In the spirit of Halloween, let’s talk about something truly chilling in the electronics industry: planned obsolescence. Beyond the tricky spelling, the real horror lies in how common it’s become. When companies design products to expire on purpose, there’s a serious problem.

Is there any evidence of companies actually doing this?

There have been actual legal cases where a few major smartphone brands have been accused of purposely slowing down devices and causing performance issues with firmware and software updates. The official line was that this was done to prevent unexpected device shutdowns because of aging batteries. However, their customers saw it as a way for these brands to push newer devices on them. Lawsuits were filed, consumer watchdogs in countries like France and Italy stepped in, and heavy fines were levied.  

The above cases are instances of devices being slowed down on purpose through OTA and firmware updates. But it goes further—planned obsolescence is built into the very design of most smartphones today. This is what we mean.

• Repair is difficult and expensive: 

A quick visit to iFixit’s website will give you an idea of what we’re talking about. Most flagship devices score between 4 and 7 out of 10. This means moderate difficulty in self-repair due to proprietary screws, glued components, and the integration of parts like screens and sensors. When adhesives and fragile glass backs come into play, the score drops even further. In comparison, Fairphone has been scoring a perfect 10 every time since the Fairphone 2 onwards.

Then there’s the issue of parts pairing—a practice where specific components within a smartphone are linked to its motherboard using unique serial numbers or software locks. Parts pairing severely limits the ability of independent repair shops to fix devices. Shops without access to the proprietary software tools necessary to « pair » parts cannot fully repair or replace these components without causing functionality issues. As a result, repair costs tend to be higher, as only official service centers have access to pairing tools. 

• Non-removable batteries have become the norm

When smartphones first appeared, batteries were always removable. Then, over time, more and more manufacturers started gluing down the batteries (and their phones) in an effort to improve their weatherproofing. While a higher IP rating should have helped in extending the device’s life, sealing the batteries up ironically caused people to replace their devices when the battery capacity dropped. We’re talking barely two to three years. 

• Shorter software support windows don’t help either.

Most major manufacturers have started supporting their newer devices for four to five years with major software updates and security patches. However, older models tend to get ignored when it comes to support, and when they do receive updates, there are usually complaints of slowed performance, Google is better at this than the competition, upping their support window to seven years with their latest devices. Of course, this was after we announced a whopping eight-year support window for the Fairphone 5. Longer support windows and more software updates go a long way in encouraging people to keep their devices for longer. 

Why this is a problem 

The biggest consequence of planned obsolescence is avoidable electronic waste. Roughly 50 million metric tons of electronic waste is generated annually, and smartphones contribute a large portion of that due to unnecessary upgrades. 

Some countries have been pushing to counter planned obsolescence for a while now. Since 2015, France has an anti-obsolescence law that mandates fines for erring companies. It requires transparency on repairability through a “repairability index” for consumer electronics. The index tells people how easy or hard it is to repair a device. (Again, the Fairphone 5 sits quite high on the list with a 9.3 rating.) 

Meanwhile, the EU’s recently adopted “Right to Repair” directive mandates manufacturers to ensure spare parts availability at a reasonable price and facilitating ease of repair. Use of second-hand or 3D-printed spare parts by independent repairers is protected and encouraged, while companies cannot refuse to repair devices that were previously repaired by external repair centers or technicians. Member states of the EU have till 2026 to pass the directive’s recommendations as actual law. 

On an individual level, we can always battle the consequences of planned obsolescence by choosing devices and brands that encourage using your device for longer. Remember, the most sustainable phone is the one you already own. Stick to the device you have for as long as possible. Don’t fall for the industry hype. Especially with Black Friday coming up. 

(Disclaimer: The lead image used in this article was created with AI)