part of our lives. We use them to stay connected with friends and family, check the news, and work. So, people are curious to know how long their new smartphones will last.
The lifespan of smartphones depends on how you use them. On average, you can expect your Android smartphone to last between 2 to 3 years. However, if you have an iPhone, it can easily last more than 3 years.
This post will discuss the factors on which the life of a smartphone depends. And how can we make sure they last longer? Keep reading to find out!
Why Do Smartphones Fail?
Nowadays, people don’t wait for their phones to fail; they buy a new smartphone as soon as a new model is introduced. However, if you are one of those who don’t change their phones until they fail, you should be aware of the reasons for smartphone failure.
Battery Cycles
The battery is the most important component of the smartphone since its consistent power keeps your smartphone running. Though smartphones have come a long way since their introduction in the 90s, the battery technology is pretty much the same, except for some minor changes.
Previously phones had removable Lithium-ion batteries; now they are non-removable. Secondly, some software improvements have made this possible to prevent your smartphone batteries from overcharging.
Batteries are designed on certain lifecycles (charging and discharging). As their charging cycles pass, the batteries’ health starts to deteriorate. After a few hundred cycles, the battery’s storage capacity reduces to 80%. When the battery is at the end of its lifecycle, you will notice that it will drain rapidly and ultimately fail.
Heating and Over-Usage
Temperature is also a factor that affects the battery’s life. If you use your phone consistently, it heats up and significantly impacts the battery.
Similarly, due to over-usage, you will have to charge yourself more often. When that happens, you are reducing the charging cycles of the battery.
Screen Damage
After batteries, the most frequent cause of phone failure is screen damage. Though smartphones now come with Gorilla Glass Protection, the phone screen can still crack due to an accidental fall.
A damaged screen may be repaired, but it is not usually good as the old one. In addition, the screen repairs for premium smartphones are so expensive that people buy new phones.
Outdated Software
Smartphone manufacturers release security and software updates for their phones regularly. These security updates fix the bugs in the existing software.
However, most of the time, after two years, the phones no longer receive the software updates. As a result, they become slow over time and more vulnerable to viruses.
In addition, the smartphone may not be compatible with the new apps on the store, making it less useful for users.
Storage Gets Filled
When your smartphone’s storage gets full, the phones become very slow, and you might have trouble installing new apps. Most manufacturers have somewhat addressed this problem since now the phones have adequate storage. An ordinary phone now comes with at least 16 or 32 GB of storage. However, if you fill that storage, your phone may fail earlier than it is supposed to fail.
How Can You Make Your Smartphones Last Longer?
Since you have known the causes, you might be interested to know ways through which you can enhance the life of the smartphone.
Avoid Over-Usage
Don’t overuse your phones, if you do, it gets heated, and the battery’s health is affected. Similarly, more usage requires more charging, further deteriorating the battery.
Maintain Charging Routines
Follow a proper charging routine. If possible, charge it in the morning. Use it the whole day, and charge it when its battery drops to 20%.
Charging often wastes the battery cycles and deteriorates the battery’s health; avoid doing that.
Use Screen Protectors and Covers
Multiple screen protectors are available in the market that can protect your screen from damage due to falls. These glass protectors break themselves, protecting the screen.
Install Regular Software Updates
As soon as you receive a notification for security patches and updates, install them. They make their phone compatible with new apps and protect them against malware.
Don’t Fill Up Your Storage
Though mobile comes up with plenty of storage, people end up filling it up. This not only affects their phone’s performance but also affects the storage hardware.
So, if you want your cellphone to stay healthy and last longer, uninstall all unnecessary apps, images, videos, and documents.
Final Words
Smartphones usually last around 3 years or more, depending on your phone and how you use it. However, over the years, their battery’s health has decreased. So, even if your smartphone lasts longer, then the battery wouldn’t be the same as it used to be at the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you use your phone with proper care, it can last up to 5 years. However, its performance won’t be the same as it was before.
iPhones generally last longer than Android. Android phones can last 2 to 3 years, whereas you can quickly expect a life of more than 3 years from iPhones. The reason is their excellent build quality and long-lasting battery. However, they are much more expensive than regular smartphone brands.
