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

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip to c/technology@lemmy.world

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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.

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[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 26 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

The whole idea of making phones disposable was stupid from the get go. I'd say that most mid-tier phones from 2017 should be perfectly serviceable for every stupid app being widely used nowadays. High end phones from 7, 8 years ago are still perfectly fine

I mean, even power gamers barely need all the power that the high end phones offer, because mobile games always aim for the low end, with few exceptions.

That fucking Apple started with the stupid shit of gluing the phone, and every other fucking company copied that shit, really pisses me off. 2015 phones could have their backs opened and the battery changed if needed, no need for special tools.

Phones are unlikely to become open, as in owners can actually fuck around with the software and hardware as they'd like, anytime soon. A few try that, but it's unlikely to become mainstream because there's no market pressure

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

I just went with the $100 Motorola stylus (it has a built in stylus!) and just pay $4/month with 0% interest so I'm paying much less than $100 over two years. These cheaper phones usually hold up better to abuse than more expensive phones. I had the pixle 5a and the screen died just after two years (a known issue) screens for it are more expensive than $100 right now.

[–] pmc@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

4*24=96, you're probably paying exactly $100 over two years.

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Not a huge savings, but still.

another way of looking at it.

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What’s the NPV of 24 monthly $4 payments assuming a 4% annual rate of return?

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

At least $3.50

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