Remember all the hype last year about the Samsung Galaxy Fold? Well, that beautiful disaster is back and better than before — allegedly. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
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Your phone has an expiration date – Here’s how to find it
Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? It’s one thing to deal with a battery that doesn’t last a day and crashing apps to avoid spending a big chunk of change.
But using your phone past its end of life is risky business. So is clicking any link that comes your way. It’s a bummer hackers are weaving them into AI chatbot results.
Let’s look at one of the easiest ways to keep your digital life safer: Only using devices that get current security updates.
The lifespan lowdown
Today, the average lifespan of smartphones is around 2.5 years. It could be even less for some devices — between 15 and 18 months. That’s not much when phones cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Bigger brands like Apple and Samsung tend to have longer lifespans than smaller companies. Here are the average lifespans for some of today’s most popular phones:
- iPhone – 4 to 8 years
- Samsung – 3 to 6 years
- Google Pixel – 3 to 5 years
- Huawei – 2 to 4 years
These are averages, meaning your mileage may vary.
Find your number
Your phone’s lifespan clock starts from when it was made, not when you purchased it. That makes keeping track of all this a little tricky. If you’re unsure when your phone was made, you can find out with some sleuthing.
- Still have the phone’s original box? The manufacture date should be listed on the package or in any included documentation.
- If you tossed the box, the information should be listed within your phone’s settings under “About” or a similar option.
- You can also use your phone’s serial number to decipher when it was made. Many manufacturers hide the date or year within these numbers. The serial number is tucked in your phone’s settings.
- There are special dial codes and boot logging menus that can show you this info.
Are your eyes glazing over? I thought so.
How many more years can you get out of your phone?
Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? I know many of you put up with crappy battery power and random glitches longer than you should to avoid costly upgrades.
But using your phone past its end of life is risky business. I did the work to figure out the lifespan of popular models, plus I’ll help you find out how old your phone is and if you’re still using a model you need to ditch. Why? Because I want to help you.
6 signs your phone is on its last legs
There are two kinds of people: Those who upgrade to new devices anytime something shiny catches their eye and those who wait until their beloved gadgets finally bite the dust before upgrading.
When it comes to phones, there are warning signs yours is on the way out. My recommendation: Save your money and wait till you can say “Yes” to most of the tells on this list before buying a new one.
Tech with ties to China: What to avoid
Color me surprised that TikTok hasn’t been banned in the U.S. yet. Can’t stop using it? Take this simple step to keep your data from going back to China.
It’s not just apps. More than a third of the world’s electronics are produced in China. There’s a difference between products made in China and those made by companies with ties to the Communist Chinese government.
Are you buying the correct chargers and cables for your devices? Check this chart
A phone, tablet or laptop without power is a sad thing. It’s an expensive useless brick until you can juice up the battery. Don’t be ashamed if you have nightmares about being stuck with a dead battery. We’ve all been there.
Privacy tip: These Android phones are Google-free
When you set out to find a new mobile phone, you generally have two options for operating systems: Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android.
They have been the dominant players in the market for years, as others have fallen by the wayside. iOS is naturally only available on Apple devices. But since Android is open-source software, it is used by many brands like Samsung, Huawei and LG. Tap or click to set up this Android privacy feature before you need it.
Check this list! Android phones Google says are in danger of being hacked
There are so many different Android manufacturers it’s hard to keep track of them all. Some smartphones even have custom versions of the Android operating system — like Samsung’s Galaxy series. This makes it tough for Google to make consistent updates that fit every device.
Hours of police video found on body cams sold on eBay
When you sell a gadget on eBay, one of the most important things you need to do is clear any data it may contain. Doing so will take additional time and effort, but leaving your existing information to chance is not worth the tradeoff.