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Apple Expects Users To Replace Their iPhone, Apple Watch After Three Years

Posted by msmash on from the please-buy-new-idevice dept.

Apple says it expects its users to replace their iPhone and Apple Watch after (more like, every) three years. The company adds that it expects a Mac user to replace their computer after four years. The iPhone maker shared the expectations in a recently released document as part of its latest environmental push. In the document, Apple underscores how much its products contribute to the greenhouse gas lifecycle. The Guardian reports: Within a new question and answer section Apple said: "Years of use, which are based on first owners, are assumed to be four years for OS X and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices." That assessment doesn't take into account the recycling of devices, their reconditioning and their resale, of course, but when you buy a new iPhone 6S for $649 (starting price, off-contract), Apple expects it to last three years, something many suspected. Apple has been accused of intentionally slowing down iPhones every time a new one is released, although there is little evidence to support the theory.Also see: Apple's Recycling Initiatives Recover $40 Million In Gold

4 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Misleading headline by gnasher719 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple doesn't "expect" customers to replace their phones after three years. Apple "assumes" that they do this, which is very different.

    1. Re:Misleading headline by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Informative
      This was the actual passage from Apple:

      To model customer use, we measure the power consumed by a product while it is running in a simulated scenario. Daily usage patterns are specific to each product and are a mixture of actual and modeled customer use data. Years of use, which are based on first owners, are assumed to be four years for OS X and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices. More information on our product energy use is provided in our Product Environmental Reports.

      Based on their best estimates, they think consumers replace every 3 years. Not "expects" but "assumes". It's like every lifetime estimation I've seen. Civil Engineers assume a 30year lifespan on roads, etc.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  2. Re:Makes sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    To be fair, the OS argument doesn't apply to iOS devices - Apple actually provides OS updates for a few years after the device stops being rolled.

  3. Re:Makes sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not intentionally slow down as a design though, it is rather feature creep and lack of control over impulse app installs. I use an iPhone 4S, have for the past two years (first smart phone) with minimal apps, and in fact one of the most recent iOS updates added a great feature that doubled my functional battery life (low power mode). I got through a college environment fine with that, but now starting graduate school and full-time work my battery demands (16+ hours) are beyond what the 4S can support without mid-day recharging. That is the only reason I'll have to update in the next year or so, barring any accidents or theft.