What is the average lifespan of a smartphone?

Everything that has a beginning has an end and the same is applicable for mobile phones and smartphones. No matter how pricey a device you may buy, you can never expect it to last forever. Irrespective of the brand you may choose, there’s an expiry date for every device. Some mobile phones may last longer than others, but sooner or later, you will have to replace it.

What CTA has to say about the lifespan of smartphones?

According to a study conducted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the average lifespan or product life cycle of smartphones and feature phones is around 4.7 years. This is less, as compared to the lifecycle of other electronic items such as flat panel TVs that have a life expectancy of around 7.4 years.The life expectancy of other electronic goods such as laptops, tablets, digital cameras, video game consoles, etc., is between 4-7 years.Another way to understand the approximate lifespan of mobile phones is to look at their warranty information. Most smartphone brands offer warranty of just 12 months, which clearly indicates that these products are not designed to last forever.

What happens after using your smartphone for 2-3 years?

Most people replace their smartphones after a period of 2-3 years. It’s not because the smartphone has stopped working, but because of the fact that the smartphone may have become slow. A hard reset may help speed up things again, but most people are driven by the thought of trying something new. This motivates them to go for a new device. It is also possible that the operating system (OS) may have become old and may not be supporting new apps or newer versions of old apps. Another possibility is that a user might want to upgrade to a smartphone offering more storage space or RAM. Many people also get frustrated with the reduced battery life of their smartphones. Original replacement batteries are quite costly, which is why many people prefer to buy a new phone altogether. All these factors clearly indicate that most people would ditch their smartphone well before its actual expiry date.

Will future smartphones have shorter or higher life expectancy?

It’s tough to answer this one, as there are multiple factors to consider. If we look at advancements being made in the field of batteries, we can see that the next generation of smartphone batteries would have improved life expectancy. However, it may not increase the average product life cycle, since it would be driven by other variables such as software upgrades, new technology innovations, etc. There’s also a great deal of research being done on implantable devices and these will completely change the smartphone ecosystem we know today.In the future, it is possible that you may start communicating with your mind through specialized chips implanted in your brain. At that time, the smartphone itself may cease to exist.