How often would you replace a phone or tablet?

[Matt N]

Hi guys. In recent years, smartphones and tablets have become ever more present parts of our lives. But naturally, these devices will have a shelf life. To some extent, that may even be personally decided; some might want the newest device every year, but others might want to cling onto their devices for as long as humanly possible. But I’d be keen to know; how often would you replace a phone or tablet? Are you someone who likes having the newest device every year? Are you someone who will cling onto their devices for as long as possible? Or are you somewhere in between?

Personally, I would say I tend towards replacing a phone or tablet every 5 years or so, maybe around when it stops receiving software updates. I give the yardstick of “when it stops receiving software updates” because in the past, I was burned by a phone not having sufficiently updated software to install an app I needed (TrainLine), and I don’t want that loss of functionality to happen again.

For some idea, the timeline of my “primary Apple devices” over the years has been as follows:

1. iPod Touch (4th generation) (July 2012-December 2013) - Replaced in December 2013 because it couldn’t update to iOS 7. Also, my sister had bought an iPad Mini in September and I wanted one!
2. iPad Mini (1st generation) (December 2013-December 2016) - Replaced in December 2016 because it couldn’t update to iOS 10.
3. iPad Mini 4 (December 2016-May 2020) - Replaced in May 2020 because the battery had deteriorated to be like a sieve (we’re talking 1% per minute under regular use!), which was most irritating when I had to use it for remote school during lockdown!
4. iPad Air 3 (May 2020-July 2025) - Replaced in July 2025 because I came into some money from a relative and fancied taking a punt on the larger 13” iPad size! Also, I figured it was only about a year off not receiving software updates if my predictions about Apple’s exclusions from the next iOS version are correct.
5. iPad Air 13” (7th generation) (July 2025-present) - What a brilliant device; I’m loving the huge 13” screen! I imagine I’ll be clinging onto this one into the next decade; seeing as it’s a brand new 2025 model, I think it’ll be functioning and receiving software updates for years yet.

I have tended to hold onto my devices for longer as time has gone on. When I was younger and had less to do with my money, I maybe tended towards more frequent replacement, but as long as my iPad works fine and is still supported for software updates and app eligibility, I see little reason to replace.

My timeline of phones (which I tend to use less on a day-to-day basis) over the years has been as follows:

1. Nokia Asha (September 2013-January 2017) - Replaced because school required me to have a smartphone by 2017. This phone possibly had better battery life than any I’ve owned since; I think I only charged it once or twice in the whole 3 years I used it!
2. Lenovo smartphone that I can’t remember (January 2017-September 2017) - Received this as a hand me down from an elderly relative. Replaced because we’re fundamentally an iPhone family and my sister had a hand-me-down iPhone 5 that I could have.
3. Black iPhone 5 from sister (September 2017-October 2017) - Replaced because my sister had smashed the home button when she owned it (and she herself inherited it as a hand-me-down from my mum), and a better hand-me-down iPhone 5 with a working home button became available shortly after when a relative passed away.
4. White iPhone 5 from deceased relative (October 2017-August 2018) - Replaced because my dad’s iPhone 6 became available as a hand-me-down.
5. White iPhone 6 from my dad (August 2018-July 2021) - Replaced because the battery had become incredibly erratic, with the phone shutting off at odd times and running out incredibly quickly, and also because my mum’s hand-me-down iPhone 6 with a working battery became available.
6. Black iPhone 6 from my mum (July 2021-September 2021) - Replaced after just 2 months because I needed TrainLine to travel to university, and the iPhone 6 wasn’t eligible for the minimum version of iOS needed to run it.
7. iPhone SE (2nd generation) (September 2021-present) - This is the first phone I’ve had that I bought for myself rather than being a hand-me-down, and it is incidentally the one I’ve had for the longest by some margin. Seeing as I reckon it might be made obsolete by 2026’s iOS update, I wonder if a replacement might have to be nigh within the next year or so… the battery is also worsening regardless. It’s been a good device, but it struggles somewhat to hold its charge these days, even if I don’t use it.

In general, though, I would say “replace when the software needs updating unless its function is impeded in the meantime”. I am erring increasingly towards the “cling on for as long as I can” crowd with age, though, whereas I used to err more towards the “replace frequently” crowd!

But I’d be keen to know; how often would you replace a phone or tablet? Are you a frequent replacer, or are you someone who clings onto devices for as long as they can?

 

[Dhev123]

I had an iphone 11 from I think late 2019 up until march this year - I was travelling and my phone got water damaged in Thailand. My friend had a spare which she bought so I've been using that since - also an iphone 11

 

[Poisson]

New phone every couple of years, my tablet is ancient.

 

[BarryZola]

I use PC's/Laptops instead of tablets and they've historically been replaced every 5-7 years when the tech has moved on a long way. For phones it's probably around 4-5 years, although this one will be replaced a bit sooner as I smashed the screen not long ago and it's expensive to replace (even to just buy a replacement screen and DIY) and I fancy an upgraded camera anyway. Won't need to upgrade the phone for a good 5 years then. Probably on the cusp of buying a new PC too.

 

[rob666]

My landline phone wasn't replaced when changing provider last month.
No other phone still, by choice.
Laptop gets replaced when the keyboard fails, now on chromebooks for the convenience...about every four years usually.

 

[shakey]

At least 3 years for me. Two years on contract then at least another year on a sim only deal for about £5 a month.

If the phone keeps working well then I may keep it longer than 3 years.

Not sure what this 'landline" thing is that @rob666 speaks of but I have just received this exclusive photo of his phone.

 

[rob666]

You know me shakey, far too modern.

Funnily enough mate, I did worry a dodgy telegraph pole was sending me into the crack like hands of cordless cellular telephony only a few weeks ago.
Slow swap from virgin to ee.
Did mean a week on zero phone, zero broadband, and freeview telly!
Absolutely fantastic, got loads more done, obviously.
Would happily go offline for a month at a time.

 

[Martin]

I kept my last phone (Note 10+) for years until I smashed it (only phone I've ever done that to ffs) but before that I had a run of replacing it every two years or so at the end of the contract. My current one is up in a month or two but I'm not sure whether to upgrade straight away or enjoy a year of not having to pay anything now I have the obscenely expensive Folds

I don't use tablets enough to justify replacing them often, I've got an iPad that's like 3 years old and feel no need to change it any time soon.

Laptops I tend to keep until they start failing

 

[Zeock]

I replace electronic devices when they stop working.

 

[RicketyCricket]

Usually when the battery starts giving up.

 

[John_P]

With a tablet until it breaks, only have a Fire tablet to use for Web browsing and a few apps.

For mobiles seems to just be as long as they remain usable.

Bought a new phone in March 2025, that replaced a phone I bought in June 2019.

That phone replaced the one I smashed on the Coney Island Cyclone, which replaced the Oppo phone that just stopped working at Walibi Holland in 2016.

The Oppo was bought in 2014 to replace my phone I'd got in 2011, that was a replacement for a phone that died in the rain of the opening day of the Glastonbury Festival. Battery was knackered so it would just shut off at about 20% without warning.

First good phone I got was a Sony Ericsson, had a Sendo which was a knock off Nokia style phone. My dad was still using that until we found it didn't work anymore around 2021 (guessing the 2g signal was finally shut off). Had a few random ones I had to borrow from friends as well when phones broke etc.

Absolutely love having a relatively new phone now, but I'm not one for needlessly upgrading. Hopefully though in 2/3 years time when I look to the camera phone capabilities for a relatively mid priced phone is much improved on now.

 

[rob666]

...That phone replaced the one I smashed on the Coney Island Cyclone, which replaced the Oppo phone that just stopped working at Walibi Holland in 2016....

Oh you little name dropper!

 

[Katy]

It varies, I try to go 3 years but if I decide I want a new phone then it'll happen sooner. I buy them on 2 year 0% finance direct from Apple so the minimum I'll have a phone is 2 years. Although I did change a few months early this time as I wanted to go from 13 mini to 16 Pro. The old one then gets cascaded down through various family members, and the one at the end of the chain I think has my phone from about 8 years ago.

 

[jon81uk]

I chose five years in the poll, but think I've generally changed my iphone around every four years now. Recently went from 12 pro to 16 pro. I did replace the battery on the 12 after just over two years, but I used the phone quite a lot. Could probably have kept the 12 Pro a little longer and changed it at five years though. Generally the features don't change as much nowadays so if you get the latest model on release its easy to make it last five years, maybe with a battery replacement at some point.

Tablet only gets replaced if it gets so slow its unusable.

I've just bought a new PC for gaming though, I was using a laptop bought in 2017 with a Core i5 processor but it wasn't great with most games even though it did have some graphics RAM it just felt sluggish. Went very over spec with a NVidea 5070 and a Ryzen 7 9700X so given all I've been playing is Planet Coaster 1 it is far more powerful than I need. Hoping this spec lasts ten years or more.

 

[Matt.GC]

Until it's no longer fit for the purpose I am using it for, so I suppose in-between as long as I can and no new updates?

WIth all manner of "Smart" devices now around (toilet next?), I personally can't think of any reason why I would possibly need a tablet (not a single one actually) as they seem to do the same things as other devices I own only worse?

My year old phone isn't really any better than, and does the same things as, the one I had for years before I replaced it other than the fact it doesn't have a crack on the screen. Laptop is getting a bit slow, but turning off all those swishy Windows animations and deleting apps I didn't need has sped it up so does everything I need.

Unless there's something new that's useful, I don't see the point in wasting the money. The car is old but works too. I don't have HP, I don't have a phone contract (always buy outright), no loans, only holidays or emergency purchases on a credit card, and holes in some pairs of pants. But that's why I sailed through mortgage affordability checks. Others I know may have Turkey teeth, Range Rovers, and have their "I've got an IPhone" ringer on full blast. But their teeth still chew the same as mine, their car gets them from a to b, and their phone still acts as a phone.

The only time I do however is with games consoles. I don't have the time to be a PC gamer, and the nature of consoles (until gaming moves to streaming) means they become obsolete. But even then, I keep them going, and have working machines playing games that aren't even available anywhere else but on original hardware and I insist on buying the physical release. Same with movies. Piles of DVD's Blu rays and VHS tapes hanging around. Planned obsolescence is a business trick as old as the hills, and the likes of Apple and Microsoft love to take control of things you thought you owned to grab more of your cash.