iPhone life expectancy

In my own experience (6 iPhones, currently using an XS with the iPhone 7 it replaced still used but without cellular service) I would say that if one takes care with their device, an iPhone can easily remain fully functional for at least 5 or more years. Battery may need replacing during its used lifetime, but that’s because they inherently wear out.

I do use a case with my iPhones. My preference is Sena folio cases so the screen is covered when not in use. My 3 year old iPhone 7 looks almost like it just came out of the box for the first time and everything works as it originally did. And my iPhone is my only telephone so is always with me (so it is not like mine don’t get used all the time, inside, outside and everywhere).

The only iPhone hardware issue I've ever had since 2008 with my first is the power button on my iPhone 5 does not work reliable. This was a known issue with the 5 and there was an extended service program for it, but by the time mine developed the problem I decided to upgrade anyway. And other than the power button, that iPhone 5’s hardware still works just fine today.

Well - I personally had an iPhone 4s last me 5 years. The thing that finally made it unusable was that I never replaced the battery and I don't believe Apple had an actually battery service (more like a device replacement similar to the way iPads are done). I made it work by using a portable power pack. But for a current model the ability to replace the battery isn't going to be an issue.

My iPhone 7 is rock sold, although I finally chipped the corner of the glass. Looks pretty minor and after nearly 3 years I haven't had a single issue with the device.

The only caveat is that there are always going to be a distribution of failures that happen throughout the product lifecycle. Some happen during the warranty period while others may happen soon or well after. All electronics will eventually fail, but it's only a matter of when. At least with an iPhone I would think the thing that will inevitably fail even if the electronics still work would be the Lightning port.

Higaomo ~ Apple says:

"For the purposes of our assessment, years of use, which are based on first owners, are modeled to be four years for macOS and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices. Most Apple products last longer and are often passed along, resold, or returned to Apple by the first owner for others to use." [Source: Apple]

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There are posters regularly here who are using iPhone 4 (released in 2010), iPhone 5 (released in 2012) and so on. An iPhone can last as long as it meets your needs and wants. The original iPhone is pretty truly obsolete now but only because AT&T has shut down the 2G network it used (the original iPhone was a 2G network only device).

On the other hand, you have posters here as well with brand new XR’s looking to upgrade to the iPhone 11. People’s avaerage use time before upgrading, more often than not, has nothing to do with their current device not functioning fine as a smart cellular telephone. They just want the newer features of the latest device.

No such thing as "planned obsolescence". That's just a fairy tale people like to tell when there phone starts experiencing any issue.

In reality, iPhones have a good track record of lasting many years.

I have an iPhone 7 currently, about to be replaced with an iPhone 11. 3 years old and it still works perfectly fine, and will still be getting iOS updates for the foreseeable future.

An iPhone 6 Plus, that also works perfectly fine.

And a 2012 iPhone 5 that still works, with iOS 9, though it does need a battery replacement. It could still make calls, and receive messages if I connected it to a cell service.

If taken care off, iPhones can last quite a while. Just because they stop getting software updates at around 5 years, does not mean they stop working.

Higaomo wrote:

Thanks, Phil0124

I know that just because they stop getting software updates at around 5 years, does not mean they stop working in terms of making calls, the camera etc, but had to replace my iPad as the inability to update iOS increasingly prevented me from doing various things online (I suspect it may have been due to updates in the various websites security requirements)

While that can happen, it won't happen instantly after a device no longer gets updates some time needs to pass.

Currently devices running iOS versions back to iOS 10 should still be supported on most if not all websites. Though banks tend to be a bit more restrictive about this. There are no other browser options outside of Safari that can help you navigate that should it happen.

Still its unlikely you'll see it happen on devices that are less than 6 or 7 years old.

my mum still use my org iphone4 as her only phone

my mum don't use apps which require a newer version of ios than the iphone4 support

but it works as a phone, it works as a camera and the build in apps works as they did when I had it

You're most welcome, Higaomo.

I'm using an XR model now (after a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3g), and I'm totally satisfied. It perfectly meets my needs (just simple/basic needs, as indicated in your original posts), and I hope it can support new Apple operating systems for at least 3-4 years more.

Have a great day :-)

Giulio

Well I’m a grown person and may be better at taking care of consumer electronics and know to only disconnect cables by putting the plastic connector itself, and likely dont play random games which may require newer versions of ios and faster cpus, but then now I have a 6s which works fine and I intend to keep for a good while more

Higaomo wrote:

Thanks, y_p_w

Could you please explain what you mean by “for a current model the ability to replace the battery isn't going to be an issue”?

(I too suspect that the Lightning Port could be a weak point...)

What I mean is that Apple actually does a battery replacement service and returns the same device to the customer. Before, the process was to replace the entire device, although the price might be more in line with a battery change.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Higaomo wrote:

(I too suspect that the Lightning Port could be a weak point...)

In my experience, the lightning port is not a weak point. Until a couple of years ago, I managed a service department for a major U.S. cellular carrier. Generally, problems with the lightning port were the result of lint or other debris getting stuck inside it. A careful cleaning generally resolves those issues fairly quickly. I use plastic interdental brushes (those things your dentist tells you to use when flossing isn't doing the trick).

I suspect you were correct in putting the quotes around the word "need" for the young person.

To clarify - I never said it was a weak point, but as with any mechanical port it's eventually going to fail. I'd think by the time most would fail, Apple would no longer offer replacements. Replacing Lightning ports is also something that provides business for aftermarket repair shops, although I suspect many cases are from accidents such as yanking the cable out sideways and damaging the pins. Obviously batteries will eventually fail. Electronics area generally pretty reliable unless they overheat although there is electromigration.

You're not addressing Apple here. This is a user to user tech support forum, and we're just user like yourself, not aware of Apple's future plans.

So, we can't give any proper answer. Each reply you eventually get here (or googling in internet) has to be considered only "speculation" or "rumor".

Regards

Giulio

Precisely.

My iPhone is actually used first and foremost as a camera, then as a wireless web browser.

Each year's speed increases are worth the price to me in the time they save and the increased photo capabilities.