The question that many users ask themselves when buying a mobile phone is the time they can hold with it to take advantage of the investment. This question is one of the most complex to answer, since we cannot rely on a single aspect of the smartphone and we have to take everything into account to find out the duration of an Android mobile without having to change it.
In many cases, the change occurs before something happens to the smartphone, although that does not really represent the time that the mobile can be with us. To know it, we are going to explain point by point how much each of its main components can withstand and of course we are going to assess the software.
What is important
There are a number of relevant points when it comes to distinguishing how long an Android phone can last today. However, the most determining factors at all times will be the updates that the smartphone receives, as well as the connections that the device has.
Updates are key
We must take into account the software of a device to know how long it will last, since if we buy a mobile that has been on the market for a while, it will be out of date and without protection. Each brand offers a security update time and the longer that period, the more we can extend the use of the device that currently reaches more than four years in the best of cases.
Mobile connectivity
Currently, we are living it in our skins, because, for example, 5G technology has made some mobiles become outdated before their time, or before what many could have imagined.
For that reason, it is always a better option that options like this technology remain before they are missing. More than anything, because with the passage of time we may need it, yes or yes, almost obligatorily.
The same has happened with NFC , so we will have to remain vigilant to see what new types of connections make mobile devices age . Well, here there is no set time, but there is a need that may force us to change the mobile very soon.
This is why we must pay attention to the different connections that are being added to smartphones. Therefore, the more the better for us. In this way, we will ensure that it can serve us for a longer time.
What fails before
Not only will we find that the useful life of different elements is shorter than what we thought or are told from the brand of our phone itself. The truth is that other elements such as memory are one of the main problems that we will have to face. Therefore, these are the points that will give us problems sooner than we imagined.
The problem with memory
Among the hardware components that we must take into account the most is memory, which will determine in a direct way if our mobile continues to have the ability to take photos, download more apps or even update itself.
Therefore, an option with greater memory is always recommended so that, among other things, the mobile can be used for longer. Or, failing that, a smartphone that has the necessary hardware to insert microSD memory cards.
This is because the system takes up more and more space, we have more applications and continually deleting photos is not the solution. If we buy a 256 GB mobile, which is one of the most complete options, we will not have memory problems in most cases until after 4 years, although it will depend on each user and the use they give the smartphone.
Therefore, if we have a mobile in which its internal memory can be expanded, much better. The same happens with RAM , since the functionalities and apps of the terminals increasingly require more than one mobile. Luckily for us, virtual technologies are already expanding with which to expand this random storage of the terminals. But, in any case, the best option will always be to get a smartphone with a good amount of RAM so that tomorrow we do not need to increase it virtually.
Battery wear counts
We reached one of the hot spots, since the battery is one of the elements that usually dies or be affected the fastest, since it has to withstand charges and discharges on a daily basis.
This internal element, however, will depend a lot on the use we make of our mobile device users, and its duration can vary from just one year, in cases where we let the battery drain completely, even reaching up to 4 years in good health, if we treat the battery with care.
However, for our luck it is one of the components that will cost us the least to replace tomorrow. That is, it will not have the same price as a screen, an internal sensor, etc. Therefore, if it breaks down in the future or it is time to replace it, we will always have the option of changing the phone’s battery .
What ages best?
While the previous parts of the device in one way or another see time pass directly, we find others such as the screen or the cameras that are not so affected by the passage of the years.
In the case of terminal panels, it is clear that a neat screen will not become outdated for many years. Although resolutions or update rates increase, if we have taken good care of the mobile panel, it will never be necessary to replace it.
The same happens in the case of phone cameras, although it is true that there will be new mobiles with better technologies and more possibilities. The body of the mobile will also resist as well as we treat it, although using a case or casing it will be difficult for something to happen to it.
So … how long does it last?
Looking at today’s mobiles, and taking into account all the technologies that we have mentioned, we can find a terminal that does not last more than two years if we buy it without NFC or without 5G.
However, if we take into account that it will also depend on each user and the use they make of the smartphone, the truth is that the mobile can last an average of four years without any problem.
However, it must be clear from the beginning that, at this time, you will stop receiving updates at the end of your life. Also losing battery capacities and the photos will not be the best in the world, but it will still be a worthy mobile in any case, which will meet the basic needs.