Smartphone Lifespan: Averages, Factors and Improvement

Like with any other piece of technology we purchase, we all went to get the maximum lifespan and usage out of our smartphones. There are a number of variables that play a role in smartphone lifespan, from the quality of the phone itself to the care and upkeep performed on it over time.

At FixIT Mobile, we’re happy to extend the life of numerous smartphones with a variety of phone repair services, ranging from screen damage and water damage repair to charging concerns, overheating or a wide range of other potential problems. We’ve allowed plenty of our clients to continue using their current phone for a very low cost, rather than spending big on a replacement for an issue we can easily repair. This two-part series will go over some of the key factors in smartphone lifespans, plus some general tips we offer our clients on extending the working lifespan of their smartphone.

Typical Smartphone Lifespan

What kind of lifespan can you usually expect out of a given smartphone? The answer can vary pretty significantly between the types and models out there today, but a rough estimate for average lifespan of modern smartphones is about 2.5 years. This estimate includes general care and protection – without this, average lifespan will be significantly lower, as low as a year to 15 months in many cases. And with perfect care and perhaps a bit of luck, you may even get more than 2.5 years out of many smartphones.

Factors in Lifespan

Now, the phone itself is just one of many factors that play a role in how long it will last. Many other factors, including the majority of the variables in most cases, involve how you care for and protect the phone. If your screen is cracked regularly, for instance, it may become useless earlier than expected. Modern smartphones generally are water-resistant, but older models may still have issues here. Also, battery life is often a major factor – modern lithium-ion phone batteries aren’t always easy to replace. Finally, software updates may impact phone lifespan, particularly for older models.

Our next several sections will go over themes for improving phone lifespan

Cases and Protection

The first big area here is keeping your phone protected, both from potential screen damage and from other impact risks. The best tools here are cases or skins, which protect the phone against dropping and other kinds of basic accidents. There are several options here, and you should research the best one based on your needs.

Charging Devices

As we noted above, batteries and charging for modern smartphones can be complex. For this reason, we strongly recommend only using brand-authorized charging devices while avoiding secondhand chargers. These secondhand items not only might provide inadequate charging, they can also damage phone batteries and charging ports in some cases, shortening their lifespan significantly. For more on how to raise your smartphone’s expected lifespan, or to learn about any of our phone repair, tablet repair, laptop repair or other services, speak to the staff at FixIT Mobile today.