Many people keep their smartphone for several years. This is understanding, but it can present risks.
A smartphone is a very important object for many people. Gone are the days when these were only used to call loved ones and send a few SMS! From now on, a smartphone can just as easily be a companion for storing photographs, videos, essential daily applications, or simply for keeping an eye on the news.
This is why the smartphone has become an essential object for many people. In 2022, it was estimated that nearly 82% of the French population would own at least one smartphone. A figure that only grows over the years.
But being tethered to a smartphone can’t last forever. Like any electronic object, a smartphone is designed to have a certain lifespan before being replaced by another. However, many French people are reluctant to change their device. So when exactly should you change?
I have been regularly testing smartphones for over 5 years. In 5 years, I have seen excellent models (Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi…) as well as less good ones (Lidl, Wiko…). So I’m used to changing smartphones regularly and I know roughly the lifespan of each one.
When asking people around me how often everyone changed their smartphone, the most common answer was: “when my current device no longer works.” A totally legitimate answer, but is it the one to recommend? Not really.
In fact, the lifespan of a smartphone depends mainly on its manufacturer and the number of years of updates planned by it. Thus, the most recent smartphones from Google and Samsung now benefit from around eight years of updates. These warn users against possible security breaches and risks of cyber attacks.
The right date or duration is therefore to be found here: it is strongly recommended to change your smartphone when yours no longer benefits from security updates, which generally represents a lifespan of 2 to 5 years for the majority smartphones.
Obviously, nothing prevents you from using a smartphone beyond the duration of the security updates provided by the manufacturer. An iPhone 6 for example, which has no longer benefited from major updates since January 2023, can still be used today to make calls, send SMS or browse the internet. However, it is much more likely to be the target of online attacks. It is therefore up to you to decide when you really want (or can) change your smartphone.
