How long has your Smartphone lasted

Mister Vain · 23-10-2020 7:56am

I got 3 years out of my last one. I would have kept it longer if the battery wasn't fooked.

bnt · 23-10-2020 8:17am

Lots of comments about batteries here: the #1 enemy of these LiOn batteries is heat. It doesn’t matter too much whether the heat comes from the phone getting hot in use, or through fast charging, or just being in your jeans pocket all day: the cooler you can keep the phone, the less battery degradation you’ll have over time. Wireless charging is great but you need to be careful to position the phone correctly.

circadian · 23-10-2020 8:20am

I've had my BQ Aquaris Pro since launch. I'd say about 3 or 4 years. Battery life is decent. Fully rooted and running LineageOS but I'm considering moving to another OS if there's anything as complete. Getting banking and Google pay to work is a bit of a pain in the ass but it can be done.

23-10-2020 8:22am

They all last up to the year until I change them. They’re all still working fairly well though, even going back to 2013 ones.

23-10-2020 8:58am

FanadMan wrote: »

(removable batteries is something the manufacturers need to bring back)

This is something i wish would be implemented, I had an apple 5s, loved it to bits.
It was something i could take apart and replace parts or battery as needed.

Had the original pixel phone, dropped it a cracked the screen, my local repair shop wanted to charge me 100 to 150 to replace it, rather pay for a new phone for that price.

I have a pixel 2xl now, great phone but battery starting to wain, and i'm not a heavy user.

I think thats the issue manufactures are focusing on now, larger batteries.

riclad · 23-10-2020 11:17am

People change phones cos phones are cheap, android has new versions every 3 years,
We are going backwards,
It's now very hard to buy a phone with a removable battery,
After 2,years the battery wears out . Battery life shortens
Phone us not much use if battery only lasts 5 hours on 4g or WiFi
Even wireless earphones have batterys that wear out
I intend to use this phone as long as I can get 8 hours charge on it
At least you can get a good price for an old iPhone 10, 11.if you want to buy the latest model
I don't understand people who buy a new iPhone every year,
New iPhone 12 has 5g,
Great for the 2 per cent of people that can actually get 5g
In America 4g is faster to use than 5g
in the few places where 5g is available
for 99 per cent of users

murpho999 · 23-10-2020 11:22am

FanadMan wrote: »

What is wrong with some people and wrecking phones? I still have a Galaxy Ace that I got in 2012 and it's working perfectly. Obviously it won't install any of the newer apps but it works as a phone and texting device. It spent its life in a case with a screen protector and looks mint. I also have a spare battery for it (removable batteries is something the manufacturers need to bring back)

Also have a couple of working Xperia M4 Aquas and an Xperia XA1. They are all working and could go straight into service if something went wrong with my normal phone.

Seems like a lot of people treat things like phones as disposable items which is a shame. My tv is one that was sold very cheaply as it wasn't working - I fixed it at no cost. My laptop was an insurance write-off from a friend and it's been glued and screwed and taped back together and is working perfectly.

Nothing wrong with people.

I just wouldn't want to be using an 8 year old phone that can't run latest software or apps.

I would have no interest in using TVs or laptops that are held together by tape or screws. Sounds very miserable to me.

murpho999 · 23-10-2020 11:26am

riclad wrote: »

People change phones cos phones are cheap, android has new versions every 3 years,
We are going backwards,
It's now very hard to buy a phone with a removable battery,
After 2,years the battery wears out . Battery life shortens
Phone us not much use if battery only lasts 5 hours on 4g or WiFi
Even wireless earphones have batterys that wear out
I intend to use this phone as long as I can get 8 hours charge on it
At least you can get a good price for an old iPhone 10, 11.if you want to buy the latest model
I don't understand people who buy a new iPhone every year,
New iPhone 12 has 5g,
Great for the 2 per cent of people that can actually get 5g
In America 4g is faster to use than 5g
in the few places where 5g is available
for 99 per cent of users

Batteries can all be replaced easily if required. Either do it yourself or bring to a phone shop.

In relation to 5g, your comments about the US are incorrect.

Either way 5g is just the beginning and people who are buying 5g phones now are futureproofing,

I don't think people are buying new phones for 5g though. There are other reasons.

Also, in relation to Android. New phones and software comes out all the time. Not just every 3 years. That's an extremely long time in tech.

23-10-2020 11:27am

I love how threads like this bring all the people out of the woodwork who are proud of how old their phones are.

My current phone is 2 days old. Usually get a new device at least once a year. Always look after my phones and sell them on when buying another.

bogmanfan · 23-10-2020 11:29am

In the early 2000s I was going through a phone a year - various Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson models. They all broke after a year or so.

But since the iPhone came in, I've been getting at least 5 years out of a handset. Got an iPhone 3 in 2009, then got a 6 in 2014. Only changed the 6 last month when the microphone died. Otherwise was still working perfectly and battery was still giving me a full day. Hopefully the XS I replaced it with will last a good while also. People like to complain about Apple, but their products are well made and last for ages.

murpho999 · 23-10-2020 11:31am

Basil3 wrote: »

I love how threads like this bring all the people out of the woodwork who are proud of how old their phones are.

My current phone is 2 days old. Usually get a new device at least once a year. Always look after my phones and sell them on when buying another.

2 days old? What's wrong with you?
What was wrong with your old phone?
Why didn't you get a second hand one?

How dare you spend your money how you see fit.

23-10-2020 11:45am

spook_cook wrote: »

"How old is your phone" thread... people stating how old their phones are... "HA! I KNEW IT!"

That's not what I said, try again.

tim3000 · 23-10-2020 11:51am

I had a Samsung J3 bought in May 2016 only changed it in June of this year, approximately 50 months not bad for 160 euros.

Currently using a Nokia 7.2 clad in a Kevlar cover and gorilla glass. Given nokias traditional hardiness I think the phone is more bulletproof than the case. I am expecting another 4 years out of this.

23-10-2020 11:51am

Pkiernan wrote: »

There should be a massive tax on people who change phones every year.

Enviro-hypocrites

Tax everything I don't like.

mohawk · 23-10-2020 1:24pm

Current phone is an iPhone 7 which I have had 4 years. It cost me nothing as it was a work bonus. Still going strong. My son uses my old 6 and that is also in great condition.

Homelander · 23-10-2020 1:43pm

Used to get a new phone every 12 months or so but since lost interest. I usually buy a high-end one now and have it indefinitely. The last phone I bought was a Razer Phone 2 about 2 years ago. Can see it lasting another 2 just fine I would say.

23-10-2020 5:01pm

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I have a Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (my first smartphone) and I've have it just over two years. The battery is great, lasting 4 or 5 days, although I wouldn't be on the phone all the time like some people. The only trouble I ever had with it was the Covid app sapping it of power a few months ago.

I recommend them to everyone now. :P

Muahahaha wrote: »

can anyone explain what they feel is so fast about the high end Apple/Samsung S models? Im just on a bog standard Xiaomi Redmi 6 but Ive never felt it was slow or anything

They compare them to low-end phones from the same company a few years back. OnePlus started doing "flagship" quality phones at low prices but lost the run of themselves. Xiaomi just put powerful components in and use simple packaging to save on QA and complications.
My Redmi Note 5 is about 2 seconds slower (still takes over 20 seconds) at opening a particular app than whatever the brand new iPhone was 18 months ago. For Apple feel like they need the Apple "ecosystem" and pay for stuff. For Android high-end phones people want one that looks and feels nice so they can put it in a cover that means they'll only ever see the screen. :pac:
There's slight tiny preferences about how Apps and the OS are laid out which takes 15 seconds to get used to but people would rather pay a week's wages to not have to deal with it.

_Godot_ · 23-10-2020 5:29pm

I had a Moto G4 Play, which I bought in 2017. Lasted me until late last year (2019) when the battery started to go, and once it hit 50%, it could randomly turn off. Even a new battery didn't work. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy m30s, which is still working perfectly fine. I'll keep it until it either breaks in some way, or I lose it, or it can't update apps anymore.

mailforkev · 23-10-2020 5:34pm

New phone arrived this morning.
Replacing an iPhone 6S that is still working perfectly after five years. Got a new battery in it a couple of years ago for free which helped. I’m going to keep using it for work stuff.
Had an iPhone 4 for five years prior to that.
An assortment of Nokias before that.

23-10-2020 5:48pm

Basil3 wrote: »

I love how threads like this bring all the people out of the woodwork who are proud of how old their phones are.

My current phone is 2 days old. Usually get a new device at least once a year. Always look after my phones and sell them on when buying another.

The same people who probably went on multiple holidays a year up to this one too.

JohnnyFlash · 23-10-2020 6:18pm

I find the word handset to be extremely annoying.

EmmetSpiceland · 23-10-2020 6:46pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

I find the word handset to be extremely annoying.

Favoured by the same “types” who get all butthurt over someone saying headphones when they should say earphones.

Andrewf20 · 23-10-2020 7:00pm

Had a Samsung S2 for 7 years. Great phone, but the battery turned bad in the end.

Doublebusy · 23-10-2020 7:06pm

Current phone screen cracked after 2 months. Closed the car door on it, and for the price to fix it id nearly have another. Would like an oldskool nokia 8850 to be honest - they were class

EmmetSpiceland · 23-10-2020 7:11pm

Have had my iPhone XS for nearly 2 years. Don’t think I’ll be “upgrading” this year.

Might “treat” myself to a new Apple Watch at Christmas, though, the other one is years old at this stage. Works fine, but you know yourself.

Gatling · 23-10-2020 7:37pm

Using a p20 pro a good few years ,still a fantastic camera and runs fairly quick once software updates don't mess it up ,
Haven't found anything I want to replace it with ,

beerguts · 23-10-2020 7:47pm

I bought a phonefrom amazon in 2016 called BLU Vivo 5R. Jesus it lasted until 2019 and only cost €125 plus shipping. Fantastic little phone with a great camera could never buy one in this country. Only died late last year, I bought an Honor (Huawei brand) phone since of amazon qroud €180 and it is going alright so far.

To be honest if your buying from the phone providers it is a poor selection, its only in the last few years that you can even get one of the oneplus phones from some of the phone providers and they have been top of the range since 2013-2014.

Pays to look on the internet

Timistry · 23-10-2020 11:10pm

My iphone 4S lasted 8 years. Still works,it just became very slow! Was my first smartphone, the 8 is 2 yrs and counting

AllForIt · 23-10-2020 11:46pm

Timistry wrote: »

My iphone 4S lasted 8 years. Still works,it just became very slow! Was my first smartphone, the 8 is 2 yrs and counting

Yeah well you shouldn't have updated it cuz Apple slowed it down INTENTIONALLY via the update.

The 4S was their nicest phone imo not that I buy Apple products.

murpho999 · 23-10-2020 11:55pm

AllForIt wrote: »

Yeah well you shouldn't have updated it cuz Apple slowed it down INTENTIONALLY via the update.

The 4S was their nicest phone imo not that I buy Apple products.

That did not affect the 4s.

What they did was "slow" down phones from 6s on but it didn't affect the performance that much idea was to prolong battery use.

Mistake they made was keeping it quiet.

Either way an 8 year old phone is the equivalent of a dinosaur and it's not that strange that it's performance slowed.

Pinch Flat · 24-10-2020 1:11am

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Favoured by the same “types” who get all butthurt over someone saying headphones when they should say earphones.

I still call it an ear piece. Called me old fashioned.

How long has your Smartphone lasted

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