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Comment by ikt | Hacker News Reader

> I was in need of replacing my aging Pixel 4

> Released 2019, October 22

How is a 2 year old phone aging?

You must not be a Google phone user, or if you are: you got lucky. I owned 4 Google phones and only the original metal-case-with-trackball Nexus 1 lasted over 18 months. It’s the only phone that I replaced due to obsolescence.

The one I managed to get repaired under warranty (Nexus 5 bootlooping death) lasted 1 week before dying the exact same way again. It look 2 weeks just to get it repaired.

I switched to iPhone. I can’t remember what number even though I’m typing on it because it doesn’t matter. It works as well today as the day I bought it. (Although I do miss Google’s keyboard)

I was just about to comment and say I was wondering the same thing because I am daily driving a Pixel 2 still, but may look to buy soon because of the flagging battery life and the lack of security updates. I was not aware Google Phone's had a reputation for aging off quickly since my brother is also in the same boat as me with his Pixel, is there someone who tracks phone reliability?

I also have a Pixel 2, which is still running fine except for battery life. I really like the dedicated fingerprint sensor on the back. It's been such a great feature that I'm shocked it's been dropped or replaced with in-display sensors in the newer models. IMHO, it beats Face ID which requires you to look at the device from the right angle.

I got a 6 pro gathering dust somewhere and am typing this on my 2XL because I still like it better than anything else.

Very similar to me, I went nexus 5 > 5x > pixel > pixel 2 after the 5/5x/p1 broke in different ways, but the Pixel 2 I used until it ran out of support and I was annoyed at having to replace a phone so quickly because it was fine for me, so I switched to a second hand iphone XS and it still works fine even though it's only 1 year older.

I doubt I'll ever buy an iPhone brand new (I go out of my way not to support the CCP) but until Pinephone and linux becomes a usable mobile OS I'll stick with the XS until it either dies or Apple stop supporting it in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_iOS_and_iPadOS_devices

4 years or so? The iphone 6s was released in 2015 and it's still getting support, that's incredible.

I have a Samsung galaxy S4 mini from 2014. I am going to need to replace it only because 1) 3G is disappearing, 2) youtube decided my phone was too old. There's nothing actually wrong with the phone.

An Android phone from 2014? Has it received a security update in the past five years?

If it hasn't, is that my fault?

You don’t need to miss Google’s keyboard: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gboard-the-google-keyboard/id1...

It is not as good as it is on Android. I still have an iPhone, but this is the top thing that makes me consider switching back to Android. I will still probably buy another iPhone because of all the other good things about it. Still, I miss the Android keyboard choices.

I was using Nexus 6 from 2014 in 2019. And honestly I would continue using it if its battery wasn't in abysmal state leading to throttling. Considered buying new old stock or trying to replace a battery in this one. N6 is a 32-bit only device, that's the primary (the only?) reason I switched to something else, it would limit software choice going forward.

Which phone are you buying that lasts more? After two years the battery life nose dives, flash memory becomes slower, software updates become scarce. And by that time I usually have a broken screen.

Good thing I only spend 200€ every two years on the latest trustworthy moto g. Clean google experience, no bloatware, nice gesture actions.

A 1k€ phone would have to last 10 years to give comparable value, and I doubt it exists since battery and flash memory tech is the same no matter the price.

I've had a Samsung S8 for 4.5 years now, and it is still okay.

Yeah it shows that it is old. The battery and performance is worse than before, but it still lasts the day as I am not using it that hard. I have no legitimate _need_ to upgrade as it stands today.

I guess the frequency of upgrades quite heavily on usage, but I find upgrading every 2 years to be very often.

I believe the more you spend on a phone the more you're inclined to endure the performance degradation. With a cheap phone it's easier to let it go and buy a new one, so you always have a new, fast and updated device

I’m on an iPhone 8 here, works just as well as when it was new ~4.5 years ago. Battery may be at around 80% capacity (as experienced by me), received an iOS update a couple of days ago.

Edit to add: replaced a slim silicone cover once or twice, hardened glass screen protector 3 or 4 times.

Yeah probably it's just different with Apple, hardware and software is just better designed and optimized. My previous MacBook pro lasted 10 years.

That batteries cannot be replaced in phones is such garbage.

My phone right now is a Fairphone 4, with replaceable battery (and the rest too!).

It'll come with a 5-year warranty and software updates, but the big question is of course if hardware specs will be good enough in 5 years.

FWIW my Pixel 4 is still going strong, haven't even thought of getting a replacement. My partner is on the previous Pixel 3 (released October 2018) and no complaints there either.

Maybe in the same way that OP broke his 3 month old phone.

Technically everything is aging, unless you have a process to halt time.

There's no user(name) I'd trust more to deliver this kind of wisdom, MerelyMortal.

Thanks. Not everyone seems to agree though, oh well.

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