Do Android phones last?

[maxwelltech]

Hi,

I have been using my HTC One M7 as my go-to phone for the past two years, and it is clearly showing its sign of age. The camera is seemingly becoming worse, the screen takes 2 minutes to react to inputs, and the battery can't last 3 hours of continuous use. I do not know if this is just specific to the HTC One or is it common to all Android phones. In comparison, my 4th gen iPad is still functioning flawlessly even though it is close to 3 years old.

Of course, with the imminent announcement of the new iPhone, it is time for me to evaluate which phone I should buy. In terms of specs and pricing, the Galaxy S6 clearly wins. However, I am concerned by how long can Android phones continue operating optimally without the hassle of constantly clearing RAM and disconnecting the internet.

For Android users out there, what are your experiences of using phones that are a few years old?

 

[aneftp]

Most flagship Android phones show their age after 2 years. Many who have nexus 5 are frustrated.

I do u think galaxy s4 still performs well. But that too is showing its age.

Remember the HTC one m7 always had a lesser camera and battery issues were common complaints when they were first released.

A flagship iPhone easily can get 2 years out. Especially the S updates.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I can't speak for Android users, but if you mean "last" in terms of receiving software upgrades, then no. You'd be lucky to receive more than one or two major Android versions, whereas you can expect at least four for the newest iPhones.

 

[gotluck]

I find my gs4 play edition to perform better than the day I bought it. But it is no longer receiving updates, and for that reason I am looking at new phones. For this reason I am heavily biased towards nexus, or a switch back to iOS. OEM phones just don't get long enough software update support, with a couple arguable exceptions. I would also argue certain oems (samsung with touchwiz) have a pattern of planned obsolescence through updates (more so than even Apple)

 

[mi7chy]

HTC isn't known for quality. Glad I got rid of mine.

On the other hand, still have a Galaxy Note II from 2012 that works great, the original battery still holds 100% charge and it has 2GB DRAM that the new iPhone 6s will get. Can easily go another year with it but the Note 5 was way too nice to pass up.

 

[gotluck]

The note 2 is end of lifed awhile ago and vulnerable through, unless you use aftermarket roms with bugs

 

[mi7chy]

It's bootloader unlocked so I can install custom ROMs on it but stock is fine. It's a lot more useful than obsolete iPad Air with only 1GB DRAM that reloads and without precision pen. The MMS thing I can turn off auto MMS retrieve so no big deal. And, it already has split view and picture-in-picture since 2012 that iPad Air won't get with iOS 9.

 

[gotluck]

Hey man, whatever you fancy

Having to turn off auto mms really annoys me and I don't do it even though I'm vulnerable. Basically breaks group messaging.

IPad Air is not end of life'd or obsolete though. Just doesn't fit your use case

Video pane works fine with my jailbreak for pip, which has existed for at least one year. Also had os experience for windowed multitasking on iOS 7 and never used it much. Was nice for emails on one side, safari for reference in another though. Anything legitimately heavy is done through rdp or teamviewer.

 

[mi7chy]

It's dumb to jailbreak. People jailbreak to steal apps then others steal their credentials. I don't jailbreak my devices.

http://researchcenter.paloaltonetwo...000-apple-accounts-to-create-free-app-utopia/

iPad Air not only suffered from early obsolescence but it's also been obsoleted by newer iPad Air 2 and possibly a new device on 9/9.

 

[gotluck]

It's dumb to jailbreak. People jailbreak to steal apps then others steal their credentials. I don't jailbreak my devices.

http://researchcenter.paloaltonetwo...000-apple-accounts-to-create-free-app-utopia/

iPad Air not only suffered from early obsolescence but it's also been obsoleted by newer iPad Air 2 and possibly a new device on 9/9.

Haha I am not some pleb that uses Chinese pirate repos. Nice fear mongering, I suppose it is dumb to root too? We have different definitions for the word obsolete. A product that continues to be supported is not obsolete in my book. Safari tab refresh sucks, but I'm not buying a new device over it, not enough of an upgrade.

 

[mi7chy]

Right? That's what they all say.

A number change without new features isn't considered 'supported'. It's a placebo. Plus, the Note II doesn't need an update when it already had these features plus hardware features that iPad Air will never get. Pointless discussion really.

 

[apolloa]

Yes they last. My Nexus 5 has lasted me very well. It's nearly 2 years old and the battery is understandably not as good, and it's showing wear from where I have dropped it a few times but that's it. It gets tons of updates and performs very well.
I'll be getting the new Nexus but if I manage not to drop it (by the way my screen on my Nexus has been fine after dropping and bouncing on tarmac, bet an iPhone wouldn't survive as well), and you are able to remove the back and replace the battery then I'll be keeping it for sometime like 3 years.

Edit:
I should also add that the Nexus devices have incredible software support from Google and regularly get updates puxhed to them, I think the first ever LG Nexus is getting Android 6. Sony also offer good software support and have updated the entire Xperia line to 5.1.1 the latest version.

 

[gotluck]

Right? That's what they all say.

A number change without new features isn't considered 'supported'. It's a placebo. Plus, the Note II doesn't need an update when it already had these features plus hardware features that iPad Air will never get. Pointless discussion really.

Like I said, note 2 is vulnerable. Security patches man. And performance would be better with continued android version updates, touchwiz problems aside.

 

[mi7chy]

Note II hasn't suffered from iOS #fappening. I'd worry about your jailbreak and make sure you pay for your apps.

 

[gotluck]

Note II hasn't suffered from iOS #fappening. I'd worry about your jailbreak and make sure you pay for your apps.

You worry about jail breaks yet suggest a third party rom for the note 2 to get updates? That's a good joke man

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

No phone over two years is running optimal by today's standards. This includes iPhones too.

 

[I7guy]

No phone over two years is running optimal by today's standards. This includes iPhones too.

My ipad 2 is running on ios 9 is running better than the first operating system...ios 4(or 5) that shipped with the ipad. So I say your statement is not 100% on the money. True compare it to today's flagship and it falls short in many ways...but it runs good enough for what I need to to do.

 

[maxwelltech]

I can't speak for Android users, but if you mean "last" in terms of receiving software upgrades, then no. You'd be lucky to receive more than one or two major Android versions, whereas you can expect at least four for the newest iPhones.

I don't really mean "last" in terms of software upgrades. I think the current feature set of smartphones are enough for daily usage. I am more concerned by how long can the phone perform smoothly with minimal maintenance before it starts to lag. IMHO Android phones reach that point a lot sooner than Apple devices.

 

[mi7chy]

It depends on the quality of components used and the most critical one is flash memory as it can affect performance and reliability. Samsung uses its own components which is considered the best in the industry and better than what Apple sources from other companies. Remember Apple's TLC flash causing spontaneous bootloop instead of MLC, defective LG display instead Samsung that resulted in class action lawsuit, cheaper grade aluminum that bends, etc.? I'd stick with Samsung and Motorola.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I don't really mean "last" in terms of software upgrades. I think the current feature set of smartphones are enough for daily usage. I am more concerned by how long can the phone perform smoothly with minimal maintenance before it starts to lag. IMHO Android phones reach that point a lot sooner than Apple devices.

Oh, I see. Based on what people say about Android devices, I agree with your point.

 

[I7guy]

It depends on the quality of components used and the most critical one is flash memory as it can affect performance and reliability. Samsung uses its own components which is considered the best in the industry and better than what Apple sources from other companies. Remember Apple's TLC flash causing spontaneous bootloop instead of MLC, defective LG display instead Samsung that resulted in class action lawsuit, cheaper grade aluminum that bends, etc.? I'd stick with Samsung and Motorola.

Huh? What? See my post above. 4 year iPad 2 running iOS beta 5 performing better than the original o/s. Your going to pick a phone based on two narrow things and ignore the discussion about the reliability of Samsung software? Interesting.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

My ipad 2 is running on ios 9 is running better than the first operating system...ios 4(or 5) that shipped with the ipad. So I say your statement is not 100% on the money. True compare it to today's flagship and it falls short in many ways...but it runs good enough for what I need to to do.

This is why I said by today's standards. People forget how much slower things were compare to today. I also have the iPad 2 running on running on 8.4.1 and it runs well if you don't compare it to the latest model iPad. Also I think apps are an issue. App crashes was non existence for me when I first got the iPad 2 on iOS5. Apps don't crash that often now, but often enough to notice.

 

[OrangeInc]

No phone over two years is running optimal by today's standards. This includes iPhones too.

Most flagship Android phones show their age after 2 years. Many who have nexus 5 are frustrated.

I beg to differ. I'm using my Nexus 5 from google. I flashed the cyanogen mod 11 which isn't much different than the stock android that came with the phone. I have never done a software update since then, just application updates and it's running just as smooth as the day I got it. The only reason a phone would show it's age is either by battery degredation or using the newest and latest software update which wasn't designed to run on older phones anyway. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Sure I may miss out on some cool new nifty features, but I'd rather have my phone running optimally.

EDIT: Battery life is still ok as I use greenify to auto-hibernate apps that like to run in the background. I always have wifi off also which greatly improves battery life.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I beg to differ. I'm using my Nexus 5 from google. I flashed the cyanogen mod 11 which isn't much different than the stock android that came with the phone. I have never done a software update since then, just application updates and it's running just as smooth as the day I got it. The only reason a phone would show it's age is either by battery degredation or using the newest and latest software update which wasn't designed to run on older phones anyway. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Sure I may miss out on some cool new nifty features, but I'd rather have my phone running optimally.

EDIT: Battery life is still ok as I use greenify to auto-hibernate apps that like to run in the background. I always have wifi off also which greatly improves battery life.

Maybe I failed to make my point. For example, the latest demanding mobile games in 2013 might have played the best on phones such as the GS4 and the iP5. But the latest demanding games of today might lag somewhat on those devices.

 

[mi7chy]

My ipad 2 is running on ios 9 is running better than the first operating system...ios 4(or 5) that shipped with the ipad. So I say your statement is not 100% on the money. True compare it to today's flagship and it falls short in many ways...but it runs good enough for what I need to to do.

Who are you BS'ing? I own an iPad 2 and the thing is a dog just browsing with Safari and would sometimes just crash and close the browser on sites like theverge.com. iOS 7 was less laggy but even iPhone 4 I just traded in had the same issue. Lucky I even got $25 for it considering it suffered from the famous screen yellowing over time. The iPad is a curse since it's a family gift so I can't junk it.