First: Your Current Phone Might Be Fine
Before looking at new phones, it's worth asking whether you actually need one. If your current phone still gets security updates, holds a charge through the day, and does what you need. keeping it is the most durable choice. No new phone has zero environmental cost, and the greenest phone is the one you already own.
That said, if your phone has stopped receiving security updates, the battery dies by noon, or repairs cost more than the phone is worth, it makes sense to think about what comes next. This guide is for that moment.
What We Looked At
We evaluated current-generation smartphones on four factors that determine how long a phone actually lasts in practice:
Software support length. A phone that stops getting security updates becomes unsafe for banking and sensitive tasks, regardless of how solid the hardware is. This is usually what kills a phone, not physical damage.
Repairability. Can the battery be replaced affordably? Can a cracked screen be fixed without replacing the whole phone? We reference iFixit teardown scores where available, but note that these score ease of disassembly, not parts cost or availability.
Build quality. Water/dust resistance rating, frame material, glass durability. These affect how well the phone survives daily life.
Manufacturer repair support. Whether the manufacturer sells replacement parts, operates authorized repair centers, or supports independent repair shops.
We don't do hands-on durability testing ourselves. Our assessments combine manufacturer specs, iFixit teardowns, community repair data from openrepair.org, and government-mandated repairability scores from France's Indice de Réparabilité (which rates products on documentation, disassembly, parts availability, and parts pricing). Where we're making estimates (like expected lifespan), we say so.
*Disclosure: Some product links on Sundr are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't influence our analysis. See our full affiliate disclosure.*
Phones That Last: Current Models Compared
Fairphone 5 - Repairability: 10/10 (iFixit) · Expected lifespan: 8 years · Warranty: 5 years - Price: ~$685 (import pricing varies)
Every component. screen, battery, camera, speakers. is user-replaceable with a standard screwdriver. Fairphone commits to 8+ years of security updates, and the 5-year warranty is the longest in the industry. It's the only current phone explicitly designed to be repaired rather than replaced.
Trade-offs: Hard to buy in North America. The camera is adequate but not competitive with flagship phones at this price. The phone is thicker and heavier than most alternatives.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro - Repairability: 6/10 (estimated) · Expected lifespan: 7 years · Warranty: 1 year (AppleCare+ available) - Price: ~$1506
Apple has the longest track record of actually delivering long-term software updates. most iPhones get 6+ years of iOS support. The iPhone 17 Pro uses second-generation Ceramic Shield on front and back. Apple operates a large authorized repair network, though they've historically made independent repair difficult.
Trade-offs: Expensive. Apple controls the repair ecosystem tightly. you can get things fixed, but often only through Apple or authorized shops at Apple's prices. Battery replacement costs more than on most Android phones.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - Repairability: 5/10 (estimated) · Expected lifespan: 6 years · Warranty: 1 year - Price: ~$1106 · Check price on Amazon →
Titanium frame with Gorilla Glass Armor 2 on front and back. Samsung now commits to 7 years of Android and security updates, which is a significant improvement over their older phones. IP68 water/dust resistance.
Trade-offs: The most expensive phone on this list. Repairability is mediocre. screen replacements are expensive and Samsung doesn't make independent repair easy. Samsung's software includes pre-installed apps you can't remove.
Google Pixel 9 Pro - Repairability: 6/10 (estimated) · Expected lifespan: 5 years · Warranty: 1 year - Price: ~$987 · Check price on Amazon →
Google now commits to 7 years of OS and security updates, matching Apple and Samsung. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 water resistance. The lowest price of the four flagships listed here.
Trade-offs: Aluminum frame (less durable than titanium). Real-world battery longevity reports are still limited since the phone is relatively new. Google's repair network is smaller than Apple's or Samsung's.
All four phones are compared on DurableFinds with detailed scores.
What Actually Kills Phones
Based on repair data from openrepair.org and iFixit community reports, phones most commonly die from:
- Software abandonment. The phone works fine physically, but stops receiving security updates. This is the #1 reason people replace phones that still function.
- Battery degradation. After 2-3 years of daily charging, batteries lose significant capacity. If the battery can't be replaced affordably, the phone becomes disposable.
- Screen damage. Cracked screens are fixable, but the cost varies wildly. A Fairphone 5 screen replacement costs ~$137. An iPhone 17 Pro screen costs ~$548 through Apple.
- Charging port failure. Lint, wear, and moisture damage the port over time. USB-C standardization helps, but this is still a common failure point.
The pattern is clear: the phones that last longest are the ones where these problems can be fixed, not the ones that never break.
Cost Per Year of Ownership
One way to compare is cost per year, assuming you keep the phone for its expected lifespan:
| Phone | Price | Expected Life | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairphone 5 | $958 | 8 years | $119/year |
| Pixel 9 Pro | $1369 | 5 years | $274/year |
| iPhone 17 Pro | $1643 | 7 years | $234/year |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | $1780 | 6 years | $297/year |
| Budget phone (~$274) | $274 | ~2 years | $137/year |
A few caveats: "expected lifespan" is an estimate based on software support commitments and build quality. your actual experience will vary based on how you use and care for the phone. These numbers also don't account for repair costs, accessories, or resale value.
The main takeaway: frequently replacing cheap phones often costs more over time than buying a durable phone once. But a mid-range phone kept for 4 years can beat a flagship kept for 5, depending on the price difference.
What to Look For If You're Shopping
Check the software support commitment. This matters more than build materials. A phone that stops receiving security updates in 3 years is functionally obsolete no matter how tough the frame is. Look for manufacturers who commit to specific timelines. Fairphone (8+ years), Apple (6+ years), Samsung (7 years), Google (7 years).
Look up the iFixit repairability score. It's not a perfect metric (it measures ease of disassembly, not parts cost), but it's the most consistent data available. Higher scores generally mean cheaper, more accessible repairs.
Ask about battery replacement. Degraded batteries are the #1 reason people replace phones that otherwise work. If the battery can be swapped for under $137, the phone's useful life extends significantly.
IP68 water resistance is standard on flagships. It doesn't make a phone waterproof, but it protects against the most common accidental damage scenarios.
Be skeptical of marketing language. "Military-grade durability" and "titanium-infused" are often meaningless. Look for specific IP ratings, glass specifications (Gorilla Glass generation matters), and actual drop test results from independent reviewers.
Compare Brands
See how these manufacturers compare on reliability data from 300,000+ community repair records:
- Smartphone brand reliability rankings. Apple, Samsung, Google & more, ranked by repair success rate
- Apple vs Samsung smartphones: which brand is more reliable?
- Should you repair or replace your smartphone?