Most smartphones last between 3 and 5 years with normal use. iPhones tend to receive software support for 5–6 years, Samsung Galaxy flagship phones for 4 years, and Google Pixel phones for 7 years. Budget Android phones typically get 2–3 years of support.

Generally yes — if the repair cost is less than 50% of a comparable new phone’s price, repair is almost always the smarter financial choice. A battery replacement at 2–4 years old is especially cost-effective. If your phone is 5+ years old with multiple hardware issues, upgrading may be more practical.

Apple typically supports iPhones with iOS updates for 5–6 years after release. For example, the iPhone X (released 2017) received updates until iOS 16 in 2022. Samsung now provides 4 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security patches on Galaxy S and A series phones. Google Pixel 7 and later get 7 years of updates.

When a phone stops receiving security updates, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to malware and exploits. You may also lose access to newer app versions as developers stop supporting older OS versions. Banking apps and other security-sensitive apps often require up-to-date OS versions to function. This is one of the main reasons to consider upgrading an older phone even if it still works fine physically.

Apple iPhones receive iOS support for 5–6 years. Samsung Galaxy S and flagship phones now get 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches (as of the Galaxy S23 launched in 2023). Google Pixel 7 and later receive 7 years of OS and security updates — the best Android longevity promise. Xiaomi and Huawei typically provide 3 years of updates.