Laptops expire, too: Before you buy, search for that exact model on endoflife.date. If it’s already at its end of life, or EOL, move on. That means it’s not going to get any more security updates and isn’t safe to use. If it’s close to its EOL, you can do better: Check out our latest laptop picks.
Your phone has an expiration date – Here’s how to find it
Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? It’s one thing to deal with a battery that doesn’t last a day and crashing apps to avoid spending a big chunk of change.
But using your phone past its end of life is risky business. So is clicking any link that comes your way. It’s a bummer hackers are weaving them into AI chatbot results.
Let’s look at one of the easiest ways to keep your digital life safer: Only using devices that get current security updates.
The lifespan lowdown
Today, the average lifespan of smartphones is around 2.5 years. It could be even less for some devices — between 15 and 18 months. That’s not much when phones cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Bigger brands like Apple and Samsung tend to have longer lifespans than smaller companies. Here are the average lifespans for some of today’s most popular phones:
- iPhone – 4 to 8 years
- Samsung – 3 to 6 years
- Google Pixel – 3 to 5 years
- Huawei – 2 to 4 years
These are averages, meaning your mileage may vary.
Find your number
Your phone’s lifespan clock starts from when it was made, not when you purchased it. That makes keeping track of all this a little tricky. If you’re unsure when your phone was made, you can find out with some sleuthing.
- Still have the phone’s original box? The manufacture date should be listed on the package or in any included documentation.
- If you tossed the box, the information should be listed within your phone’s settings under “About” or a similar option.
- You can also use your phone’s serial number to decipher when it was made. Many manufacturers hide the date or year within these numbers. The serial number is tucked in your phone’s settings.
- There are special dial codes and boot logging menus that can show you this info.
Are your eyes glazing over? I thought so.
How many more years can you get out of your phone?
Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? I know many of you put up with crappy battery power and random glitches longer than you should to avoid costly upgrades.
But using your phone past its end of life is risky business. I did the work to figure out the lifespan of popular models, plus I’ll help you find out how old your phone is and if you’re still using a model you need to ditch. Why? Because I want to help you.
How to check your phone's expiration date
Your phone won’t last forever. There’s a site that will tell you when yours hits end of life.
Don’t lose important messages: How to save your voicemails
Life is short, and there’s more than ever to think about when it comes to the end of life. Tap or click for steps to decide who gets access to your accounts when you’re gone.
If you’ve lost someone, you know how comforting pictures and videos can be. Being able to read old text conversations is special, too. Tap or click for the best way to save your texts.
RIP: Check your phone’s end-of-life (EOL) date. That’s when it’ll no longer get security updates — and when you really should stop using it. Try endoflife.date to find your EOL.