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ZDNET's key takeaways
- With proper care, modern smartphones can provide reliable service for five years or more.
- Key advancements like longer support cycles, have made annual device upgrades unnecessary.
- Repairs and maintenance allow phones to last even longer.
Each year, smartphone manufacturers convince you to upgrade -- sometimes even before you've paid off your current device. Every new launch promises brighter screens, better cameras, stronger processors, and so on. While each generation brings improvements, the reality is that the differences from one year to the next aren't as dramatic as you think.
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It also doesn't help that mobile devices are significantly more expensive. Flagships cost well over $1,000 nowadays. Couple that with broader economic insecurities, and many people have begun holding onto their phones longer. According to a 2025 survey by Reviews.org, the average American now keeps them for about 29 months.
That survey got me thinking: how long should you hold on to your phone to maximize its value? After looking at the data, I've concluded that five years is best. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but five years is the perfect amount of time to get the most out of your purchase and enjoy important updates. Here's why.
1. Updates are incremental
Today's smartphones have reached a level of maturity where annual improvements feel incremental. Newer models deliver on marketing promises, but let's be honest: for the average person, those upgrades are hard to notice. Most users aren't pushing their phone's hardware to their absolute limits. They're checking their email, watching videos, or scrolling through social media -- things that any old mobile device can do. Are people willing to upgrade to the iPhone 17 when their iPhone 11 runs perfectly fine? Some, sure; but not everyone.
Still great
The reality is that technology improvements come in sporadic jumps. For example, with the introduction of generative AI, companies rushed to incorporate it into their upcoming devices, resulting in major changes. Google's Pixel 8 series, for example, is very different from the Pixel 7 series, as it was the first of the company's phones to support AI features like Gemini and Magic Eraser.
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After that, the user experience was incremental again. I wager most users would struggle to notice any meaningful difference beyond the design between the Pixel 8 and 9. Manufacturers know the era of dramatic year-over-year improvements is largely behind us. It's why recent product launches focus on minor lifestyle features or tweaks rather than major hardware or software improvements.
2. Longer software support
The biggest reason I can confidently recommend keeping a smartphone for half a decade is that manufacturers are supporting their devices for longer. Not too long ago, hanging onto a phone for five years meant missing out on major software updates, new features, and critical security patches. You'd be vulnerable to attacks, and the software wouldn't be as snappy.
Today, that's no longer the case. Consumer demand for longer support, alongside pressure from government regulators, has forced manufacturers to extend software support. As of 2025, the European Union requires companies to roll out OS updates for at least five years to mobile devices.
Some have even gone beyond that. Galaxy and Pixel phones both receive seven years of software support. And the iPhone 11 is set to become the longest-supported iPhone in Apple's history. Once it gets iOS 27, the device will have received eight major system updates.
Software is only half the equation, as hardware plays a big role in a device's longevity. The good news is that smartphone hardware has aged well. Apple silicon and Qualcomm Snapdragon chips from the early 2020s still have plenty of horsepower for a range of workloads, from lightweight web browsing to media streaming and gaming.
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Over time, the accumulation of updates may begin to affect performance. Background services consume more resources, apps become increasingly complex, and devices slow down. That's why I review five years as the sweet spot. It's a good amount of time for the user to enjoy their hardware before things start to wind down.
What about beyond five years?
Five years for a phone is the sweet spot, but that doesn't mean every device suddenly becomes obsolete on its fifth birthday. It's possible to stretch a phone's lifespan even longer. The most important factor is software support. Seven years of updates go a long way, since they'll have better defenses against online threats.
One of the first components to show its age is the battery. Lithium-ion batteries naturally lose capacity over time, plus not everyone practices good battery care. The solution here is to get the battery replaced. You can find plenty of third-party stores online that will replace your battery and perform other repairs.
Both Google and Samsung have resources that'll help you find authorized repair partners for their respective devices. Apple offers the same service at its store. While many have had positive experiences getting their iPhones fixed at an Apple Store, you'll also find plenty of stories and articles online from people detailing negatives experience at an Apple Store. Because of this, I recommend doing your homework first when looking for an iPhone repair shop.
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Also, get yourself a good case and screen protector. They can help your phone survive drops and scratches. If you're looking for suggestions, check out ZDNET's list of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra cases of 2026. and two trendy iPhone cases I keep coming back to.
Why should you trust me?
I have spent the last few years reviewing smartphones from various brands. Testing these devices has given me a personal look at how smartphones are evolving. As I've discussed, evolution has slowed down. Changes aren't occurring at breakneck speeds, but bit by bit.
Also in that time, I learned that the best smartphone strikes the perfect balance of performance and cost. You shouldn't and don't need to upgrade your phone every year, or even every three years. My goal here is to help you make smarter purchasing decisions. If my analysis helps you get more value from your mobile device and convinces you to keep your phone longer, I know I've done my job.
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