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Comment by imagetic | Hacker News Reader

I'd like to know the average lifespan of an iPhone with Apples 26% market share vs the Android market.

Maybe it's just me...but I usually make it through about 3-4 phone releases before I break something and end up getting a new one.

This applies to most of my friends. 5-6 years is a super long run and pretty rare. But Nobody in my social circle gets a new phone ever year, and 2 years is less common now.

But I don't see any Android devices over 2 years old in the wild, ever.

I'm excluding the sad fact that replacements are a common option over repair. I'd love to see longer lifespans with repairs now that processing power is so good. But I doubt the Apple investors will ever vote for that as an option as that's planning to move away from sales numbers and reenter the repair business.

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I suppose this is all anecdotal, and probably depends on your circles as well. But personally:

I'm (very gradually) switching from a 2014 Android phone to a 2017 Android phone, both secondhand. I'd like something that can run Lineage OS (and wasn't entry-level several years ago), but both still manage most of what I need.

Most people I know with Android phones keep them at least 3-4 years. (Off the top of my head: one switched from his Windows phone a couple years ago, another has an old Samsung one with a physical home button.)

Similar with Apple: I know one person who will not give up his 6s until Apple stops supporting it (and only begrudgingly then); I know a number of other people with the 6s, and one with the new SE.

That said, I'm pretty sure all of that comes more from the perspective of money than saving the earth.

Edit: somewhat unrelated, but I hear a lot of people mention how Apple is much better with OS updates. That's true (although Lineage helps, and manufacturers are getting slightly better), but app support for old versions of iOS is horrendous. I almost never see support for more than 2 old versions of iOS, if that. Meanwhile, ~85% of apps run fine on Android 4.4 and half or so get updates, and just about all do on Android 6.

I've had to jump through hoops recently to update my Android from 7 to 8, because Slack announced that it was going to stop supporting it starting from September.

Mind you, the last Android 7 version was released in Q1 2017, while the last Android 8 version is Q4 2017.

Of course this is antidotal, but in my circle the android users generally keep their phones for 4+ years. I'm on a pixel 3 I bought new right now. Whereas, the iPhone users are more interested in the latest iPhone, and the apple keynote hype.

The only reason I ditched my old Android was the battery couldn't make it half a day.

Well in my circles I see more Android users being the type looking at specs and upgrading frequently. I see people buying Apple for durability, like I’m currently typing that on a 1st gen SE. Previously it was a long run with the iPhone 4S while my friends on Android had to change their at least 3 times. Sure that Xiaomi or Nexus/Pixel had great specs, too bad they broke fast or stopped receiving updates after 2 years.

Was it impractical to replace the battery?

The pixel phones are virtually unfixable. I had one and there was no official google location to take it too. Went to a 3rd party store and they said they can attempt it but even with the right tools there is a chance the display will smash if they open it.

Meanwhile I have replaced iphone batteries pretty easily myself and the near by store does it for a reasonable price as well

> But I doubt the Apple investors will ever vote for that as an option as that's planning to move away from sales numbers and reenter the repair business.

Well, at least one institutional Apple investor has raised a proposal for the right to repair recently. [1]

[1]: https://www.greencentury.com/green-century-shareholder-propo...

I have an iPhone X. I considered replacing it for a 13 Mini because I find the X very large and heavy, and uncomfortable to use with one hand. Otherwise I have no reasons to replace it. I have recently replaced its battery (same-day repair for £60 or £70) so it lasts as long as it did when I bought the phone.

When they replace lightning with USB-C I'll be very tempted though.

I'm in the same boat as you. I think the iPhone X was the last 'great' iPhone. 3D Touch is part of my daily routine. Yes, I know you can just hold and tap on the new phones, but can you weigh things on your screen (even if it's hysterically inaccurate!)?

Yep, 3D touch will be missed when I do in fact upgrade.

3 months ago I upgraded from my OnePlus 3T to a second hand OnePlus 7T. I bought the 3T when it came out, around early 2018 My reasons for the upgrade where mainly the camera which did no longer work at all. I did replace the camera module 2 years ago and probably did not do a great job though. I never had issues with broken or cracked screens so far and always wonder why as this seems to be a widely spread issue. So I guess the user plays a big role in longevity aspects.

Didn't the OnePlus 3T come out in late 2016?

Indeed. I bought my OnePlus 3T in early 2018 and still using it.

Before that, I've owned jiayu on Android 4.4 from 2014.

>I'd like to know the average lifespan of an iPhone

Not Lifespan, but average upgrade cycle of iPhone is roughly 3.5 years. If you consider a not small percentage of user upgrade their mobile per their contract cycle, the median of iPhone usage is roughly 4+ years.

>But I don't see any Android devices over 2 years old in the wild, ever.

I dont know if that is true. Most data suggest Android keep their phone 3 - 4 years as well.

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