Smartphone makers are now pushing long-term software support harder than ever. Apple, Google and Samsung are leading the charge with up to 7 years of major OS and security updates, while most other brands have settled around the 5-year mark. The goal is simple: keep devices feeling new for longer and reduce the pressure on users to upgrade every two or three years.
It’s an amazing win for consumers who want to maximize their investment and for the planet, as it promotes sustainability by extending a product’s useful life.
But that brings us to a key question: how long do people actually hold on to their phones?
For many Kenyans, a phone remains in use until it breaks, slows down beyond patience, or gets stolen while getting off a matatu from work. Others upgrade every year or two simply for better performance, cameras, or battery life. Or just because they can.
So, to put this to rest we’re running a quick community poll. And more importantly: How long do you think a phone should last before it’s time to upgrade? With brands promising longer support cycles, are you planning to stretch your phone’s lifespan a bit more?
If you’re thinking of upgrading soon, feel free to drop your next-phone choice in the comments as well.
We’ll be checking your responses throughout the week to see what the Techish Kenya community thinks about ideal smartphone longevity today.
My Samsung phone is 3yrs old but died on me the other day due to a swollen battery I think long software support is okay for four years past that I think phones may outlive their lifespan I still plan on a proper upgrade though maybe a oneplus or oppo
A swollen battery is very dangerous. Have you tried reaching out to them?