How long does average iPhone last?
For most users, this represents approximately two years of use, which is why most people believe that the lifespan of a phone is two years. However when it comes to iPhones, you can expect between three to five years (maybe more) with proper care.
You can expect somewhere between five and seven years of major iOS updates, plus potential security patches beyond that. Your battery will decrease in performance over time, but as long as you have enough storage and keep your device from physical damage, it should last you a good amount of time.
Battery Life
The iPhone 11 features a 3,110 mAh battery, which is higher capacity than the 2,942 mAh battery in the iPhone XR. Apple says that it lasts for up to 17 hours during video playback, up to 10 hours for streaming video playback, and up to 65 hours for audio playback.
Regular use of your iPhone 7 gives you about 15 hours of battery life while it's connected to Wi-Fi.
If you've got an older model and it's running slow – or maybe it's a bit banged up – now might be a good time to replace your phone. If the screen on your iPhone is cracked or your battery capacity had dropped to 80% or below, repairs are called for.
Go to Settings > Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. iPhone displays information about your battery's capacity, peak performance, and whether your battery needs to be serviced.
Yes, iPhone 8 is absolutely still worth buying in 2023 — if you're looking for an affordable iPhone for the basics. Up until April 2020, when Apple stopped selling the iPhone 8, it was the newest iPhone that featured a smaller form factor and a home button.
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Top analyst and long-time industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple expects to replace the iPhone in just 10 years – by 2032. In its place would be an AR device – that's augmented reality. AR is when computer-generated images are overlaid on the world around you.
Four years is a good number because it's typically when things really start breaking: screens, batteries, etc. Sometimes you can squeeze a more life out but four years is a definite good rule of thumb if your budget conscious." And it doesn't always have to be new from Apple.
And on the iPhone 14, you'll get 5G wireless speeds, while the older model has 4G LTE. The iPhone 11 has a slower processor but is still a very capable iPhone even in 2022.
Is iPhone 13 worth buying in 2022?
Apple iPhones are generally considered to be the best in the smartphone industry by many although they can cost you a a lot too. However, with the launch of the iPhone 14, Apple has reduced the price of the iPhone 13, making it the best smartphone to purchase in 2022.
In our testing, the iPhone 12 lasted about one to two hours less than the iPhone 11, giving the older model an advantage for those who need longer battery life. Not only is the battery bigger, but it also seems that overall efficiency seems to be better, thanks to the lower-resolution LCD display.

Video: Watch Everything Announced at Apple's WWDC 2022 Event
This means any phones introduced in 2016 or earlier, including the iPhone 6S, iPhone SE and iPhone 7, won't be getting Apple software updates anymore. It's not an unexpected move, given that the company regularly retires software support on older devices.
Will the iPhone 7 still work in 2023? The iPhone 7 will be officially supported till September 12, 2022, which is when iOS 16 gets released.
Rank | Model | Battery life (Hours) |
---|---|---|
1 | iPhone 13 Pro Max | 9hrs 52mins |
2 | iPhone 11 pro Max | 8hrs 29mins |
3 | iPhone 13 Pro | 8hr 17Mins |
4 | iPhone 13 | 7hr 45mins |
- You can't upgrade to the latest operating system. ...
- The battery life is not long enough anymore. ...
- Your phone decides to suddenly shut down. ...
- You can't have a proper conversation. ...
- You are still out of storage. ...
- Apps often crash on your device. ...
- Manufacturer stops supporting your device.
Nonetheless, replacing your device every two years is still a good idea. Even if the phone functions well, the hardware and operating system are antiquated by the time the phone is two years old.
While some years yield a bigger leap over its predecessors than others, my general rule of thumb with iPhone remains the same: don't buy a new iPhone every year, as you won't notice much difference over what you're used to. iPhone 14 is no exception.
About lithium-ion batteries
iPhone batteries use lithium-ion technology. Compared with older generations of battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer, and have a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package.
iPhone 11 – 14.03 hours. iPhone XR – 12.95 hours. iPhone 8 Plus – 11.83 hours. iPhone XS Max – 10.31 hours.
How much does it cost to replace a battery in an iPhone?
How much does it cost to replace your iPhone battery? As of Tuesday, Apple charges $49 to replace batteries for the iPhone 8 and older models, going back to the iPhone 5. On models starting with the iPhone X through to the iPhone 13, Apple charges $69 to swap batteries.
As the battery gets older it may start to require charging more frequently, hold charge less well, or even start to shut down your phone unexpectedly. Once your iPhone's battery passes the 500 complete charges point it's probably time for it to be replaced.
Today, both devices support Apple's iOS 15 software. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus did not get upgraded to iOS 16 when it was released in late 2022.
Security features. The phone from 2040 will not only recognize your face, voice and fingerprints (every surface of the phone will be able to detect them, obviously), it will know it's you just by the way you're holding it. Unless you want someone else to use your phone, no one would be able to.
Growing at 5 percent year-on-year, we predict the iPhone in 2040 to have a display size of 17.5-inches. A phone with a height of 440mm and a width of 185mm would allow for a 17.5-inch screen.
Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark believes that smartphones could become obsolete in the coming decade. Speaking on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lundmark said that commercial use of 6G will begin in 2030 and by that time, smartphones “will not be the most common interface.”
Another major advantage that iPhones have over Samsung phones is the longevity of the devices. Although Samsung now offers four years of major Android updates for its flagships and mid-range phones, iPhones can easily last for five to six years.
Many sources believe that the average lifespan of smartphones is currently 2.5 years. However, other sources claim that it could be closer to 15-18 months for newer generation devices.
Compared to Android flagships, Apple's A-series chips for its iPhones perform better. Since it's custom-made for the iPhone, it can deliver an uninterrupted and smooth experience. It incorporates expensive and top-tier parts, making it super efficient and fast.
Many older iPhones can run Apple's latest operating system, iOS 15.5. According to Apple's policy of supporting iPhones for six years, we might estimate that the iPhone 11 will be supported until 2025. As a result, you may rest assured that your operating system will be up to date at least for a few years.
Which iPhone is best in low price?
- iPhone XR: best quality/price ratio overall.
- iPhone SE 2022: the cheapest (compact) iPhone with 5G right now.
- iPhone 13: if you have a slightly bigger budget.
- Bonus category: the best refurbished iPhone deal right now.
You want a newer iPhone design
But unlike the SE, the iPhone 11 has a much more screen-dominant appearance, with a notch at the center for Face ID (face unlock) instead of the old Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It's also significantly larger than the SE, with a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display.
Apple typically drops the pricing of its current generation iPhones when the next generation is released, so you'll almost certainly be able to buy an iPhone 13 for $699 after September 7 compared to the $799 retail price it has today.
The bottom line: If you have an iPhone XS, XS Max or XR, it's definitely worth upgrading. You get a noticeable boost in camera quality, battery life and performance among other areas.
After unveiling its next-gen products, tech giant Apple has discontinued older iPhones, including iPhone 11, 12 Mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max. According to GizmoChina, the tech giant has replaced the outgoing Pro models with the launch of new Pro models in Apple's iPhone lineup, like it does every year.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 11 verdict
The iPhone 11 is an excellent phone. But, battery life aside, the iPhone 12 is a better phone in every way. It has a more powerful processor, a more striking screen, its design is more modern and the overall feel of the device is simply more impressive than its older sibling.
In 2022, the iPhone 12 isn't worth buying at full price. However, the device becomes an alluring option when it's available at a discounted rate. The discounts will likely be around for a while, making the 12th generation an excellent purchase.
Tech giant Apple, which introduced the iPhone of 2022 in September, will soon be marking the iPhone 5c as an obsolete product by next month. Once marked as obsolete, Apple will stop providing certain repairs for the iPhone 5c and may depend on part availability.
It's bad news if your iPhone is older than the iPhone 8—Apple has ended support for the iPhone 7 and older, so you won't be able to upgrade your iPhone software to iOS 16. But even if you have a newer iPhone, you still may not get the full iOS 16 experience.
All the iPhone models being discontinued
iPhone 12 mini, released in 2020. iPhone 13 Pro, released in 2021. iPhone 13 Pro Max, released in 2021.
Is the iPhone 7 too old?
Verdict: should you buy a used iPhone 7? There really isn't much of a noticeable difference between a used iPhone 7 and newer more expensive iPhones. More advanced users may want a slightly newer iPhone with more flashy features, but the used & refurbished iPhone 7 is still more than enough for most people's needs.
But, it still receives iOS 15 security updates (as of October 31, 2022). The last version of iOS to support iPhone 7 is iOS 15.7. 2 In June 2022, Apple announced that it will drop support for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus with the release of iOS 16.
Although these theories have become incredibly common, there's no truth behind the rumors. Apple is not killing its older models, but the company did release an update that is urgent for users with older models.
The most likely reason your iPhone is slow is because it's running out of storage space, the battery is dying, or you're using old apps and outdated software. A slow iPhone can also be caused by fixable performance issues. Like any electronic device, iPhones also slow down over time.
iPhone 6 will certainly remain in the memory of many Apple users as it was the company's first smartphone with a considerably larger display than its predecessors. The phone was discontinued a few years ago, but it still gets security patches and technical support from Apple – perhaps not for much longer.
The iPhone 13 includes up to 19 hours of video playback, up to 15 hours of streamed video playback and up to 75 hours of audio playback. You can compare the battery life of various models on this website.
About lithium-ion batteries
iPhone batteries use lithium-ion technology. Compared with older generations of battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer, and have a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package.
How Long Do Smartphones Last? The length of use you can get out of a smartphone does vary depending on the make and model, but experts agree that the average life of a modern phone is around two to three years. A phone won't instantly break after that length of time, rather, it could begin to slow down during use.
When should I get new iPhone? As a rule of thumb, you can expect your phone to last anywhere between four and seven years. iPhone models almost always receive iOS updates long after their launch date. In 2021, the iPhone 6—released in 2014—was still able to install iOS 14 updates.
Shomes recommends charging your iPhone as it needs it. If you go to sleep and it has a 40 or 50 percent charge, leave it. Then charge it some time during the next day when it gets into the red. That way, the battery won't be stressed, and its health will last way longer than it will when overnight charging.
What reduces iPhone battery life?
Avoid extreme ambient temperatures.
It's especially important to avoid exposing your device to ambient temperatures higher than 35° C (95° F), which can permanently damage battery capacity. That is, your battery won't power your device as long on a given charge.
The bottom line: If you have an iPhone XS, XS Max or XR, it's definitely worth upgrading. You get a noticeable boost in camera quality, battery life and performance among other areas.
Although Samsung now offers four years of major Android updates for its flagships and mid-range phones, iPhones can easily last for five to six years.
When it comes to the lifespan of a phone, Apple has always been the clear winner. And by lifespan, I'm talking about software and security updates.
Phone | Battery life score (%) |
---|---|
Realme 7 Pro (128GB) | 94 |
Realme 6 (128GB) | 92 |
Realme 7 (5G, 128GB) | 92 |
Samsung Galaxy A71 | 91 |
Upgrading Your Phone Every Three Years
Most people upgrade their phones every two to three years. By then, the battery starts to become bothersome and Android phones stop receiving updates. It's also usually enough time for tech companies to introduce some new features you might want on your next phone.
Nonetheless, replacing your device every two years is still a good idea. Even if the phone functions well, the hardware and operating system are antiquated by the time the phone is two years old.
How often do we buy ourselves a new mobile phone? A survey conducted by Nevis Security on LinkedIn reveals that 62 per cent of users change their smartphones every three to four years. For the majority of device manufacturers, this cycle skips two to four mobile phone generations.