218

Is it time to question the yearly release cycle for phones? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip to c/technology@lemmy.world

80 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So recently I've been seeing the trend where Android OEMs such as Google, Samsung, etc. have been extending their software release times up to like five, six, and seven years after device release. Clearly, phone hardware has gotten to the point where it can support software for that long, and computers have been in that stage for a very long time. From what I can tell, the only OEM that does this currently might be Fairphone.

Edit: The battery is the thing that goes the fastest so manufacturers could just offer new batteries and that would solve a lot of the problem.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 month ago

On a general note I would say for the individual consumer it doesn't matter so much if they keep releasing yearly, we just don't have to buy yearly.

It's kind of a waste of resources for the manufacturers supporting more models than necessary. If that leads to shorter support schedules that's when it impacts us. But as you observed they seem to be lengthening at the moment.

I'm currently on a Pixel 6 from 2021, that I bought used from someone who was chasing the latest and greatest. I have no reason for changing yet. After October 2026 when support ends I'll see if I have to migrate to Graphene OS or something. If no secure path forward exists I may have to get newer hardware then.

this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2024

218 points (95.8% liked)

Technology

59889 readers

2400 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related content.
Be excellent to each another!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS