When it comes to smartphone lifespan, brand name matters more than hardware: Popularity of iPhone contributes to its longevity -- and sustainability

collected by :John Smith

With penetration rates of almost 90 percent in the world's developed countries, mobile phones present a critical challenge in terms of environmental sustainability. In recent years, a growing secondhand market for used smartphones has extended the average lifespan of these devices. In other words, Apple phones had longer lifespans even if they were the same age, size, and functional capability. "But no matter what combination of specs were included in our analysis, brand name had a substantial impact." "Some phones last longer, and it's not just because they're repairable or more functionally durable," she added.

iPhone XS Max review: Apple's supersized smartphone

Apple's top of the line smartphone has been supersized in both screen size and price, but is the iPhone XS Max really worth the eye-watering £1,099-plus asking price? This year the iPhone XS Max is essentially that winning design stuck in a photocopier on 112%, which doesn't sound a lot but makes quite a difference. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The iPhone XS on the left, the iPhone XS Max on the right. The thing is the iPhone XS Max is actually one of the more difficult super-sized phones to handle. The iPhone 5S, released in 2013, runs the same version of iOS as the iPhone XS Max.

From the iPhone to the Essential Phone, here are the 5 best-designed smartphone notches out there

according to AppleIt looks like the smartphone notch is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. Almost every premium smartphone now comes with a notch design, which was first introduced with the Essential Phone in 2017 — yep, the iPhone X was actually the second phone to feature a notch. After the iPhone X was released, it seemed like a free-for-all where nearly every smartphone maker adopted the notch. Either way, not every smartphone notch is created equally. Check out the best and worst notch designs we've seen on smartphones so far: