Electronics

[NYCLatinaMe]

I don't know what phone you have.  That might make a difference.

I bought my iphone 12 in Nov 2020, and it works perfectly, and am happy with it, and see no reason to change it.  I bought the 256GB storage, which makes a difference.  I upgrade the software when there are updates.

I thought about getting the newest iphone yesterday for about 1/2 a day because of the tariffs, but this morning they said that smartphones and electronics will be exempt from the tariff surges, so I am not shopping.

Before that, I had iphone 5 which I bought in 2013, so that was 7 years, and I should have upgraded earlier for the camera.  My photos were not the quality they should be, I could easily tell when others sent me photos that their quality was much better.  But except for that, my phone was performing well.  I upgraded to get a 5G phone, and I had delayed upgrading because I knew 5G was coming.

I think as long as the manufacturer is maintaining the software with security updates, and I am happy with the product's performance, I would not buy a new one.

[Jordan2]

@NYCLatinaMe I have a Motorola, not sure of the model like a Moto G I think. 

[NYCLatinaMe]

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@Jordan2 wrote:

@NYCLatinaMe I have a Motorola, not sure of the model like a Moto G I think. 

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@Jordan2   I am not familiar with phones other than the iphone.  Do they provide security upgrades to their operating system?  If you don't email or keep sensitive messages or photos or data in apps, maybe it doesn't matter that much.  Phones can be leaky in that there may be eavesdroppers, so the need for security upgrades.  Phone calls are generally very secure, but the phones themselves can and do transmit data about the whereabouts of the phone, as do the apps (email, camera, texts, etc.).  So just pointing out the reasons for security upgrades to help you with your decision if the phone's operating system gets no upgrades.

[gardenman]

The lifespan of anything with a rechargeable battery tends to be controlled by the health of the battery. Batteries don't last forever. In general, you can expect a modern battery to last 500-1200 cycles (discharging and recharging being one cycle.) If you pretty much drain your battery every day and recharge it every night, you're looking at a year and half to two years on average and maybe three to four years if you're lucky. If you almost never use the phone and only recharge it once every seven to ten days, then it'll last longer. Unless it's a very high-end phone, it's seldom worth the expense to replace the battery. Batteries can fail dramatically on rare occasions, so when one's getting old, it's often wise to replace the phone.

Obsolescence is more of an issue. Operating systems change. Safety updates stop. Features become obsolete. Even the telephone system changes, with the recent dropping of 3G and replacing it with 4G and 5G. 

I buy cheaper phones (under $200) and replace them whenever I feel like it and can find something better at that price point. A modern $200 phone would have been a state-of-the-art $1000+ phone just two or three years ago. Technology moves quickly in the cellular phone field. I don't try to stay up with the latest and greatest, but wait a year or two for it to become mainstream and cheaper. You can easily spend $1200 on a phone today only to find a phone with those same features at $200 a year or two from now.

[Carolina925]

I agree with @gardenman . I replace mine when it no longer holds a charge. I didn't realize charging it each day would be bad for it but learned my lesson. Mine was starting to die and before I could get a new one, I had a family emergency where I needed to be on the phone a lot but was unable to because of the battery. Ridiculous that they're not replaceable but I've learned it's just how it is. Mine is now about 3 years old. When it's time to replace, I'll not get the "newest and best" since I don't use mine for much other than calls and texts. I'm home during the day and don't have a need to use my phone as my computer. 

[drizzellla]

@Jordan2  I rarely used my phone. 

But my phone carrier upgraded from a 4G network to a 5G network. So I had to upgrade too.

They offered me a great deal. I got a new phone and it cost $20. I clearly don't have the latest and greatest phone but I could care less. I can make and receive phone calls and texts and take an occasional picture.

I am quessing Mint Mobile will let you know if your phone"aged out" of their system.

[Jordan2]

@NYCLatinaMe I don't think Motorola offers updates more than twice a year, certainly not as often as iPhones. 

[Still Raining]

The mere fact that OP is starting to wonder is a clue.  I would start looking for deals now.  We all know it is going to give up the ghost someday.

[NYCLatinaMe]

Hi @gardenman  Maybe some batteries are better than others.  Don't know if you saw my post, I had an iphone 5 for 7 years and never had an issue with the battery.  I wanted to update to 5G, so bought the iphone 12, and have had it for 5 years.  I charge it once a day or more often.  Apple recommends to charge batteries when they hit 20%, and not to top them off, charge up to about 80%.  I only learned that a couple of years ago, and I try to do that.  I have killed macbook batteries, but I think it might have been because I left them plugged in a lot, since I used them at home.  The recommendation is to stop charging at about 80% to prolong the life of the battery.

The other tip I read about lithium batteries is not to let items get to and sit around at zero.  Batteries recharge more easily when there is some juice left.  I use a lot of cordless items, and have seen that strategy pay off with things like fans, etc.

Dyson batteries seem to be different, they recommend leaving things plugged in, and to top off the charge.  I don't know how that will work out, but my items are alive.  My cordless vacuum I leave plugged in, but not my cordless hair flat iron.  I charge the flat iron ocasionally.  They say to keep it topped off and leave it on the charger when not in use.  The vacuum is 2 1/2 years old and performing the same, the iron is 6 months and performing the same.

[Jordan2]

I decided I'm going to wait on purchasing a new phone as my phone is still working. I will purchase my year phone plan at $240 and look into getting a phone at Amazon (getting it from Mint Mobile doesn't offer a lower price on the Samsung Galaxy A16). I have a question if I stay with my present carrier can I pop the SIM card from my old phone into a new phone? Does a SIM card come with a new phone?