EU regulators want 5 years of smartphone parts, much better batteries

[Trell]

According to arstechnica.com the EU regulators wants to significantly extend minimum service and support of mobile phones to at least five years, and that from they date the phone was sold if I understand that correctly.

For me personally the requirement for security updates is very welcome as I left Android (as a long time user) for Apple a couple of years ago with that as a major reason for the switch. Currently my family have a number of perfectly fine working Android phones not used because of lack of security updates.

EU regulators want 5 years of smartphone parts, much better batteries

Requiring parts and manuals access part of broader environmental initiative.

arstechnica.com

 

[ryanosaur]

I agree to a very large extent.
I've tended to keep my iPhones for 2 cycles (for me starting with the 3g) until things got more crazy (price-wise) in the last several years.
I went from an iPhone 6s (new within 6 mos of release) and switched to an 8 (new, when it was 3yr old tech), and then upgraded to the 13+Max last year once I was certain it wasn't flawed.
The 6s worked really well for a good chunk of time, as did the 8.
The problem I found is that the technology itself is moving too fast for the hardware to keep up with the software. I've only had one serious battery issue and that was with the 8. Yet I notice strong degradation in performance by the time the processor is 2 yrs old. Everything from web browsing and App functionality starts bogging down.
Mind, I'm not one to put gobs of stuff on my phone, either.
However, I've had Macs last 10 years and with reasonable care, I would say YES, phones should be able to last 5.

Better management and support from the phone manufacturers is one important part, as is the ability of the consumer to take care of their devices. Unfortunately, wrangling third parties is possibly next to impossible and could get much more expensive.
I keep hearing stories of new batteries that would make Li-Ions obsolete from both safety and longevity perspectives. Of course, that's only a minor part of the equation.

Would be nice if we could get away from this sense of disposable $1000 phones!

 

[Trell]

I agree to a very large extent.
I've tended to keep my iPhones for 2 cycles (for me starting with the 3g) until things got more crazy (price-wise) in the last several years.
I went from an iPhone 6s (new within 6 mos of release) and switched to an 8 (new, when it was 3yr old tech), and then upgraded to the 13+Max last year once I was certain it wasn't flawed.
The 6s worked really well for a good chunk of time, as did the 8.
The problem I found is that the technology itself is moving too fast for the hardware to keep up with the software. I've only had one serious battery issue and that was with the 8. Yet I notice strong degradation in performance by the time the processor is 2 yrs old. Everything from web browsing and App functionality starts bogging down.
Mind, I'm not one to put gobs of stuff on my phone, either.
However, I've had Macs last 10 years and with reasonable care, I would say YES, phones should be able to last 5.

Better management and support from the phone manufacturers is one important part, as is the ability of the consumer to take care of their devices. Unfortunately, wrangling third parties is possibly next to impossible and could get much more expensive.
I keep hearing stories of new batteries that would make Li-Ions obsolete from both safety and longevity perspectives. Of course, that's only a minor part of the equation.

Would be nice if we could get away from this sense of disposable $1000 phones!

Personally I've found that in recent years the performance of the mobile phones that I've (and my family) have/had are quite good for things like general browsing, chatting, video calls and so on, but I don't game on them though. The batteries (a cell, actually, as there is only one) in them are consumables but I do try to take care of them by not deeply discharging them and not let them stay in the charger fully loaded for a long time, that is, frequent toppings.

But as you say, the phones are getting very expensive for those with good performance (including the screen), especially for the Androids.

 

[ryanosaur]

Personally I've found that in recent years the performance of the mobile phones that I've (and my family) have/had are quite good for things like general browsing, chatting, video calls and so on, but I don't game on them though. The batteries (a cell, actually, as there is only one) in them are consumables but I do try to take care of them by not deeply discharging them and not let them stay in the charger fully loaded for a long time, that is, frequent toppings.

But as you say, the phones are getting very expensive for those with good performance (including the screen), especially for the Androids.

I put it on a nightstand charger when I go to bed. That and my watch. I'm still on a Series 4 Apple Watch after two Series 3 failures. That is probably the worst thing to do with them, of course...
But otherwise, I agree about charging habits. I also do not game on my devices. My Phone does act as a Music Streamer quite often.