> The iPad you buy today will be e-waste in a year or two (less, if you decide not to pay to have the battery changed for you). The real issue isn't the capabil

> The iPad you buy today will be e-waste in a year or two (less, if you decide not to pay to have the battery changed for you). The real issue isn't the capabilities of the piece of plastic you unwrap today, but the technical and social infrastructure that accompanies it. The duration stated is nonsense for two reasons: Hardware support: The battery in an iOS device should last at least four years. My father's is going on seven years under light usage conditions. If the battery fails within a single year, it's defective and the included warranty covers replacement. Software support: Apple has historically provided software support for old iPads for 5.5 to 6 years. That's longer than the support duration for many Android devices, or even some cheap Windows laptops.