Is the lifespan of a mobile phone really short? Why are updates so fast?

With such a fast iteration speed, some people may be wondering the same question as me: Is the lifespan of a mobile phone really only one year? Will its performance experience be very poor after one year? Why are mobile phones iterating so quickly?

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With these questions in mind, let’s take a look at the current mobile phones, which can be roughly divided into high-end, mid-range and low-end.

High-end mobile phones basically use the top configurations of each year, the most advanced processors (such as Snapdragon 8 series, Dimensity 1200 is basically equivalent to 870), screen materials, memory, and storage. Such a configuration will be no problem running "super apps" (Genshin Impact, WeChat, etc.) in the next two years (now the processor upgrades are squeezing toothpaste every year, there is no need to pursue the latest, of course, if the performance improvement is not much, the manufacturing is improved, and the overall power consumption will be reduced, that is, heat is reduced and battery life is enhanced). Therefore, if you buy a flagship phone of a brand, if you are not pursuing the ultimate, then the experience will not be much different if you replace it every 2-3 years. At the same time, this is also the theoretical time of battery life (basically the battery needs to be replaced every 2-3 years).

Mid-range phones basically use high-end technology from last year or the year before, which is technology decentralization, and some technologies from the same year are castrated. The processors used are mostly Qualcomm 6 and 7 series, MediaTek Dimensity 800. The main feature of this kind of phone is balance. In terms of battery life and heat release, the performance will be enough for the current year and the next year. It is generally recommended to replace it with a new one every two years.

Low-end mobile phones use older technology, and their goal is to meet daily needs. They are basically a social communication tool, and games may be a bit laggy. The processors they use are mostly Snapdragon 4 series and MediaTek low-end. It is generally recommended to replace them every 1-2 years.

In fact, the following factors are forcing you to change your mobile phone:

• It is still possible to switch from 4G to 5G in the next 1-2 years. After all, it will take some time for coverage. Of course, 5G phones are recommended for recent phone changes.
• Battery life is significantly reduced, it is recommended to only replace the battery if performance is sufficient.
• Experience new technologies, such as foldable screens, and the upgrades are obvious.

I believe you already have the answers to the first two questions. Next, let’s talk about why mobile phone iterations are so fast.

• Software drives the development of hardware (today, as software has more and more functions, it also takes up more and more resources. If the hardware is not updated, it will not be able to be used smoothly. This, on the one hand, drives the development of hardware)
• Hardware drives software development (as hardware becomes more powerful, it can provide more resources for software and generate more possibilities)
• Mobile phone manufacturers push for planned obsolescence

Having said so much, it ultimately depends on your needs. But I think that replacing new ones every year is an unnecessary waste for most people.