Skip to main content

iPhone not expected to last longer than 3 years

Someone holding an Apple iPhone SE next to a wooden surface.
iPhone life expectancy is 3 years Jessica Lee Star / Digital Trends
Ever wonder about the expected life cycle of your electronics? If, for example, you have an Apple iPhone and no way to change the battery without going to a repair shop, how long is it expected to last? This week, Apple provided insight on product class lifecycles in an answer on its website on a page dedicated to environmental issues and questions, first reported in The Telegraph. The quick answer? iPhones and Apple Watches are expected to last for three years.

Apple bases its lifespan expectancy on modeled use and actual use data. The Cupertino, California company groups its products by operating system in making lifespan projections, regardless of other product specifications. For example, iOS and watchOS devices have three years before Apple figures they’re used up (or lost). OS X and tvOS units are assumed to last four years. In all cases, Apple is estimating first owner device lifespans. Therefore, if you buy a used Apple device, the clock has already been ticking. A functioning iPhone 5, for example, which launched in September 2012, could be considered a living dead phone.

Recommended Videos

The information about life cycles came about in answer to a question about Apple’s Product Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Assessment. Apple broke down its environmental impact measurement into five sections: part by part measurements; power use scenarios; transportation costs; material composition; and emissions data. The lifespan information came from the power use scenario estimates.

It’s interesting to project replacement costs based on your own devices. My wife and I, for example, both bought iPhone 5Cs in December 2013. Mine lasted until May 2014, at which point it stopped knowing how to do math, which threw off the time, dates, and just about everything else.  So if I got less than a year, wouldn’t it be nice if that tacked two more years on my wife’s phone? Even though averages are based on the concept of “big numbers,” you can’t use them that way in your own household. Too bad.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Will my phone change for daylight saving time automatically?
The iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island showing the timer and music playing.

It's that time of year once again. The leaves are changing, the weather is getting colder, and it's just about time to set your clocks back an hour. That's right! On Sunday, November 3, daylight saving time officially ends, and you'll need to set your clocks back an hour.

However, it’s important to know whether your phone will automatically change to daylight saving time or if you need to do it manually. It's a question that applies regardless of which phone you have. Whether you're rocking an iPhone 16, Google Pixel 9, Samsung Galaxy S24, or any other smartphone, it's essential to know whether or not you need to change it for the new time.

Read more
Google may make it easier to share files between Android and iPhone
Android 14 logo on the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).

Wish it was easier to share files between Android and iPhone? Android Authority says a file-sharing service designed for Android devices may eventually become available on Apple products.

During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, Google announced its collaboration with Samsung to introduce a new feature called Quick Share, which aims to simplify file sharing. This feature offers a unified solution for sharing files across Android devices, Chromebooks, and Windows systems, making the process seamless within these ecosystems. Think of it like AirDrop but for Android.

Read more
I did an iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro camera test. It’s a close one
Natural Titanium iPhone 16 Pro Max (left) and a Blue Titanium iPhone 15 Pro.

Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup is here. Though the base model iPhone 16 has taken a lot of the spotlight this year with the redesigned camera layout and amazing colors, the iPhone 16 Pro is a bit more iterative in terms of upgrades.

I personally bought an iPhone 16 Pro to upgrade from my iPhone 15 Pro. To be honest, though, if the iPhone 16 had a 1TB storage option, I would have gone that route. Since it doesn’t, I had to go with the iPhone 16 Pro, as much as I wanted a pink phone. But storage wasn't the only reason — I also wanted the improved telephoto camera that I missed out on last year.

Read more