As far as life expectancy goes, I try to buy things for life. Although examples such as futurists running the carriers forcing me off my favorite phones just because they used 3G and not LTE seems to ruin that idea.
Still, I buy a device with the intention of using it until 1) it gets busted or stolen or 2) it stops serving my needs which is what would make something functionally obsolete or 3) I'm forced to give it up (such as during the 3G shutdown).
I don't have this issue with something being old like some younger people do. If someone wants to use their 20 year old Windows XP computer, I have no issue. Some people cringe at the idea of people never giving up something old but I never understood how it affects those people. Let people use what they like! A phone isn't a fashion accessory.
Although I'm using a Galaxy A03s right now (pretty bottom of barrel phone) I still take care of the thing and hope it lasts either until I'm dead, or LTE dies, or stops working enough that it's functionally useless.
Kinda saddened at the negative reactions over refurbished or secondhand though. I mean, if it helps avoid e-waste that makes it better for the planet than mining limited resources to make yet another phone, so in my view, refurbished or used is better since it saves something from landfill, saves resources, and is often cheaper. A win win win. Currently, there's enough used tech, furniture, etc to serve the needs of three generations of people. Nobody actually has to buy new anymore. It's wasteful, expensive, and hard on the planet.
