A recent whitepaper by Dr Dennis A. Vegter presents a striking insight: replacing the operating system of smartphones, especially Android devices, can nearly double their usable lifespan. In Europe alone, 136 million smartphones are replaced annually, often because the OS no longer supports security updates or apps, while the hardware still functions well. This leads to unnecessary purchases and contributes to environmental strain and critical raw material dependency.
Doubling Android smartphone life is possible
The study found that replacing Android with an alternative OS such as /e/OS can extend a smartphone’s life from an average of 4 years and 10 months to over 9 years. A Samsung Galaxy S7 that would typically lose support in under 5 years was shown to function safely for an additional 5 years and 10 months when equipped with /e/OS. In comparison, the Apple iPhone 6 had a lifespan of 6 years and 10 months under iOS.
Replacing OS cuts monthly costs
The financial benefits are also significant. The average cost of using a smartphone can drop by 66% from € 9.09 to € 3.10 per month, thanks to extended usability of devices with new OS installations.
Carbon footprint drops significantly
Extending phone life from 6 to 9 years could avoid 3.677 million tons of CO2 emissions per year in Europe. This corresponds with a potential reduction in the need for 45.4 million new phones annually, or a 33% drop in demand. Since most emissions stem from production and raw materials, this change could transform smartphone sustainability.
Material use sees sharp decline
If 45.4 million fewer smartphones are produced, material savings could reach 7.263 tons annually. Smartphones rely on a complex mix of metals and rare earths, including cobalt, palladium, gold and neodymium, often sourced under hazardous conditions. Avoiding the need for new production contributes directly to a more circular economy.
Alternative OSes already available
Android’s open-source nature allows for the installation of alternative OSes like /e/OS, LineageOS, GrapheneOS and more. /e/OS, used in the study, blocks app tracking and is compatible with over 200 models from Samsung, Sony, OnePlus, and others. It replaces Google services with privacy-focused alternatives and is developed by Murena, a French company.
Security defines end of usable life
The research defines smartphone lifespan as ending when security updates stop, exposing the device to cyber risks and app failures. In this scenario, a phone bought in March 2016 was used for 3 years, traded in, and extended with /e/OS to achieve a total lifespan of 9 years and 5 months.
Call for wider testing and expansion
The study recommends broader testing under varied usage scenarios. Similar OS-related obsolescence is emerging for smart TVs, suggesting that alternative operating systems could also extend the life of these devices.
Conclusion
Dennis Vegter presents an interesting perspective, and on paper, the proposal appears compelling. However, in reality, consumers do not replace their smartphones solely due to the end of operating system or security support. Many are motivated by technological advancements such as improved cameras, additional biometric features or simply the desire for better battery performance. While switching to an alternative OS may be a viable solution for some, it currently only applies to Android users, as no such alternative exists for Apple iOS. As always, when consumers choose to upgrade, it remains essential to encourage trade-ins, allowing older devices to be reused or properly recycled. The concept outlined in the whitepaper is certainly promising, though the real-world environmental impact is likely to be significantly lower than the theoretical potential.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
