It’s standard practice that phones from almost all brands, including Apple, Samsung and Google, are refreshed every year. It’s a problem and it needs to stop. The production and shipping of new devices is a significant drain on the environment and I believe it’s a major reason why the mobile phone industry continues to feel stagnant and boring. By switching to a two- or even three-year update cycle, phones could become exciting again and we’d be doing the planet a massive favor. Let me explain.
The industry runs like clockwork. We expect Apple to release new iPhones in September, Samsung to launch new Galaxy S-series phones in January or February and Google to debut new Pixels in October. This predictable cycle means that there’s always a flashy new product to buy whether you’re upgrading from a five-year-old handset or simply want the latest, greatest tech available.
It’s a money-making exercise, designed to make you crave the next best thing and give more of your hard-earned cash to both the phone manufacturers and the cellular network providers you’re likely buying from.