Cracked screen, flat battery, software bugs... What do you do: buy a new one or repair it? A large-scale study provides better insight into our reflexes when our smartphones break down.
Have you ever had a problem with your mobile phone, like a broken component or a malfunction? How did you cope with this malfunction? Did it make you want to replace your smartphone? Finally, have you ever wondered how many people this happens to? To answer these questions, scientists conducted a survey with a panel of 1,000 French men and women, representative of a population of 50,000 people.
Pixabay illustration image
42% is the percentage of users who have encountered malfunctions with their smartphone, even recent ones. Among them, 79% consider these problems very or rather bothersome. Yet, most of these people have been using their phone for less than three years. The most frequently reported problems are mostly due to software obsolescence (applications, updates, system): battery draining too quickly, lack of storage space on the phone, slowness, bugs, damaged screens, or unresponsive touchscreens. In one out of two cases, these breakdowns occur within the first year of use.
This study highlights an unexpected finding: contrary to what one might think, problems don't necessarily accumulate with the age of the smartphone. They often appear very early... and then persist.
But are our phones repaired or repairable? The survey reveals that only one third of the problems encountered are resolved. These figures are explained in 42% of cases by our inaction in the face of the problem, or by failed repair attempts. Problems related to the screen or battery are the least repaired.
As for software-related issues, although more widespread, they are often a bit easier to fix. Even though breakdowns are often considered bothersome, many users put up with them for a long time: more than 6 months for the majority, sometimes more than 2 years. This is explained by several reasons: wanting to make their device last, avoiding spending money, or, for some, considering that the problems aren't too bothersome in daily life.
However, there is also an ecological issue at stake: extending the lifespan of our smartphones is essential, as their manufacturing remains the primary source of their environmental impact. Following this survey, Samuel Huron, Associate Professor at Telecom Paris and a member of the Interdisciplinary Institute of Innovation (I3 - CNRS/École Polytechnique/Mines Paris PSL/Telecom Paris) and Marcos Serrano, Professor at the University of Toulouse and a member of IRIT, thus identify avenues for extending the lifespan of our devices.
On the user side, it's primarily about rethinking our consumption habits, favoring repair over repurchase. The study emphasizes the responsibility of designers, developers, and manufacturers in finding solutions; they are key players in limiting software and hardware obsolescence.
The two researchers thus propose to:
- Implement a software warranty.
- Create lighter applications that use less battery and network data.
- Facilitate cleaning and storage space management for the user.
- Offer settings to preserve batteries.
- Make repair more accessible, both in terms of hardware and software.
These avenues could inspire regulators to encourage manufacturers to better address these problems and help everyone keep their smartphone longer without suffering daily inconveniences.