Last updated on December 13th, 2023 at 11:04 am

Rethink your urge to request the newest smartwatch or phone from Santa.

This Christmas, contemplating an £800 iPhone 15 or £450 Bose headphones prompts reconsideration. Yet, the incessant urge to update phones, laptops, smartwatches, and headphones may be unwarranted. The era of rapid technological advancements yielding substantial improvements has waned. Unlike a decade ago when each new device boasted significant enhancements in processing power and battery life, recent updates have been increasingly minor. Consequently, devices now resemble durable appliances like fridges and washing machines, meant to be used until replacement is necessary, rather than routinely discarded for newer models.

Phones

The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 initiated the contemporary era of touch-screen phones. Swift progress in the chips propelling them and the data networks linking them turned new models into yearly must-haves for the financially able.

However, despite ongoing improvements such as foldable screens and user-friendly repairable units, average phones have reached a state of “good enough,” showing minimal performance advancements since 2019. With most phones boasting at least 128GB of storage, enduringly fast chips, and relatively unchanged cellular connectivity, consumers find it challenging to perceive significant reasons for new purchases.

Although high-end manufacturers continue to compete fiercely in the camera arena, the last major breakthrough was the impressive periscope lens on the Huawei P30 Pro in 2019, subsequently refined by others to achieve remarkable 10x optical zoom on recent Samsung phones. As a result, modern phones universally deliver commendable photo quality.

Consequently, an annual upgrade no longer holds substantial value, even for tech enthusiasts. The average user retains a phone for up to four years, yet the hardware is often capable of lasting six years or more, with replaceable batteries extending the device’s lifespan. Even concerns about security updates are gradually being addressed, with leading companies like Fairphone committing to up to 10 years of software support.

Smartwatches

Although they represent one of the newest gadget categories, even smartwatches have reached a point where each successive edition brings marginal improvements. The Apple Watch serves as a prime example, as only recently did it receive a chip upgrade, marking the first improvement in three years. A similar scenario exists for Samsung’s popular Galaxy Watches and Garmin’s extensive line of sports watches.

The noteworthy advancement came with the introduction of the electrocardiogram (ECG) feature for heart rhythm monitoring, initially featured in the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018 and later in the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Subsequent updates have predominantly involved refinements or minor additions, with more substantial enhancements delivered through software updates accessible to older models.

Consequently, the primary motivation for consumers to consider an upgrade lies in software support, coupled with concerns about a worn-out battery.

Tablets

Tablet computers, traditionally an extension of the smartphone industry, commonly employ the same chips and technology but are presented with larger screens. However, they reach a state of maturity even more swiftly than phones, primarily due to the less demanding nature of tasks people typically perform on them, such as watching videos or browsing, thanks to the efficiency of modern chips. Additionally, streaming has maximized storage efficiency.

Consequently, a tablet manufactured in 2014 remains perfectly capable of activities like streaming Netflix, browsing the Observer, or displaying holiday photos, provided the software supports these functions.

Yet, not all tablets are created equal, as some manufacturers offer meager software support, lasting only two or three years from the release. In contrast, industry leaders like Apple, Samsung, and Google extend support for at least five years on modern devices.

Laptops

Over the past 15 years, computers have stood out as some of the most enduring pieces of technology, with the advancement of PC chips slowing considerably more than those used in mobile devices.

Contemporary laptops and desktop PCs typically enjoy a minimum of 10 years of software support from either Microsoft’s Windows or Apple’s macOS. This generally involves updates incorporating features and design alterations for the initial five to seven years, followed by extended periods of only security updates. Given the presence of modern chips, solid-state (SSD) storage, and USB-C ports, the benefits of upgrading are minimal.

However, two recent exceptions have emerged. The transition from Windows 10 to 11 by Microsoft in 2021 left certain relatively modern PCs stuck on Windows 10, which will reach its end of life in October 2025, ceasing to receive crucial security updates.

Headphones

In the past five years, Bluetooth earbuds have seen significant advancements, but many wired headphones have experienced little change over a decade or more.

Top-tier Bluetooth models from companies like Bose and Sony reached a plateau around eight years ago. For instance, a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones purchased in 2016 provides nearly the same level of noise cancellation as their recently released class-leading QuietComfort Ultra model.

Even though wired headphones faced challenges with the removal of the 3.5mm socket from phones, this obstacle can be overcome with the right adapter.

The latest technology to peak is active noise cancellation. Although the best-in-class options still excel at blocking out external noise, the technology has become affordable and effective enough that almost any noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds can contribute to minimizing ambient sounds.