The three categories of authentication factor Three columns showing something you know (a password or PIN), something you have (a phone, hardware key, or passkey), and something you are (a fingerprint or face). Two of the three are required to unlock the account. Text below explains that "two-factor" means two different categories, not two of the same. any two unlocks 1 Something you know • A password • A PIN • A recovery phrase • An answer to a security question Can be stolen, guessed, or reused 2 Something you have • Your phone (SMS, app, push) • A hardware security key • A passkey on your device • A code from an authenticator Requires possessing the device 3 Something you are • A fingerprint • Face recognitio...
How to Choose a Phone That Will Last Five Years
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Original diagram — what matters at which stage. Software updates are the only bar that runs the full length.
How to Choose a Phone That Will Last Five Years
Most phone reviews are written in the first two weeks of a device's life. They compare camera
sensors, benchmark scores, and design details — all of which matter enormously on day one and
progressively less as the months pass. None of them tell you whether the phone will still be a
reasonable device to use in 2031.
This guide is about that question. It covers the factors that actually determine how a phone ages —
software support, battery health, storage headroom, build quality — and explains why the things
that dominate reviews often matter much less than buyers assume. It is not a list of specific phones
to buy; those lists go stale within a year. It is a framework for evaluating whatever phone you are
considering.
One honest caveat at the top: no phone will last five years for everyone. If your usage is
demanding, or you drop it regularly, or you need the latest camera capabilities, a shorter cycle is
legitimate. The goal here is to identify which choices increase the odds, so that when you do replace
the phone, it is a decision rather than a forced upgrade.
Key takeaways
Software support duration is the single biggest factor. A phone that stops receiving security updates is a security liability regardless of how good its hardware is.
Battery replacement around year three is cheaper than a new phone, if the phone is repairable. This alone can extend life by two years.
Buy more storage than you need now. Storage cannot be upgraded on almost every modern phone, and running out of it slows the device before it forces a replacement.
Processor and camera specs matter less than reviews imply for longevity. A mid-range chip from this year will feel fine in year four; a flagship chip from four years ago often will not.
The manufacturer's track record matters more than their promises. Some brands have consistently delivered long support; others have announced it recently and have not yet proven it.
1. Software support: the factor that decides everything else
A phone is a computer. Computers need security patches. A phone that has stopped receiving security
updates is still functional, but it accumulates known vulnerabilities that will never be fixed.
This is not a theoretical concern — Android and iOS security bulletins are public, and attackers do
track which devices are no longer patched.
The good news is that the industry has moved significantly on this in the last few years. The
practical picture, as of writing:
Original diagram — typical support durations by manufacturer category. Verify the specific model before buying; the picture changes as new devices launch.
The distinction between security updates and OS version updates
matters here. Security updates patch vulnerabilities; OS updates add features and change the
interface. A phone can receive one without the other.
For longevity, security updates are what matter most. A phone that receives
monthly security patches for six years but stops getting OS version updates after three is in a
much better position than one that gets five years of OS updates but only two years of security
patches. The features of a newer Android or iOS version are pleasant; the absence of a security
patch is a risk.
When checking a specific phone, look for two figures separately: years of OS updates, and years of
security updates. Manufacturers sometimes quote one when they mean the other, or quote a combined
figure without clarifying.
The track record matters as much as the promise. Some manufacturers have
consistently delivered long support on past devices, which makes their forward commitments credible.
Others announced extended support recently and have not yet demonstrated it at scale. A seven-year
promise from a company with a seven-year track record is worth more than the same promise from a
company announcing it for the first time. This is not a claim that any specific promise is
unreliable — it is a note that promises and track records are different things, and both are worth
checking.
2. Battery health and repairability
A lithium-ion battery loses capacity as it cycles, and after roughly 500 to 800 full charge cycles
it reaches the point where the decline is noticeable. For a typical user, that is around three
years. The phone is not broken at that point; it simply holds less charge, and on some devices the
operating system begins to limit peak performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
The single most important thing about battery aging is this: a battery replacement costs
a fraction of a new phone, and extends the life of the device by another two to three years.
If the phone is repairable, the battery is the maintenance item that determines whether you get
five years or three.
Original diagram — battery replacement is usually the cheaper path, if software support allows it.
For a battery replacement to be a realistic option, three things need to be true:
The battery must be replaceable without destroying the phone. Most modern phones are sealed, but official battery replacement services exist for most major brands. The question is whether the cost is reasonable relative to the phone's current value.
The software must still be supported. Replacing a battery on a phone that stopped receiving security updates two years ago extends usability but not safety. Both need to be true for the replacement to be worthwhile.
The rest of the phone must still be adequate. If the screen is cracked, the storage is full, and the camera has stopped working, a battery replacement is not the answer.
Repairability has been improving. The EU's rules on eco-design and the right to repair have pushed
manufacturers toward making batteries more accessible and parts more available, and some
manufacturers now offer self-repair kits or extended parts availability. This is worth checking
when comparing phones: a manufacturer with a documented repair programme and available parts will
age better than one without.
Practical habit worth forming: avoid the two things that age a battery fastest —
keeping the phone at 100% charge for long periods (overnight charging on a bedside table) and
letting it drain to zero regularly. Both accelerate capacity loss. Keeping the battery between
roughly 20% and 80% most of the time makes a measurable difference over years.
3. Storage and RAM: buy more than you need
Storage
Storage is the second factor that determines whether a phone is still pleasant to use at year four.
It is also the factor that buyers most often underestimate, because the "I only use a few apps"
calculation is made at the moment of purchase, before photos and videos and downloaded content and
app updates accumulate.
Two things make this a one-way decision on almost every modern phone: storage cannot be
upgraded, and running out of it slows the device before it forces a
replacement. A phone with full storage becomes sluggish in the way described in the earlier guide on
why phones get slow — the
operating system has no room for cache and working files.
A reasonable rule of thumb: buy at least twice the storage you currently use. If
your current phone is using 80 GB, buy at least 128 GB, ideally 256 GB. If you take a lot of photos
or videos, buy 256 GB or more. The cost difference at purchase is usually much smaller than the
cost of replacing the phone a year early because storage ran out.
RAM
RAM matters for multi-tasking and for how well the phone handles new app versions over time. Apps
grow; each year's version of Chrome, WhatsApp, or a game typically needs more memory than the
previous one. A phone that has adequate RAM at purchase may feel constrained by year three.
The practical guidance: 8 GB is the current minimum for a phone you want to keep for several
years, and 12 GB or more is preferable if the budget allows. On iPhone, RAM is managed
differently and the numbers are lower, but the same logic applies — the higher-memory configuration
ages better than the base model.
4. Build quality and water resistance
A phone that physically survives five years is easier to keep using than one that does not. Three
things are worth checking:
Water and dust resistance rating. IP68 is the practical standard — it means the
phone is designed to survive being submerged in fresh water for a period. IP67 is a step below but
still useful. This matters less as an active feature and more as insurance against accidental
spills, rain, and the occasional drop into a sink. It is more important for a phone you plan to keep
for five years than for one you replace every two, because the probability of an accident
accumulates over time.
Screen protection. Gorilla Glass Victus and its successors, Ceramic Shield on
recent iPhones, and equivalent branded glass from other manufacturers are meaningfully more
shatter-resistant than older glass. This is not marketing — the impact tests are real. A phone with
a modern protective glass is less likely to need a screen repair, which is one of the most
expensive common repairs.
Materials. Aluminium frames age better than plastic ones, which scratch and can
crack. This matters for appearance rather than function — a plastic phone with a good case will
survive as long as a metal one — but if the phone is going to be visible for five years, the
material matters to the experience of using it.
5. What matters less than you think
This section is the counterpart to the previous four, and it is the part most buyers get wrong. The
factors that dominate reviews often have much less impact on whether the phone is still good in year
five.
Camera megapixel count
The number of megapixels is one of the least useful specs. A 12 MP camera with good processing
produces better photos than a 48 MP camera with poor processing. What matters more is sensor size,
computational photography, and the manufacturer's track record of updating camera software. A phone
with a smaller megapixel count but better processing will take photos you prefer for years.
Processor benchmark scores
Flagship chips are dramatically faster than mid-range chips on synthetic benchmarks. In practice,
both feel fast for years, because most tasks are not processor-bound. A mid-range chip from this
year will feel fine in year four; a flagship chip from four years ago often will not. Buying one
generation behind the flagship can be better value than buying the current flagship, if you keep
the phone for several years.
The exception is gaming and heavy workloads. If you play demanding games or do video editing on
the phone, the processor does matter, and a flagship chip extends the range of apps the phone can
run at year four.
Screen refresh rate above 90Hz
A 120Hz screen feels smoother than a 60Hz one, and once you have used one you notice the
difference. But it is a comfort feature rather than a longevity factor. A 60Hz screen will feel
just as smooth in year four as it did in year one; it is not going to age badly. Do not pay more
for a higher refresh rate if it is compromising other things like storage or battery replacement
affordability.
The latest design trends
Foldable phones, thin-and-light designs, and unusual form factors look impressive at launch and
often have shorter practical lifespans. Folding mechanisms have more moving parts that can fail;
thin phones have smaller batteries; unusual form factors tend to have less spare part availability
after the initial production run. If longevity is the goal, conventional designs with proven
reliability records are a safer bet.
6. A practical decision framework
Original diagram — five criteria in the order that determines longevity. Everything else is a refinement.
The framework is deliberately simpler than the spec sheets most reviews provide. It is also
deliberately ordered: the first two criteria eliminate most phones that will not last. The next two
eliminate phones that will last but will be frustrating by year four. The fifth is insurance. A
phone that passes all five is a reasonable long-term choice regardless of anything else in its
spec sheet.
If you want a complementary view of what makes a phone slow over time — and which of those things
is worth trying to mitigate — the guide on
why phones get slow covers
the maintenance side of the same story. And for the data on the phone, the guide on
backing up your
phone and computer covers what to do about it.
Where this leaves you
A phone that lasts five years is not the most expensive one, and it is rarely the one that wins
the reviews. It is the one that received security updates for the full five years, can have its
battery replaced at year three, was bought with more storage than seemed necessary at the time,
and had enough RAM to keep up with apps that got bigger.
The single most useful change to how most people buy phones is to check the software support
duration first, before anything else. That one figure predicts how the phone will age more reliably
than any other specification. If the phone will not be supported in year five, it does not matter
how good the camera is.
The second most useful change is to buy more storage than you need now. It costs more at purchase
and saves a phone replacement later.
Frequently asked questions
How long do phones typically last?
Physically, most phones can last five to seven years with a battery replacement. Practically, the
limit is usually software support — most phones receive security updates for two to seven years
depending on the manufacturer, and after that they are increasingly vulnerable. The realistic
lifespan is the shorter of the physical and software limits.
How many years of updates should I look for?
At least five years of security updates is the practical minimum for a phone you want to keep long
term. Seven years is now offered by several manufacturers on their flagship devices. Below five
years, you are likely to need a replacement before the phone stops being secure, regardless of
how well it is physically holding up.
Is it worth buying last year's flagship instead of this year's mid-range?
Often, yes. A previous flagship typically has a better processor, better build quality and a better
camera than a current mid-range phone. The main risk is software support — a phone that launched
two years ago may have three years of security updates left rather than five. Check the remaining
support window for the specific model before deciding.
How much storage should I buy?
At least twice what your current phone uses. If you use 80 GB now, buy 256 GB rather than 128 GB.
If you take a lot of photos or videos, buy 256 GB or more. Storage cannot be upgraded later, and
running out is a common reason people replace phones earlier than they would otherwise need to.
Can I replace the battery myself?
On some phones, yes, especially with the recent push toward repairability. On most modern flagships,
no — the phone is sealed, and the battery replacement requires tools and knowledge that make it
worth using an official service. Check whether the manufacturer offers an official replacement
programme before deciding it is not an option.
Do I need a case and screen protector?
A case and screen protector are cheap insurance against the accidents that accumulate over five
years. A screen replacement is one of the most expensive common repairs, and a case reduces the
probability of needing one. Even with modern protective glass, a case and screen protector are
worth the small cost for a phone you plan to keep.
Does 5G matter for longevity?
As a feature, 5G is now standard on almost every phone released in the last few years. It does not
age into irrelevance the way software does; a phone with 5G will still have 5G in year five. What
matters more is the modem's efficiency — older or budget 5G modems can drain the battery faster
than newer ones, which affects the battery aging story more than the connectivity feature itself.
Should I buy a foldable phone if I want it to last?
Foldable phones have improved considerably, but they still have more moving parts than
conventional designs — the hinge and the folding screen are additional failure points. If longevity
is the top priority, a conventional design is a safer choice. If the folding form factor is
genuinely valuable to you, the modern ones are reasonable, but expect the same lifespan factors to
apply with less tolerance for accidents.
A note on accuracy: software support durations are announced at launch and change
as new devices are released. The figures in this article reflect typical support windows at the
time of writing, but the specific numbers for any given phone should be verified against the
manufacturer's official support page. The article deliberately avoids recommending specific models,
because those recommendations go stale faster than the framework the article teaches.
Sources and further reading:
Apple's published iOS and iPadOS device compatibility lists and security update documentation;
Google Pixel support documentation and the Pixel 8 launch announcement on update duration;
Samsung Galaxy S24 launch announcement on seven-year update policy;
EU Ecodesign Regulation for smartphones and tablets (2023), which sets requirements on repair
and update availability;
EU Right to Repair Directive (2024);
manufacturer repair programme documentation from Apple, Samsung and Google;
IP rating standards (IEC 60529).
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