The march of time stops for no one, rich or poor, for whomever. While humans may be able to mitigate their demise with a bit of compassion, there is none for old phones. Android phones grow old, older than 2 years old, slow down, and then get pitched into the back drawer, replaced by a new Android model, never to be turned on again.
One of the problems with Android phones is actually Google. Google’s Play store gets ever larger for each update. This slows down the older phone, to the point that the owner cannot even use the phone as a simple phone. When the phone starts performing like it is on its knees, the owner assumes it is the hardware, but it is not. The hardware is just as capable as it was when new, can make phone calls, text, and run a few apps. As the Play Center is so ubiquitous there is little an average owner can do. You cannot easily remove the Play Center from your Android Phone.
Google is not the only issue with old phones, or any Android smartphone, for that matter. Vendor and Carrier bloatware is also a major issue. Vendor apps come with the phone. Telecom carriers then add their apps on top. Most of these apps cannot be deleted by the average owner. Yes, you bought your phone, but you really need to jump hoops in order to customize it to run well. Terrible.
I have been called crazy, and people are probably right, but I knew my old phone, an LG p690 of vintage 2011, only 5 years old, was still good. I removed lots of bloatware but the phone still had some lag. When I removed the Google Play Store the phone really woke up, and is functioning very well today. And why should it not function well? It is simply a computer, but I unshackled it from the confines of Google.
Google may not be the only one that degrades their phones through upgrades. Apple might be doing the same. Same story, switch from Google to Apple.
There have been a growing number of reports among users on Apple’s incrementally larger software memory and storage requirements, to the point where earlier versions of the flagship iPhone simply can’t run newer versions of the software, alongside the users’ stored music, videos and photos. The solution, according to Mac Store reps? Upgrade to a newer device.
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Apple degrades old phones with their incremental upgrades. Google does this through upgrades to the Play store. The result is the same: older iPhones and Android phones slow down, to the point where their owners lose patience and feel the need to upgrade to a newer model.
There is no need to upgrade if your old phone does what you need. Do not let any manufacturer bully you into an upgrade. I know it is hard, but they make their money when you buy their shiny new toy and throw out their old toy. Mother earth weeps when this happens.
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