Average Active Use Life of Your Smartphone?

bigbadboogieman on 11/09/2024 - 08:59
Last edited 11/09/2024 - 09:52 by 1 other user

Greetings OzBs, I was wondering what is the OzB user's "active use life of a smartphone", I have added a poll below.

Recently I have been looking at newer phone deals and was kind of disillusioned looking at recent prices of good smartphones because basically I don't think I can afford to buy another long term phone anymore. Any decent recommendations would be welcome.

Some context: Purchased my current phone (Samsung Note 10+ dual sim non-5G variant) in Sep-2019 for $1039. This has been my primary and only device ever since. It still works wonderfully, very responsive and has basically no issues (apart from having to charge it more frequently - a charge still lasts 10+ to 12+ hours with very heavy use). I will probably continue using this phone for the foreseeable future until I can find a decent reasonable replacement or the banking apps stopped working due to no support.

After purchasing this device, I have basically stopped printing paperwork (not a student). Only had to print a paper once where a pathology was not willing to accept a referral soft copy during Covid. I have signed employment, hospitalisation and banking papers using the phone's stylus over PDF. It works well with all smart home devices, lighting, CCTV, etc at home. Works well with a separate Work profile for employment. Basically at this point, my whole digital life revolves around it and my work laptop.

The only concern is that Samsung stopped sending security updates to this phone since Sep-2023 and it bothers me a lot.

Poll Options

  • 29
    1 year
  • 71
    2 years
  • 365
    3 years
  • 132
    4 years
  • 266
    5 years
  • 40
    To infinity and beyond
  • 4
    Trust fund baby - new phone every month
  • 2
    What's a smart phone?
  • 2
    Sensitive force user (others choose my phone for me)
Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • Spending2Much on 12/09/2024 - 13:18

    I'd keep my phone, but it's the battery or holding charge that makes me buy a new one.
    S22+ and I barely get 6 hrs, doesn't last at work without a power bank
    The INUI deals I've bought alot of recently get a good work out just to keep it going.

    It's the battery that makes me upgrade or buy new

    • ab c on 28/11/2024 - 06:26

      S22+ and I barely get 6 hrs, doesn't last at work without a power bank

      Heavy use, right ?

      Did you applied good battery saving practices ?

  • Windows98 on 12/09/2024 - 18:42

    New phone every year. It works out better imo.

    Phones drop in value dramatically each year after the first and after the 3rd it's basically a paper weight in value. Combine this with new phones costing $100-$200 more each year than the previous model, if you keep an old phone for long you get no money for it and then you have to fork out a shit tonne for the new one completely out of pocket.

    I found selling my phone after one year, the value drops around 30%. I use the sales money to buy the next phone and keep going. I usually try to sell the phone a few months before the announcement of the next, but this year google offered trade ins for the first time and the trade in amount was more than what I was being offered on marketplace. So I'll be doing this moving forward.

    If you're an iPhone user, the value holds about 5-10% better than pixels/Samsung's. The smaller android brands have a smaller market so harder to sell and less money in it.

    Even if I'm not "better off" sometimes, the difference is a few dollars compared to holding onto a phone until it's annoying to use and worthless, and I get to enjoy a new phone with new features and excellent battery life each year for minimal cost.

    • djsweet on 15/09/2024 - 20:04

      Combine that strategy with paying for a new phone each year with 0 GST and from pre-tax salary via salary packaging and you come out even or a bit ahead.

  • brayhouse on 12/09/2024 - 19:19

    I used to switch every 4 years or so, but I'll likely be holding on to my iPhone 12 Mini until they stop supporting it, I destroy it somehow, or they release another smaller sized phone (snowball's change in hell). Very little about any phone since has tempted me enough to switch – I'll take the smaller form factor over a slightly better camera or AI features I'll likely rarely use. I've already replaced the battery and I'll do it again.

  • mousie on 12/09/2024 - 19:43

    I upgrade to new every 2 years but I buy last year's flagship model brand new when the superceded one has just launched.

    Android . On an oppo find x5 pro. From mostly Samsung lineage, but did like the Huawei p9 and HTC 10

    I prefer being able to sideload apps.

  • Jared17 on 12/09/2024 - 20:01

    5-7 years , but I keep my old phone as backup and use them once in awhile. I’m still typing this from my old iPhone 7 Plus from I can’t remember, ten years ago ?

  • gromit on 12/09/2024 - 21:14

    loved my Xiaomi 9t, would still be using it if it wasn't for the lack of new version OS support. Need it for work.

  • Vater Woods on 12/09/2024 - 22:44

    P30, 5.5 years, it was so reliable, I didn't even back up my data. And it died.

  • AdrianW on 13/09/2024 - 00:58

    I was planning on keeping my current phone at least a couple more years, but Optus keep telling me it won't work after the 3G shut down (I'm convinced they don't know what they're talking about) even though it is 4G and VoLTE (and also has 5G).

  • Nebargains on 13/09/2024 - 09:42

    I think this is going to depend on what you buy. If you buy a flagship model from say Samsung or Apple, you should get 5 years minimum in my opinion.

    I have a S20+ which I got in 2020 and more than 4 years later its frankly still going great, granted I mainly use it for web browsing, various social media and some other apps (no gaming) but it's still fine, battery still great, doesn't last as long as it used to but even with pretty normal usage by my standards I can pretty much last the entire day but may need to plug it in briefly in the evening (it charges so fast though).

    When I bought I originally anticipated at least 3 years and at this rate I think i'll comfortably get to 5 or longer.

  • kevkay on 13/09/2024 - 10:46

    I had a iPhone X until the 14 Pro, then traded that in for a 15 Pro just for the USB-C port. I'll probably just keep the 15 Pro until software updates stop.

  • yeowie on 13/09/2024 - 12:29

    Ideally 3 years plus. Although last few phones have been replaced around the 2 year mark. [2019] P30 Pro replaced due to cracked screen/Google play ban on Huawei > [2022] pixel 6 soon to be replaced by pixel 8/9 due to getting tired of the 6's poor/slow camera in low light settings.

    Tried the cameras on the Pixel 8/9 (not pro model) and still rate my old 2019 Huawei above it especially in low light settings. But with Google play and software updates a necessity would still pick the pixels as the best value/performance.

  • Hangryuman on 13/09/2024 - 13:39

    I'd guess 3-5 years - milady got a new iPhone 6s+ 8 years ago in 2016 - she got a new iPhone 11 maybe 4 years ago and handed me down her 6 - that worked well until it started to get a glitchy fingerprint sensor and screen - so I ponied up for a 15PM a year ago for $2200

    while that sounds a lot - like I justified an expensive recliner armchair - if I get 5 years of everyday use of it - that cost divided by 5x365 or 2200/1825 = about $1.20 a day.

    Compared to a $5 takeaway flat white that can seem totally worth it.

  • kaleidoscope on 13/09/2024 - 14:40

    4-5 years for all the iPhone I've owned. last one being 11 pro that I upgraded to a 15 pro. That's one thing I really like with their products that you get updates for way longer.

    • fozzie on 14/09/2024 - 08:15

      I agree and that’s why we pay premium prices. With iPhones you can usually swap battery and keep it. My youngest has an iPhone 11 (only 1 year old as they replaced after a year due to sim failure) and she loves it. Apparently it will get iOS 18, so will still be good for at least another year.

  • umoddbro on 13/09/2024 - 17:14

    Ive had my flip 4 for 1 and a half years and the battery is already going to sh#$…

  • EyyBanane on 13/09/2024 - 17:21

    I switched my primary phone from Samsung to Apple 9-10 years ago and never looked back.

    • Samsung Note 4 Edge - 4 years (became laggy and unusable)
    • iPhone 7 Plus - 6 years (still someone in family using it with a new battery)
    • iPhone 13 Pro Max - 3 years on, expecting another 3+ years easily out of it

    Partner has always been in the Apple ecosystem.

    • iPhone 5S - 4-5 years (used as a 7-11 chopper until recently)
    • iPhone 8 - 6 years (still someone using it and decided against a battery replacement even though the battery life is bad)
    • iPhone 14 - 2 years on
    • jlogic on 13/09/2024 - 18:18
      +1

      This is exactly my thought process with phones in general.

      A phone to me is like a fridge… just needs to work for the main things I use it for and be super reliable.

      Average use life is 4-5 years and after that its a hand me down to someone else.

  • opt on 14/09/2024 - 01:52
    +1

    For about 2 years, I’ve been either selling or trading in my Pixel Pro phones and paying anywhere from $200 to $600 out of pocket with pre-order discounts and gift cards, thanks to OzBargain. On average, this has worked out to be around $250 per year over the last 6 years. Essentially, I’ve spent about $1500 to have a flagship phone at launch every couple of years, which IMO isn’t too bad.

  • summerz on 14/09/2024 - 08:05

    Still on my 2nd generation phone…some cheap no name Chinese brand. Though again forced to upgrade as the OS stopped upgrading and now a certain essential security app won’t install due to old Android.

    Have some sort of cut down new galaxy phone on standby, but haven’t bothered transferring over, until I’m really forced too. I really need to move from computer to phone, like everyone else has done well over a decade ago. Averaged 6yrs each.

  • fozzie on 14/09/2024 - 08:12

    I upgrade every 2-3 years but then my iPhones live on with family. Currently husband is using iPhone 12 (4 years old we replaced battery after 3 years). He will keep it for another couple of years. I own an iPhone 14 Pro, 2 years old. I’ll possibly upgrade in a year or 2. Will replace battery and pass onto daughter/husband fingers crossed. We always have a case and screen protectors.

  • mrhugo on 14/09/2024 - 09:41
    +1

    Until it's broken beyond (cheap) repair.

    My current phone I paid ~$330 from AE back in 2017. Back in those days this was good money.

    Battery died last year, wouldn't charge. Changed the battery myself, $30. Probably good for another 5 years, until it suffers damage or a hardware failure.

    Why I keep it. It's got a DAC, proper Sony camera sensors, MicroSD and a hi-res screen. It ticks so many boxes.

    This is my third smartphone….. ever, the other two where replaced due to physical damage (screens I think)

  • Name on 14/09/2024 - 10:58
    +1

    Used to replace every 2 years when there were notable hardware changes. I bought the s22 ultra. I see no need to update any time soon. All the latest announcements aren't notable. I'll be replacing battery soonish to get a few more years out of it.

    I think next time I upgrade will be when they perfect putting the front facing camera behind the display or they can get rid of the crease in folding phones.

  • quanticism on 14/09/2024 - 11:59

    Used my Huawei Mate 9 Pro for about 6 years before upgrading to the S24 Ultra at the start of this year. I'm not a heavy phone user so both were overkill at the time I bought it.

  • WildZero on 14/09/2024 - 13:38

    I've just passed 5 years with a US variant snapdragon Galaxy S10e. I have had the battery replaced by Samsung about 18 months ago, which has brought it back to an acceptable battery life for daily usage. While I don't need the 3.5mm headphone jack much these days, I enjoy having a 512GB microSD card being the media hoarder I am.

    I like the new S24+ and S24 Ultra but I think the price is just way too high for me to replace the S10e for it at present.

    I'd consider an A55 for a better price point, but have gotten used to using wireless charging which Samsung annoyingly don't put in their A series phones.

  • niknah on 14/09/2024 - 15:24
    +2

    My xiaomi redmi phone is 8 years old. Have replaced the battery a few times. One annoying thing is that apps change their minimum requirements over time, more and more apps have stopped working.

  • sinizter on 14/09/2024 - 18:08

    For me it's generally 2-3 years.

    Due to the apps I run, I chew through the battery hard. And as apps get updated, etc, or in some cases simply because it needed more processing power as I added more data to it, I tend to want the processor upgrade around 2-3 years.

    Could I "survive" with the phone for longer? Yes.
    Will I actually choose to just live with it? History has proven that the answer is no.

    (For those curious, it's GPS logging, constantly, whenever I am not commuting to work or to drop kids at school and back and an assortment of apps that brings me joy from this use. I do also need the phone to last at least 6+ while it is also doing this, while also not overheating).

  • berger on 14/09/2024 - 19:51

    Every 2 years our contracts update so our work gets the latest iPhone pro max for all staff. About 3 months time for the next upgrade

    • Craze on 15/09/2024 - 09:44

      That's a great work benefit!

  • Vita85 on 14/09/2024 - 20:46

    I upgrade/sidegrage/downgrade every year. Can't stand diminishing battery life. Always look for a new phone deal with 5000mah capacity battery every year. I downgraded to the Motorola G84 this year and love it. Other benefits include….I get a new phone and a new warranty and since I only buy great OzBargain deals, I get my money back or lose very little on the used sale. The downside is I risk buying a stinker like the Motorola Razr 40 (foldable and less than 5000mah never again) and is a pain in the arse doing the switchover every year. I do it while watching a movie so it doesn't take up my free time.

  • SuperLate on 15/09/2024 - 03:26

    One phone, Samsung A6, was going really great at 5 years before it got stolen overseas. Another, Samsung A6+, still going great in its 6th year. Before these had Samsung S series which lasted 3-4 years.

    Bought Pixel 7 last year and loving it, Other than Google's annoying "buy more Drive space" and few basic apps (recording) not suitable for offline use, it has some really good features like Call Screen after which I get close to none spam calls now and ofcourse camera is the best I've had so far due to the awesome colours it captures, better than iPhone ( compared to iPhone 12 though).

    I still miss some Samsung Apps, File, voice recording, notes, photo editor and few more but getting used to Google's alternatives isn't bad.

  • markb28 on 15/09/2024 - 09:39

    Phone prices are going up in response to changing consumer habits around phone retention, I don't think this AI wave is going to change that. I replaced my S21 Ultra with an S23 Ultra and honestly, the S21 Ultra would still be decent today. iPhone 12's still pretty decent too, the iPhone 16 update was pretty dull. Phone hardware innovation plataued years ago. If you buy a top tier model (Samsung S series, iPhones, Pixel Pro etc), you shuld expect 5 years before battery degredation.

  • LlamaOfDoom on 15/09/2024 - 20:42

    Low end motorola phones here.
    2 years max, screen smashed and they are beyond economic repair ($120ish for a new screen, $180ish for new phone).

  • tensionday on 15/09/2024 - 21:15

    S20FE 5G plus battery protection mode is 4 years and nowhere near looking like it's time for replacement

  • Dack Smith on 15/09/2024 - 22:17

    Most people use their phones no more than two years on average, which is how these companies get away with peddling minimally improved devices every year.

    You should see people in the street, most have either flagship phones from Apple or Samsung or Google, with huge screens.

    The money is certainly there, people are either well off or happy to borrow money for these purchases

    Gotta be fashionable guys, social status matters!

  • Morkai on 16/09/2024 - 10:22

    I'm currently heading towards 4 years with my current S20 FE. Was purchased using a student discount in January 2021 IIRC.

  • dealsucker on 16/09/2024 - 11:12

    2-3 years. I have an iPhone 14PM which works as it did on day 1. Even the battery life is still okay

  • ReaperX22 on 16/09/2024 - 14:25

    If Google had a proper repair store in Australia and did Battery Swaps like Apple did, I'd keep my Pixels longer in general (P7 currently). 90% of the reason I change phone is the following in order:

    I break it (I'm pretty clumsy… Always in a case but not always perfect protection! I broke my P5)
    Battery life
    Other items like the few buttons becoming mushy/not working consistently etc

  • jeeg on 16/09/2024 - 15:12

    Wifey uses her samsung note 9 since 2018 till now so that is about 6 years.

  • Lockieasy on 16/09/2024 - 16:43

    I went from iPhone 8 to 13 which was about 5 years or so. The deciding factor was when the 8 fell out of my pocket and smashed on the pavement.

    Don't see too much point in upgrading more frequently than that as we don't see the technological leaps we used to in the phone market.

  • dreamerman on 23/09/2024 - 07:59

    Was using a S10+ for about 4 years. It was free (ex-work) and great storage 512GB. Hate the curved sides and poor battery life. So I went for a used iPhone 12 Pro Max from facebook. Was lucky to buy it from a young girl who took cared of her phone. Battery health just dropped under 80% and still strong. Had to learn how to use iOS but that is ok. In terms of updates, don't think any phones can match iPhones with 7 years before EOL. Probably will be using iPhones from now. Wife using iPhone 11 Pro Max also from facebook and she is an Apple fan-girl. Most probably will never buy a new and current iPhone - cost way too much.

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