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SO. MUCH. THIS.

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[-] Papanca@lemmy.world 195 points 1 year ago

Consumers however are at the heart of an unhealthy culture of frequent device upgrades

Yes, blame it on the consumer and not on the companies that spend an incredible amount of money to first hire marketeers that think all day long of the best way to push 'new' products, and then run costly campaigns to spread the word.

[-] Touching_Grass@lemmy.world 77 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Gotta be honest. Yes blame us. It takes two to tango.

At one point in my life there was this anti consumer movement culturally that got absolutely destroyed and buried. Maybe we're all just sheep without any free will controlled by Steve jobs of the world. But I feel like we refused to keep certain fires lit and now we're all freezing. That's our fault.

Most of it was super obvious too. When ads started invading, some people were pissed. But there was always way more people saying 'who cares'. But things like ads fuel this consumerism to get people buying and idolizing the tech channels or kardashian lifestyle with all the bling and flash of new. Now we have a generation who probably think anti consumption lifestyle is just flat out crazy talk. Like how do we not have any counter culture anymore to the lavish consumerism culture. Almost every culture has an opposition but that one seems like it's non existant in a world consumed by ads products

I think what people are missing here is that although a new phone comes out every year, not every consumer is on the same upgrade schedule.

If I keep my phone for five years then that’s four phones in not getting.

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[-] tacosplease@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

How many people are actually getting a new phone every year? I don't think I'm poor but maybe I am? Everyone I know keeps their phones for at least a few years and then replaces them when they are no longer functional.

Still. Every 3 years feels like too often, but that's around the time things stop working - likely due to planned obsolescence and updates designed to make older phones work worse.

Should we really blame the consumer for replacing something the manufacturer designed to break after a short time? What's something else you pay $1500+ for that is useless 3 years later?

[-] LifeInOregon@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I know a few folks who do, but most of them have a hand-me-down cycle they follow. I get a new phone every 2-3 years and hand the old phone down to a friend or family member with something older.

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[-] Robin@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago

While these sorts of practices are legal, consumers need to be educated.

[-] Guildo@feddit.de 12 points 1 year ago

I have another idea - get rid of capitalism.

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[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

And that make their phones expensive enough to repair that buying a new one is a logical fiscal decision.

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[-] Krzak@discuss.online 61 points 1 year ago

Ok but first manufacturers must "rethink" planned obsolescence and right to repair

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[-] jet@hackertalks.com 57 points 1 year ago

Reduce. Repair. Recycle.

Most phones, break this at every step.

[-] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A big part of it is built in batteries that are difficult to replace. My phone has a removable battery and is on its third one now... still works fine and does everything I want it to, after 10 years of use.

Edit: It's running Lineage Os 18 (android 11) not the original android 5(?) it came with, so security updates are not an issue.

[-] bobdowl@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

It's honorable that you struggle through 2013 Android, but using an internet enabled device that hasn't received security updates in at least 7 years is a horrible idea.

Upgrade to a Fairphone at least, so you can keep replacing parts while also maintaining a base level of security.

[-] Voyajer@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

He could be using a ROM with up to date security patches, I believe some phones from that era still have active custom ROM communities.

[-] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You're correct, I'm running Lineage Os 18 (android 11)

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[-] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I run Lineage Os 18 on it. (Android 11) with the latest security patch being from august 2023, so it's pretty much up to date.

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[-] aceshigh@lemmy.world 42 points 1 year ago

maybe it's my personality or i'm old but i keep my things (including tech) until they become unusable. i've never thought about upgrading my phone every couple of years. i kept my last phone for 6 years (it became a brick), my current phone is from 2018.

[-] cantstopthesignal@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 year ago

I intentionally buy things that I know I can use until they are unusable. I do not often buy anything from apple.

[-] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Me too. My phone is 10 years old, my microwave is 40 yrs old, my car is 24, my home theater amp is 25.

I take pride in taking care of my stuff and making it last as long as possible. It's something I got from my grandmother who wouldn't let anything go to waste. (She was a refugee from ww2, so she knew a thing or two about making things last and making due.) Obviously not everything can last that long, but if you get good quality things chances are it'll be around a lot longer than if you just buy cheap or flashy stuff.

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[-] HawlSera@lemm.ee 39 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Legalize Right To Repair Ban Planned Obsolescence

Boom, solved the problem. But once again it's easier to shame Joe Q. Public than hold the real criminals accountable.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Won't solve the problem of people spending 1000+ dollars a year on the latest and newest because they need it as a status symbol to fill the vacuous hole where a personality would be.

and I'd wager more people are buying new phones every year for that reason, than due to forced obsolescence.

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[-] somenonewho@feddit.de 36 points 1 year ago

Smartphones have been "good enough" for a while now. Enough power and battery to do all the things needed for enough time before running out of battery.

IMHO there are 2 reasons we still regularly upgrade.

  1. "Obsolescence" wether it would be perceived new hardware features or just new software not being available
  2. Use/breakage (I include batteries dying in that) with no reasonable way to replace parts

I've had a few phones over the years some of them I "legitimately" just broke (one had a cracked mb after a bike accident) I broke my second to last phone trying to replace the battery (thought I would be able to, broke the screen). The fact that everything is glued down and made to not be replaceable irked me so much that my current phone is a Fairphone. Replacing the battery takes 1 minute and requires no tools. Replacing the screen takes like 5 min and 8 screws. I plan on using this phone for at least 5 years more if possible. But I understand not everybody can shell out 600 dollars for an "OK" phone.

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[-] skip0110@lemm.ee 34 points 1 year ago

It’s impossible if the vendors stop shipping os updates. I can’t use an out of date phone for my works 2fa push. Kept my phone for 5 years and it was still going, but the planned obsolescence got me.

[-] TORFdot0@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Have work issue you a hardware FIDO token (such as a yubikey) or give you separate cell phone just for work. They legally can’t make you upgrade but if your phone can’t get enough security updates to install an Authenticator it is probably time to upgrade to be honest.

[-] sturmblast@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

the thing is most of the phones are fully capable of running the modern version of the operating system they shipped with but the vendors stop supporting the products to make you buy more shit

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[-] Engywuck@lemm.ee 29 points 1 year ago

If only new batteries were easily swappable...

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[-] MrBusinessMan@lemm.ee 25 points 1 year ago

It’s good practice to buy at least one or two new smartphones per year.

[-] Rubanski@lemm.ee 16 points 1 year ago

Thank you for the tip, Mr Business Man!

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[-] mesamunefire@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

The fairphone and terracube are starting to take off. Being able to replace hardware was a staple in early cell phone design and hopefully will come back.

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[-] scytale@lemm.ee 20 points 1 year ago

I only upgrade when my phone literally dies or can’t support criticial software and security updates anymore. I upgraded from an iphone 6s to a 12 Pro Max 2 years ago and will probably hold on to this phone until it’s no longer supported.

[-] kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

Sure, let's blame consumer for corporate policies

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[-] yoz@aussie.zone 19 points 1 year ago

At work my manager still rocks an old Motorola g5 plus. He says phones have reached peak performance and there's no point of upgrading. Hes a humble, down to earth guy also make $210k/ year.

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[-] blueeggsandyam@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago

Phones have to easily repairable before you can blame consumers for upgrading. Cell phones are pretty essential for modern life and most of us don’t want to be without them for long. The upgrade allows for people to not have to worry about what to do when something out of warranty breaks. It is like fixing your car. In warranty, the manufacturer or dealer takes care of things. Out of warranty, you have to find a repair shop. Finding a repair shop is difficult. Trying to get a second or third quote on a broken car is difficult and costly.

The alternative is to make repair shops have transparent prices and make it easy for them to get oem parts. The other option is to force companies to warranty their phones for longer. Until the government does one of those you can’t blame consumers.

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[-] noodlejetski@lemm.ee 18 points 1 year ago

gosh, I love my Fairphone.

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[-] aeronmelon@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago

First and foremost, don't feel pressured to get a new hand tablet with a ten-lense DSLR stapled to the front every single year.

I know Straits only used a picture of an iPhone to get more clicks, but Apple is the least of the offenders when it comes to this. iOS 17 runs on phones released six years ago (including the last iPod touch!), and security updates go a couple years further back than that. I wish Android phones could guarantee that kind of lifespan.

Battery replacement sucks on every smartphone except for obscure modular phones that suddenly lose support or the company goes out of business. But the newest iPhone actually makes it easier to replace the battery (read: still sucks a bit). So, while you have to jump through hoops, you can replace the battery on every smartphone (usually through official channels, but also by other means if needed).

What needs to happen is the masses need to be taught that it's okay to keep your phone for a few years. Phones need to regarded like cars. Drive it until you can't, THEN get a new car. And when you do, consider a newer used car. Once that becomes commonplace, then companies will be forced to tone down their release schedules.

[-] johnthedoe@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

This isn’t talked about enough. Apple at least for now support more older models than most if not all androids. The key is not to buy into the marketing. Phones today are good enough and mature enough to not need to be at the bleeding edge every other year. Just get a new case, new wallpaper and swap the battery before deciding a new phone.

Honestly if you care about camera improvements, get a second hand semi decent mirrorless or point and shoot camera. Way more fun. And easy replaceable battery and storage.

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[-] obinice@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Dawg, I only upgrade phones and laptops once every 8 years or so. These things are EXPENSIVE, I can't afford one more often than that.

My current tablet came out in 2014, that's when I got it. It'll be a decade old in just a few months.

Besides swapping the battery out twice over the years, it still works great and does everything I need it to do. Fantastic big AMOLED display, too.

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[-] Swim@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

problem is planned obselescence.. dont buy it? fine.. a few more years we will do it for you to by dropping support for the one you are using

[-] Toribor@corndog.social 19 points 1 year ago

Batteries are the biggest culprit for this even beyond software support. They degrade predictably over time... thus they are disposable. But with no way to replace them on most phones that means the entire device is disposable.

[-] Swim@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 year ago

ez, make them removable again???

[-] whileloop@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

I think the EU is going to require this soon

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[-] altima_neo@lemmy.zip 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I dunno, my phone's always start to have issues if I keep them too long. Boot loops, frequent crashing, random resets, functionality failing to work as it did when new, lack of security updates, etc. The hardware is built to fail

...no longer receiving updates.

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[-] calavera@lemm.ee 14 points 1 year ago

Just don't buy a fucking new phone every couple years

[-] SnipingNinja@slrpnk.net 13 points 1 year ago

I keep seeing the complaints, but do enough people actually upgrade yearly? Because anecdotally (including online communities in this) I have seen most people claim that they only upgrade every 3-5 years and I think that's sensible as an upgrade cycle and will only get longer now if my own feelings match the general populace.

I personally have found myself needing an upgrade every 3 years on average and think I'll find a way to go longer with phones which don't lose security updates around the exact time the battery starts swelling on my old phone (my previous reason for upgrading and seems to be happening again)

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[-] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

And here I am with my S4 running lineage Os (android 11)

Phone is on its third battery but doing fine, and does everything I want it to.

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[-] dinckelman@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

I would probably still be using my Pixel 2XL if the battery didn't die. Or a Nexus 6P if that didn't die from the hardware defect they got sued for. Probably even the OnePlus One before that too, but that may be a bit old for daily use

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[-] LoganNineFingers@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 year ago

Have a Note 10+

Screen needs replacing : $450 + tax (cdn) Only one more year of security updates

Bought a "renewed" s23 for $700. I didn't want to but it didn't make sense to sink so much into the old phone even though it worked fine. It pained me to give up the SD card slot...

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this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2023
585 points (94.8% liked)

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