Asking because… On one hand I do see smartphones being released left-and-right, and they are rather integral to modern life
On the other hand I’m still chugging alone with my Pixel 6a that I bought 3 years ago with a replaced battery and a somewhat clogged charging port… and all my previous phones I only replaced when they have serious deficits that make them difficult to use
Wondering when you all replace phones. Please definitely mention it too if you ended up repurposing the old phone for something else
Started year 5 on this one, if the batteey was user replaceable, I’d so that and keep using it.
Like about every 5 to 7 years as that’s usually when it starts getting pretty slow. Not sure why or if it’s planned obsolescence, I take good care of my phones. My current one was gifted to me by my aunt last year, at the right time.
When it breaks. I don’t remember how long I’ve had this one but it was made in 2019.
Only when it’s unusable. I recently got a new phone, my old one was an iPhone XR but the last few months it just randomly restarts and overheats like crazy.
I did a battery replacement a year ago but I think it was time. I also got a cheap Samsung, I’m not about to pay the money that Apple is charging customers just so I can make phone calls and use maps
On average every 5 years. The battery life is always the issue. I will get a fairphone next time…
My previous phone was a Xiaomi on which I installed LineageOS. I was very happy with it, but my GF’s son had a very very old phone, so I changed it after only 3 years and replaced it with another Xiaomi. I’m deeply unhappy this time because they’ve made it practically impossible to unlock the bootloader without using dodgy unverified tools. It’s only a year old and now I’m replacing it with a second hand Pixel.
Before the first Xiaomi, I had a OnePlus that I kept for six years.
5 years if I can’t flash open rom and nearly 7 years if I can.
I’m about to replace a once year old phone because I can’t flash the ROM, and I hate Xiaomi’s native apps and don’t trust them anymore.
When it stops working.
2006 - 2G Siemens
2016 - 3G Samsung (2G turned off)
2022 - 4G ZTE (3G turned off)
i’m still using an 2013 phone. the touch panel is kinda fucked and I do have a replacement phone already but I’m too used to it, so probably gonna use it till it physically breaks down or the cell towers die. would be cool af if i can make it till 2038 lol
If you feel that you need a new phone, but your recent one ist still working (no cracked screen, still sufficient battery life) it could help to tweak the UI settings. Change the appearence of the clock, pick another highlight color, delete apps you don’t really use, rearrange apps, change the wallpaper, etc. This way, your phone will feel new to you, despite being still the old one. Also, maybe a new phone case could help.
Try to unclog the charging port with a sewing needle. Switch off your phone and pick dust and lint carefully with the needle. Try not to touch.the contacts inside the port.
When someone is giving away a better phone than mine. A lot of hand me downs out there.
When I was younger I got new cheap Tracfones at least once a year cause I didn’t take very good care of them. Nowadays I’ve had 2 phones since 2020 with the second being one I got last year since my previous one nearly shattered after dropping it at work (it was a moto g power).
went from pixel 2016, pixel 2 2018-22?, and then disasterous PIXEL 5A 2025 it died in Jan.
got a ONE PLUS 12 R currently.
2020 - Samsung A13 5g
2025 - Xiaomi 14
