Technology changes fast. And new advancements are announced with great fanfare. The promise of changing how we interact with the world is just as standard on new technological devices as a power-on button. This promise sounds good to us. And so we buy and buy these devices in incredible numbers. Meanwhile, our old devices sit around because we’re not sure what to do with them. Is ever-growing device clutter inevitable?
Experts in the tech world make a distinction between technical obsolescence and functional obsolescence.
Technical obsolescence occurs as soon as your device is surpassed in its features by another device of its type—for example, the maker of your smartphone comes out with a newer model ten months after you bought yours.
Functional obsolescence, on the other hand, occurs only when your device no longer works like it’s supposed to. That happens, for example, when the software it runs ceases to work properly and is no longer supported by the manufacturer.
A lot of us are tempted to buy something new soon after reaching the point of technical obsolescence. If we find out that the cool new gadget we bought last month has been replaced on the market by an even cooler one, then we want that one!
I would argue that we should wait until we get closer to functional obsolescence with our devices. So what if we don’t have the newest thing? Who’s really going to care?
Now, I am not against the development or use of technology. In fact, I’m pleased to say that minimalism is more possible today than ever because of technology. In my phone, I carry movies, books, music, maps, a calendar, plane tickets, and an address book (just to name a few)—all things I don’t have to maintain in bulkier formats. Technology is one reason minimalism continues to grow; it has never been easier to own less.
But I fear that these days many assume new technology automatically makes things better and only adds convenience. This is not true.
In fact, when we don’t consume technology in a mindful way, it often adds clutter to our lives. It quickly drains our energy, our time, our room, and our bank accounts. Who among us hasn’t wasted an entire afternoon trying to get a computer to accomplish one seemingly simple thing?
When deciding whether to buy or to hang on to devices and gadgets—both in the present and the future—the filter we need to employ is the simple question “What problem does it solve?”
Technology should make our lives easier by solving problems both at home and at work quickly and more efficiently. But if our technology is not solving a specific problem for us, it is only adding to them.
Eliminating the clutter caused by holding on to old devices (and cords and batteries) that we are no longer using is often just a matter of taking the time to dispose of them properly. Most areas have electronics donation and recycling centers.
But what about our future purchases?
Buying a new phone just because the upgrade has become available is foolish if it doesn’t improve your life. The same could be said of cameras, home entertainment equipment, and computers. You don’t need a bigger-screen television if you can see fine with the one you currently have. Rarely do people regret waiting as long as possible to upgrade their technology. You don’t need to line up to purchase a new product just because the corporation that manufactures it says you need it.
What you need to do instead is count the full opportunity cost of your purchases. What else could you do with the money you won’t spend if you pass up a tech purchase? Pay down your debt? Enjoy a weekend vacation? Replace that worn-out mattress you’ve been using longer than your last phone?
Start asking if new technology is really improving your life or taking you away from what matters.
Hanging on to technology for a while isn’t the end of a dream. It’s the beginning of making greater progress toward what you want out of life.
“Device Advice” is an excerpt from The More of Less.
About Joshua Becker
My husband and I each have iPhone 6’s, and our 17-year-old son just saved up and bought a refurbished iPhone 6 because that’s what he could afford. I was talking to my sister about this and how he’d bought a 6 because it was a lot cheaper than a 7, and she added that she’d going to hang onto her iPhone 6 as long as she can because she likes being able to actually plug in her earphones instead of having them as Bluetooth remotes. :) Sometimes the old stuff is better. :)
Computers can suck
Update, upgrade, always new
My pen still works fine
I think it’s worth considering what ends up happening to the waste that’s generated by the relentless pursuit of the next upgrade. There are the labor costs, the packaging (much of it contains one-time-use plastics), shipping, and of course the final destinations of the replaced technology. One of the most jarring examples can be found in Accra, Ghana which is home to the world’s largest e-waste dump. The United States, Europe, and Japan “donate” obsolete technology to Ghana as a way to dispose of it so it doesn’t fill their landfills. There it’s stripped for precious metals and the remnants are burned, exposing residents to extremely high levels of carcinogens. Just look up Agbogbloshie if you’re interested in knowing more.
My smartphone is a 2013 model purchased in 2014 (Samsung Galaxy S4). It is starting to feel the functional obsolescence but I’m really trying to get it to see it’s 4th birthday in May. Then I’ll upgrade. I figure skipping a (typical 2 year) upgrade cycle does wonders for my wallet.
I tend to run technology into the ground. Last year I replaced a 7 year old laptop.
Consider also the human cost of our love affair with devices. Far from view, children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are forced to mine coltan in dangerous conditions. Coltan is a key element in the batteries of iPhones and other devices but extraction in the Congo is largely unregulated. Warring factions fight for control of the mines, which are dangerous and run the risk of collapse. Needless to say, children are afraid to enter them and should be in school.
Unless iPhone providers can categorically say they source coltan from well-run mines that operate legally and safely, we should think twice about upgrading. Cutting back use of electrical devices has surely got to be good for our mental well-being. It would undoubtedly make life more bearable in the Congo. This report from Sky News illustrates the situation clearly – and graphically. https://news.sky.com/story/meet-dorsen-8-who-mines-cobalt-to-make-your-smartphone-work-10784120
Great point you make. Another factor in developing countries that’s becoming more prevalent is the brokering of mining rights to foreign entities in exchange for completing infrastructure projects. Some African countries like Zimbabwe or the DRC are mortgaging their future wealth that should belong to their people off to outsiders, further exacerbating the cycle of poverty and corruption that plague many of these fragile economies.
I just recently replaced my smart phone (ruined in the water) with a Motorola RZR flip phone that is 10 yrs old (Amazon $25) and now have a $10/month plan (PagePLus) oh am I tickled. (My friends aren’t as enthralled because I never text back, too much hassle with the keypad. And I do miss that convenience.)
That said my smart phone helped me refinance so much easier (could retrieve msgs from loan officer immediately and gather what he requested).
I have coworkers that use their phone for movies (one was even watching a movie while WORKING), texting all day long, listening to music— so I can see the need for one. For me it was a distraction, and I don’t handle distractions so well.
I am a tech savvy person. I hardly fascinate with latest features and new model but yes, camera quality is a must for me. So if I have a good mobile with perfect camera quality then I will not require anything else.
Good read, as usual.
Never made a distinction between technical obsolescence and functional obsolescence until now. When you work in my industry (Telecom) “obsolescence” is a big selling point for upgrades.
From a personal perspective, sometimes it is hard to resist that next new gadget, especially if you can afford it. Working on it…
Spot on.
I try to combat this by upgrading when necessary (definitely not just when a new device becomes available) but also by not buying the most expensive model.
I never buy the newest phone model. I also switch phones every 2-3 years (and realistically I could go longer…)
I’ve had the same MacBook Air for about 5 years. It is still kicking, but I am considering adding a >$200 Chromebook to the mix so that I can hopefully get more value without spending too much. Also, I’ve learned that a new battery for my Macbook would cost almost as much as a Chromebook… it seems like a pretty simple choice to me.
I had a flip phone for years! I only got the i-phone because my job required it…
I have never understood this ‘fascination’ with overpriced apple or any other gadgets. (I will admit I have fallen for the apple ipod around 15 years ago….NEVER again.)
A phone is used 90% of the times for calls,messages,music,pics.
Reading and typing on the small form factor phones never made sense to me.
Now-a-days literally any decently priced smart phone does a pretty good job in the above features.
How insecure can one be in his/her own skin to want to constantly upgrade to ‘feel better’?
And I seriously doubt that these devices are made of such poor quality that they just konk off after a few years.
Just buy the product with your own money rather than using a credit card and I believe the gadgets will last much longer.
I totally agree with you. I purchased a smart phone in May 2014 under duress from my husband who said it was becoming a necessary tool (he had one from his company). I had felt my flip phone was just fine and a lot cheaper. I do like having a smart phone and plan to keep my original one until it dies. I purposely purchased an Otter Box to better protect it from being dropped. It’s doing just fine after almost 4 years, and I have an SD card in it so I never run out of room. We have a Dell desktop which is 10 years old. It’s still working well, but we did get a new computer so we can transfer over all our files before the old one decides to die. And….as for fitbits, I don’t even have that. I have a Polar FT4 which I wear to the gym when I work out. That was a Christmas present maybe in 2013. It works perfectly and tells me all the stats I need to know from my workout. Every once in awhile, I have to purchase a new $5 battery for it. Why should I get a fitbit or Apple watch? And then there’s the TV. We got that maybe 17 years ago. It was supposed to last 5 years, and it’s still going strong. It’s not a flat screen, but, again, why spend the money on the latest and greatest when the TV works just fine? We are probably the only ones in America who don’t have a flat screen, but we don’t care. We’re not in competition with the Joneses, and we like to keep our tech items until they quit working. Our philosophy and practice gives us the freedom to help others with our finances, to travel, and to save.
My husband and I both have an iphone 5s that we purchased new as soon as the iphone 6 was released, and a Dell laptop (cost less than $500) that we purchased in 2012, and an ipad mini from 2015. All are still going strong and more than meet our needs. Certainly not the latest nor the greatest, and I never feel as a “cool” as the person next to me when I am teleworking. We both have work-issued “upgraded” iphones and laptops; meh, I will keep my current gadgets until they no longer work or I am ready to pass them onto my daughter in a few years (the horror for her!)
My husband sometimes gets frustrated with my unwillingness to upgrade. I say this works for me. If it’s not broken why would I want to “fix” it. I do sometimes take his hand me downs when he upgrades, though. He works in technology so he needs newer than I do. And selling my old back when I take his newer puts off even longer my need to buy new.
My flip phone and 9-year-old Thinkpad are still going strong, knock on wood! The marketing budgets behind technical devices must be astronomical to get people to feel like they have to pre-order or queue up at the store on release day to be one of the very first to get the latest and greatest.
I was looking for a new band for my Fitbit Flex and found online that Kohls had them, so I went into the local Kohls and asked for help finding them. They were WAY in the back of the store, on clearance. I said to the salesperson, a young woman, that I should probably just upgrade to a newer Fitbit but that for now spending 10 bucks for a new band sounded better. She said something I’ll never forget: “I wouldn’t upgrade until that one stops working.” Wow. Such simple wisdom rang so true, and it has kept me from looking at the newer, shinier, more expensive Fitbits since–I’ll wait till my Flex dies, thank you very much.
So very very true! I need to get rid of a few now.
What can we do with our old technical or functional obsolete devices? Are there places that will buy old or broken devices or are we stuck just recycling and not getting any money back?
If they are Apple devices and still work, Apple stores will buy them back. I then give them all the cords and chargers that went with that device even though they don’t pay extra for those. Better than having them clutter up my technology drawer.
Great points Joshua! This approach of determining when to replace an item can be applied to so many products in our lives – definitely technology, but also cars, clothes, appliances, etc. The longer one uses a product the lower its amortized cost becomes, revealing a true value / cost of ownership.
My first laptop I bought for myself worked with me 5 Years. Then I passed it for my brother when this laptop finally died after 1 Year more. I changed it because I needed Chromebook laptop.
This one worked for me 2 Years and I decided to change it for more powerful model, because it had problems with Full HD videos and had a low resolution screen. Again I passed it to my brother and it was 249 € anyway – so it worked for money I got it.
Now I have Premium model of Chromebook and I am planning to use it as long as it works. Probably five years, since I had only Acer laptops. None of these went to warranty even once. That cost me 449 € – but if it will work for 4-7 Years – worth the price tag.
Once someone asked me about my phone, I said it to be a model from 08/2016 and immediately they said oh no wonder this looks pretty old-fashion. Taking their iPhone X from pocket to show. I told him, look I can too call on my phone, send email, visit sites. My main reason having phone is 4G modem in it, camera and Play Music.
I don’t need new phone because everything I want, I already have.
Thank you.
Great read. It’s so easy to fall into the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) trap.
Technology clutters our bodies’ electromagnetic fields with intrusive frequencies (microwave, radio, and other wavelengths) coming from devices, machines, lightbulbs, antennas, electric grids, power stations etc. Maintaining good health nowadays can mean learning to understand the invisible electromagnetic clutter around us and cleaning it up or shielding it off.
What frustrates me is how manufacturers make it harder to simply replace a rechargeable battery than to buy a new item with features I don’t really need. I have a 160gb classic iPod and the battery no longer holds a charge. Searching for how to get it replaced took way more effort than it should have. Of course they push you towards buying a new version, but I don’t need all the bells and whistles it comes with and it doesn’t have as much storage, (I have a LOT of music I listen to all day long.) Replacing the battery is cheaper and I could put the extra money I would have spent on a new iPod towards my retirement and/or to charity.
Thank you Joshua! You are so spot on with this advice!
To be honest Joshua I wouldn’t know what to do with all this tech stuff.
When our computer died 5 years ago, (yes it did die, flashing lights, dreadful sound coming from it, i actually wondered if it would catch fire) we decided to replace it. It was over 10 years old.
We looked at computers, then laptops, then an iPad, we settled on an iPad. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made.
We have no other device, when this one goes ( hopefully not for many years) we will replace with similar, though I know it will be more advanced.
Best wishes,
Angela UK
I try to keep my “devices” (one computer, one tablet) as long as possible but the manufacturers have other ideas. My iPad mini is now so slow that I have to keep deleting stuff if I want to load a website. I really don’t want to buy a new one but I don’t have any choice!
You are so right about that – but sometimes you just want to reward yourself with a new phone (and its great camera for example.)
Plus, you are right about the use of our devices. “Who among us hasn’t wasted an entire afternoon trying to get a computer to accomplish one seemingly simple thing?” I can not remember a single afternoon since I graduated high school (8yrs now) not using a computer/ phone even if it was only for music, unless I was on vacation…
This is what I’ve been saying for so long. I get so angry when precious time (that we never get back) & energy goes into solving some computer, phone, or whatever tech gadget glitch. How is that more convenient & time saving (as is advertised over & over)? It’s not worth it & i’m Happy to go back to old-school ways to make life easier. I use a paper day-timer for my appointments & scheduling since my phone has proven to be an unreliable source to hold my information. Technology isn’t better in so many ways. There’s nothing wrong with kick’n it old-school!
April, Julia: agree, I’m on my comput’80’and ’90’s. because they are busy with electronic gadgets, game stations, etc. Next I will get a chrome book to simplify even more, (no updates, etc). I still use a calendar for appointments, etc. Also, use a flip phone, hate the other kind, too much hassle to operate and I don’t need the online stuff and am retired.
Correction: am on my computer every day (laptop); circle of friends has shrinked since 80’s and 90s’ for everyone, (somehow part of sentence was deleted)
I’m so happy to hear that I’m not the only one who uses a paper calendar & day timer. I, too, have found my phone appointment calendar to be unreliable. As a matter of fact, my friend who does everything on her computer, has missed birthdays because her phone didn’t remind her. So now, after looking on my paper calendar, I text her the information:)