The average lifespan of a smartphone is said to be 3 to 4 years. However, by being mindful of how you use your smartphone on a daily basis, you may be able to extend its lifespan beyond the average. (※This may vary depending on your usage environment.)
This article will cover the average lifespan of smartphones, six tips for extending their lifespan, and signs that indicate your phone is nearing the end of its life.
Furthermore, we will explain what to do when your smartphone reaches the end of its lifespan, including buying a new device and switching carriers to review and reduce your smartphone fees, so please refer to this information.
Let's take a look at the lifespan of a smartphone from both the smartphone itself and its battery perspective.
The lifespan of a smartphone is said to be 3 to 4 years, but this varies depending on the manufacturer and model you use.
According to the "Consumer Trends Survey" (*1) published by the Cabinet Office, the average lifespan of a smartphone (mobile phone) is 4.4 years, based on the survey conducted in December 2023.
The most common reason for replacing a smartphone was "malfunction" at 38.7%, followed by "upgrading to a higher-end model" at 30.6%.
The survey results also show that the risk of a smartphone breaking down increases after using it for around four years.
Furthermore, as smartphones become older and their processing power insufficient, users may consider upgrading to a higher-end model.
Reference: "Consumer Trends Survey, conducted in December 2023" (Cabinet Office)
The lifespan of the smartphone itself is different from the lifespan of the battery.
Smartphone batteries are lithium-ion batteries, and it is generally said that after 300 charges, the capacity of these batteries will deteriorate to about 70-80%, and after 500 charges, it will deteriorate to about 50-70%.
Even if the battery deteriorates, it will not become completely unusable, but taking into account the deterioration caused by the number of times it is charged, it is ideal to replace it every 2 to 3 years.
As a guideline, if the battery life on a full charge of your smartphone is about half of what it was when you first purchased it, it is likely that the battery is nearing the end of its life and it is a good idea to replace it sooner.
While there is a charge for replacing your smartphone battery, you can have it done at your carrier's shop (※2).
*2: The method for replacing the battery may vary depending on the model and carrier.
We've introduced the guidelines for lithium-ion battery degradation, but you may be wondering how much your smartphone's battery is actually deteriorating. Here, we'll show you how to check the battery status from your smartphone.
Please note that the method for checking the battery level differs between iPhone and Android.
1. Tap "Settings" > "Battery" on the device
2. Check "Battery Health" > "Maximum Battery Capacity"
The maximum capacity of the battery is expressed as the maximum percentage that can be charged, with 100% being the maximum when fully charged at the time of purchase. This number gradually decreases with repeated charging and discharging.
According to Apple's official website, the battery is designed to retain 80% of its maximum capacity even after 500 full charge cycles under ideal conditions.
If your iPhone is covered by the Apple Limited Warranty or AppleCare+, battery replacements are free of charge.
References: iPhone Battery and Performance (Apple) , iPhone Battery Service (Apple)
To check the battery status on Android, go to "Settings" > "System" > "About phone" > "Battery status." However, some models do not allow you to check the battery status from the settings, so please contact your carrier for details.
To replace the battery on an Android device, you will need to contact the carrier or manufacturer where you purchased the device. fees will vary depending on the warranty, so be sure to check in advance.
If you use your smartphone carefully, you may be able to extend its lifespan. Here are six tips to help your smartphone last longer than average.
Smartphones are precision devices and tend to be vulnerable to shocks. Although there are shock-resistant devices available, it is still important to avoid dropping them and subjecting them to strong shocks as much as possible.
Impacts can not only damage the exterior, but can also cause internal failures. If the battery is subjected to an impact, it may deteriorate faster, so be careful.
Smartphones are precision devices and are vulnerable to water. Even if they are waterproof, it is important to avoid getting them wet as much as possible.
Be especially careful when foreign objects such as salt and sugar contained in seawater or juice come into contact with the charging terminal, as this can cause malfunctions.
It is best to avoid using the product in humid locations as this may cause water vapor to adhere or condensation to form.
Using your smartphone in high or low temperature environments can also put a lot of strain on it. If your smartphone becomes hot while you're using it, stop using it or turn it off to let it cool down.
For example, according to Apple's official website, while the iPhone is designed to function properly in a wide range of environments, the optimal temperature range is between 16° and 22°.
Using or charging your phone when the ambient temperature is above 35° may shorten the battery life.
In addition, rather than environmental factors, overheating may be caused by how you use your device, such as running multiple apps at the same time or using a location app for a long period of time.
To avoid overheating or overcooling, be careful about the environment and how you use it.
Reference: Charge and save battery on your iPhone (Apple)
We recommend using the original charger when charging. Non-original chargers may overheat or put a strain on the battery.
If you are not using the genuine charger, it is recommended that you use one that has the "PSE" mark.
For chargers with the PSE mark, manufacturers are required to inspect every product at the time of production and record and keep records of the results.
In order to display the PSE mark, a product must undergo conformity testing and certification by a third-party organization registered with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Chargers with the PSE mark have undergone strict quality checks like this, making them safer to use.
Using your smartphone while charging makes it more likely to heat up. When your smartphone gets too hot, it puts a lot of strain on the battery, shortening its lifespan. Avoiding using your smartphone while charging as much as possible will help your battery last longer.
Furthermore, recent smartphones have a function to prevent overcharging, so you don't need to worry too much about overcharging.
However, if you want to minimize the load on your battery, we recommend charging it at around 20% and finishing charging at around 80%.
The fewer apps you install, the less strain your smartphone will put on it.
Apps can communicate in the background even when you are not using them, so uninstalling unnecessary apps in advance will reduce the burden on your smartphone.
It is also effective to periodically turn off apps that run in the background.
Here are some signs that your smartphone is nearing the end of its life:
Let's check out the contents.
If your smartphone is running slowly, it may be because the smartphone itself is under strain or its processing power has decreased.
The following are some of the possible causes of your smartphone slowing down:
If the problem persists even after solving the causes in the table, it is likely that the problem lies with the smartphone itself, and it may be a sign that the device is nearing the end of its life.
By finding out the cause of slow performance, you can determine to some extent whether your smartphone is nearing the end of its life.
| cause | Content |
|---|---|
| Insufficient internal storage | As the number of music, video, and other files increases, the free space in the internal storage decreases. |
| Out of memory | Smartphones have a cache function that temporarily stores information on the app or browser side. While the cache function saves you the trouble of loading data, if too much data accumulates, it can take up memory. |
| App-side issues | By running multiple apps, background communication is constantly occurring, putting a strain on your smartphone. |
| Internet connection issues | The smartphone's data usage has reached its monthly limit, and speed restrictions have been imposed, causing the device to slow down. |
Lithium-ion batteries are resistant to deterioration over time, but they are still consumables.
The estimated lifespan of a lithium-ion battery is 500 charges. If you notice that the number of charges increases and the battery is losing power more quickly, it may be that the battery is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Although not directly related to the lifespan of your smartphone, the following are some of the reasons why your battery may drain faster:
By making an effort to use your smartphone in a way that is gentle on the battery, you can slow down the battery drain and reduce the number of times you need to charge it.
By reducing the number of charging cycles, you can also delay the lifespan of the device, which is typically reached after 500 charging cycles.
If your battery is deteriorating, it may expand. If your smartphone's shape has changed or the LCD display is not working properly, it may be that the battery is expanding.
If you continue to use it as is, there is a risk of damaging your smartphone or it catching fire, so it is important to replace it or buy a new device immediately.
As your smartphone deteriorates, its processing power decreases and it may suddenly shut down or restart.
In some cases, reducing the strain on your smartphone can improve the situation, but if you've been using the same smartphone for more than three years, it's probably time to consider replacing it, as it's close to breaking down or deteriorating.
Although it is not directly related to the lifespan of your smartphone, if your smartphone turns off or restarts on its own, there may be other factors below that should be checked.
Some smartphones that have been on the market for several years may be outdated and unable to be updated to the latest OS.
Continuing to use an older OS increases security risks.
Smartphones are said to be less susceptible to viruses than PCs, but their security is not guaranteed, so it's a good idea to consider replacing your smartphone sooner rather than later.
As shown in the data from the "Consumer Trends Survey (conducted in December 2023)" published by the Cabinet Office, around the time a smartphone reaches four years of use, more and more people start replacing them due to malfunctions.
If you have been using your smartphone for a long time and are experiencing problems such as the battery draining to zero quickly even after being fully charged or the device shutting off on its own, we recommend purchasing a new device.
For example, if you purchase your favorite device from au 's "au Online Shop" and simultaneously switch carriers to povo2.0 (*3), au 's online-only brand, you may be able to revise your smartphone plan to save fees.
povo2.0 is a fees plan with a base fees of 0 yen (*4)(*5)(*6), where you purchase data Topping as needed, so you only fees for the data you actually use.
You can purchase Topping such as "Unlimited data (*7) (24 hours) 330 yen (tax included)/time" or "Data Top-up 1GB (7 days) 390 yen (tax included)/time".
Also, when you are replacing your device, we recommend taking advantage of povo2.0 's "Smartphone Gigatrade" service for your old smartphone.
Smartphone Gigatrade is a service that allows you to exchange your old smartphone or tablet for a trade code that can be used on povo2.0, depending on the purchase price.
Furthermore, we are currently running the "Serious Discount Campaign!" where customers who switch to povo2.0 from another company (*8) via MNP, link their au ID to their povo account, activate their SIM, and purchase eligible Topping within 7 days, will receive a refund equivalent to half the price (Real-discount-free) in their au PAY balance.
In addition, we are constantly updating our campaign list page with other great deals, so please take a look.
Also, if you are changing your model and carrier at the same time, we recommend the following page, which provides an easy-to-understand summary of the steps.
Reference: You can change your phone model and carrier at the same time! Here are the steps and key points
*3: This is an online-only plan, so all procedures and support are online. povo2.0 Please contact us through the application or the official website. 4：You may be subject to additional fees such as handling charges, etc. If you have not purchased validity or paid Topping for more than 180 days, your usage may be suspended or your contract may be terminated. Please understand this in advance.
If you subscribe to 5 lines(*) under the same name, a contract administration fee of tax included 3,850 yen/line will be charged for the 6th line and thereafter.
*Including lines that have been terminated or cancelled by the Company within the past year. 5：Domestic calls are charged separately at tax included 22 yen/30 seconds, and SMS sending is charged separately at tax included 3.3 yen/text (up to 70 characters).
Depending on the model, up to 670 two-byte characters can be sent; up to 134 characters are counted as two SMS messages, and thereafter one SMS message is charged for every 67 characters. Call charges may differ for some calls, such as calls to satellite phones.
Reference: "povo2.0 Plan Details" *6: If you do not purchase data Topping, the maximum sending/receiving speed is 128 kbps. *7： Communication speed may be limited during network congestion or when using videos, cloud games, etc. *8：If you change from au / UQ mobile / povo1.0 to povo2.0, you are not eligible for this campaign.
