Forced to upgrade

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Forced Upgrades & Software Support

  • Many users feel “forced” to replace fully functional phones and Macs when OS and app support ends, especially browsers and security patches.
  • Several stories: iPhone 6/7/8 era devices and older Macs becoming unusable mainly due to web/app and security support, not failing hardware.
  • Some argue transitions like PowerPC→Intel→ARM and ARM performance gains justify deprecations; others see them as also serving as sales drivers.

Environmental Impact & Regulation

  • Strong concern about e‑waste from phones and desktops that could last much longer.
  • Debate on impact: some say phone emissions are a “rounding error” vs cars and urban planning; others stress mining, rare metals, and non‑carbon harms.
  • EU-style rules mentioned: minimum 5 years of updates, calls for 10 years, Cyber Resilience Act, and right‑to‑repair / mandated support for older devices.
  • Counterpoint: regulatory bandwidth is limited and should prioritize higher-impact changes (e.g., transport).

Apple, Android, and Open Source

  • Apple is widely seen as best-in-class for mobile OS longevity, but 5–7 years is still viewed as insufficient compared to appliances and PCs.
  • Android OEM support is inconsistent; some devices are EOL’d quickly, others (Pixel, Samsung, Fairphone) now promise 5–7+ years.
  • Custom ROMs (LineageOS, GrapheneOS) can extend life but break bank apps and SafetyNet, and are seen as less trustworthy by some.
  • Open-source OSes on PCs (Linux/BSD) are praised for near-indefinite hardware support; proprietary ecosystems are accused of having financial incentives to drop old hardware.

Security, Banking, and App Policies

  • Several note that once security updates stop, network use is risky; others argue acceptable risk depends on user context.
  • Bank/2FA apps often force newer OS versions, sometimes hard-blocking older but still-working app builds. This is a major practical obsolescence driver.

UX Preferences: Touch ID, Size, and Features

  • Strong nostalgia for smaller phones (SE, 4/5, mini) and Touch ID; many dislike large “phablets” and Face ID reliability.
  • Others find Face ID clearly superior and adapt quickly to gesture navigation and larger screens.

Workarounds & Coping Strategies

  • Users extend life via battery replacements, trade-ins, or repurposing (music players, monitors, offline devices).
  • Some keep a “modern” phone only for apps that demand it, while daily-driving much older hardware they actually prefer.