3 ms·
Obviously I can only guess how often you get a new phone, but I'd expect you get a new one every two, maybe three years? Other data point: I threw away three p
by archi42 5y ago
Obviously I can only guess how often you get a new phone, but I'd expect you get a new one every two, maybe three years?
Other data point: I threw away three phones in the same time frame. Each and every single of them had to eventually get a new battery. The first just became too slow to use (Galaxy S2), the second was at some point physically deformed beyond repairability (Xperia Z1) and for the last one (HTC 10) it was the worst: No repair shop in our city wanted to repair it OR quoted insane prices (100 or 150 Euros I think) and I could not find a reputable seller offering replacement batteries. After two weeks of having the battery die on me on nearly every important occasion I gave up and got my current phone.
I hear the same from a lot of friends. While most are interested in each others new phones from a nerdy perspective, I can only think of one friends still acting as if having the newest generation was a necessity or even a status symbol.
So, long story short: My anecdata tells me that having easily replaceable batteries is a huge boon to using the phone for a longer time.
- kkjjkgjjgg 5y agoMy last phone was a Pixel 3 which I had to now replace after 3 years because of the ending software support. However, the battery is still fine. I actually intend to sell it in the hopes somebody can be bothered to run it with LineageOS. Also while it is cool if somebody has the skills to repair their own phones, the reality is that most people do not. And then you need an expert and 100€ to 150€ is a price you can reach quickly with expert hours. That is what fans of the "right to repair" don't seem to get: it is just way cheaper to produce most products than to repair them, because production can be done by mostly unskilled workers.
- Tams80 5y agoAnd none of that is justification for environmental pollution, wasting resources, and potentially human suffering if the device ends up in an e-waste dump somewhere in Africa.
- kkjjkgjjgg 5y agoBatteries are not the issue, software support is. And even with new batteries, the technology will be outdated eventually. My new Pixel 6 has G5, for example, my old Pixel 3 doesn't. A better solution would be to make the phones suitable for recycling. I wouldn't be surprised if glue is also better for recycling than screws, because you can just resolve it with heating or chemicals, no manual labor required.
- Tams80 5y agoThey are both equal problems. And if forced to, phones absolutely could be upgradeable software wise and still be quite secure, just like PCs.
- kkjjkgjjgg 5y agoYes upgradeable software could be enforced - it would just make phones more expensive, stiffle competition, and waste resources. But the politicians deciding it of course get their phones for free, so they wouldn't care much.