Technology

59589 readers

2838 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related content.
Be excellent to each another!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

218

Is it time to question the yearly release cycle for phones? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip to c/technology@lemmy.world

80 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So recently I've been seeing the trend where Android OEMs such as Google, Samsung, etc. have been extending their software release times up to like five, six, and seven years after device release. Clearly, phone hardware has gotten to the point where it can support software for that long, and computers have been in that stage for a very long time. From what I can tell, the only OEM that does this currently might be Fairphone.

Edit: The battery is the thing that goes the fastest so manufacturers could just offer new batteries and that would solve a lot of the problem.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

I don’t think there would be any advantage in stopping yearly releases.

I think individuals should stop buying new phones often and that you should still be able to use a 15 year old phone just like you can use a 15 year old computer without security risks (with Linux).

That’s what the system or laws should encourage.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Well 15 years won't quite work as well due to cell frequency changes and the occasional fundamental software changes, but people could really stand to keep their phones for like 5 years no problem. New stuff coming out isn't usually "revolutionary" most of the time. AI isn't cool enough to want right now, and picture stuff only ever gets a minor improvement. Same for battery life or screen quality.

[–] JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Do people really buy new phones every year? I keep mine for a minimum of 4-5 years and always have. I had one for so long that it was no longer supported and I was forced to upgrade.

I guess I just never paid attention to how often other people get new phones, but every year seems excessive.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 weeks ago

I'd say every other year is pretty close to average.

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 weeks ago

Well we can use computers, consoles and TV’s which are 15 years old everyday and still connected to the internet.

I know it’s not doable right now, but I think we should change the way we consume and get rid of technology.

And I’m not talking about a car that you can use for way more than 15 years reliably.

load more comments (1 replies)