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this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2026
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Again, this is comparing technology to technology rather than comparing technology to environmental impact. We need to extract these tech bro soundbites from our craniums.
It really is not. These devices become ewaste in roughly 7-9 years. But in my drawer are Apple phones that are almost 20 years old. They would be fine if Apple hadn’t let them become abandoned and security compromised. Please stop defending their negligence and mediocrity.
Fair points, and I think we mostly agree.
I'm not defending Apple. The point is that the hardware outlasts the software support, and because the bootloader is locked, you can't do anything about it once updates stop. That's the e-waste problem you're describing.
I'd only add that support has improved from the early iPhones, which got just a few years of updates, to 6-7 years now. That's better, but it's still a company-set expiry date on perfectly good hardware.
Open bootloaders and documented chips would let those phones in your drawer stay useful.
Fair. And yes, it's an unusual situation to be in where the Fairphone and iPhone seem to have similar support lifespans now.
I think we should organise to lobby our governments to force tech manufacturers to make obsolete devices unlocked and open spec in the way you mentioned (boot loaders and documented chips). Volunteers should have no barriers to maintain and support what would otherwise become landfill fodder.