Why your electronic devices have a short life span
DECONSTRUCTING THE CONCEPT OF PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE
Due to planned obsolescence, the frequency with which the average consumer purchases, upgrades, and replaces electronic items is increasing. The lifespans of computers, phones, TVs, printers, and other modern devices are getting shorter and shorter; this can be due to hardware failures or the devices being functional but no longer in vogue.
The term “planned obsolescence” has gained popularity recently, particularly in the electronics and technology sector. So what is planned obsolescence exactly, and why is it a problem for users and the environment?
What is planned obsolescence?
Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing and producing products with a short lifespan so that users will be compelled to replace them sooner than necessary. Also referred to as built-in obsolescence or premature obsolescence, it’s a policy in which a product is made or constructed with intentionally brittle features such as firmware, hardware, or processes.
As such, the product has a strategically shortened lifespan and becomes outdated after a predefined period. Either the product’s functionality diminishes or ceases completely, or it becomes unfashionable. To put it briefly, the product is made to break readily and go out of style extremely quickly.
This can be done in several ways, like using low-quality materials, making products difficult to repair, or releasing updated models of products with minor changes.
American real estate dealer Bernard London first proposed the idea of planned / intentional obsolescence in the 1920s. He suggested a scheme in which products would be assigned an expiration date and customers would have to trade them in for a new model. He maintained that doing so would reduce waste and promote economic progress.
Planned obsolescence, however, has become a more sinister tactic when businesses purposefully create products that malfunction or become antiquated quickly. Because of this, customers are compelled to upgrade and replace their items regularly, increasing earnings for the firms. Demand is driven up when a better product model is introduced, since buyers will inevitably desire and gravitate toward the newer model. These policies and strategies aim to increase sales volumes by incentivizing or even mandating repurchases due to the deliberate shortening of product lifespans, requiring frequent replacements or upgrades.
For planned obsolescence to be successful, the manufacturer of the product typically has to have a strong consumer base that is inclined to purchase similar products from the same source, i.e., brand loyalty. Because they can band together to manipulate prices to their advantage, it works best in oligopolistic situations where a small number of brands or corporations control a large portion of a market.
Since the vendor or manufacturer is aware of the product’s lifespan while the client is not, information asymmetry is also crucial for the practice to be effective. Products tend to have longer lifespans in competitive markets since they help retain customers and increase customer loyalty.
Planned obsolescence in the Tech and Electronics Industry
The tech sector is notorious for tapping into planned obsolescence. It has been said that businesses such as Apple purposefully slow down the older models of their products to entice customers to switch to newer models. When Apple acknowledged in 2017 that it was slowing down older iPhone models to save battery life, this claim was verified.
Often, manufacturers utilize several strategies, such as carefully timing their operational lifespans or trendiness, to persuade customers to upgrade or purchase newer products rather than fixing or maintaining “unfashionable” ones. In the current tech world, planned obsolescence has become annoying but seemingly inevitable.
Using proprietary cords and chargers, which are typically incompatible with other devices, is another example. This means that when customers upgrade to a newer model or switch to a different brand, they have to buy new chargers.
Utilizing subpar materials is one tactic; for example, using inexpensive plastic when metal would have made a device stronger and more resilient. The life expectancy of smartphones and other hand-held electronic gadgets with frequent use is limited by their delicate batteries or easily damaged components from even mildly aberrant activity.
A prime example would be a mobile phone’s display screen, which has weak ribbon cables that break easily, rendering the screen or perhaps the entire device unusable and necessitating a replacement sooner than the user may have needed or intended.
Batteries are yet another common example. Batteries lose their capacity to hold charge over time, which negatively impacts a device’s operation. One strategy employed by manufacturers is to design devices, such as phones, power tools, or electric toothbrushes, in such a way that the user cannot swap out the battery — instead, the equipment is permanently fitted with lithium-ion batteries. The device therefore has a limited lifespan due to its delicate battery. The whole device is thus rendered useless when the battery dies, even though the other components can function ably for a longer time.
Certain devices have covers that are permanently sealed, making it necessary to use brute force to pry them open to replace the battery, which could cause irreversible harm, particularly in cases where the battery terminals are soldered onto rather than plugged into the main board.
Manufacturers design parts that are prohibitively costly, inaccessible, or difficult to replace, which makes a new purchase more practical and cost-effective. One example would be inkjet printers with removable print heads that ultimately break down. Given the price of a new print head, the price of repairs is nearly equal to that of a completely new system, and thus the consumer is forced to go with the prudent option of acquiring a new, complete printer.
Persisting with printers, printer manufacturers often incorporate smart microchips into their cartridges that are programmed to stop working after a set number of prints or a certain duration of time, even though the cartridge may still contain enough ink or can be refilled.
Manufacturers redesigning a product to make it appear more trendy encourages consumers to buy trendier products, a phenomenon known as stylistic obsolescence or obsolescence of desirability. This works especially well with technological products that may be used as status symbols or have a high level of aesthetic and functional appeal, such as smartphones and smart devices.
Despite the older, “unfashionable,” products still being completely functioning, vendors and manufacturers can assure continuous sales by continuously revamping, face-lifting, adding more bells and whistles, or discontinuing earlier models and designs.
Every six to seven months, smartphone makers can issue a slightly modified model, giving the impression that devices that are only a year old are two generations older.
When a product’s original design and functionality are compromised by ongoing system redesigns and development, the product may become obsolete. One method is to design connectors, jacks, or screws so that existing tools and equipment can’t work on them.
A specific example is HDMI, USB, and Display connectors, which have taken on the role of previous input ports on PC motherboards, such as serial, VGA, and parallel connections.
Impact on consumers
Planned obsolescence can impact customers severely on an emotional and financial level. Having to replace products regularly can be expensive, particularly for those with modest incomes. Also, because customers feel taken advantage of, it breeds dissatisfaction and mistrust against businesses.
Moreover, a drop in product quality may result from deliberate obsolescence. When businesses prioritize revenue ahead of quality, their products are more likely to break or malfunction, which will leave the customer dissatisfied.
Impact on Environment
Planned obsolescence has a big effect on the environment. The growing problem of electronic trash (e-waste) is a result of the ongoing creation and disposal of items. With more than 50 million tons generated annually, e-waste is the waste stream with the fastest pace of growth in the world.
Hazardous compounds found in e-waste can be harmful to both the environment and human health if improperly disposed of. The problem is exacerbated by the short product lifespans brought on by planned obsolescence, which results in an increase in e-waste production.
Combating planned obsolescence
There are ways to combat and mitigate the effects of planned obsolescence, even though it might appear to be an inevitable aspect of our modern culture.
- Self-education
Learning about planned obsolescence and how it impacts the products you acquire is the first step. Before making a purchase, look into businesses and their policies, and choose products that are reputable for being long-lasting and robust.
- Supporting Companies with Sustainable Practices
Supporting and buying from businesses that prioritize sustainability and ethical practices. To find out more about a company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility, look for certifications like Fair Trade or B Corp.
- Repair and Reuse
Consider repairing products whenever possible, rather than discarding them. Simple repairs may prolong the life of many products and reduce waste. To further lessen the need for new products, think about buying secondhand products or taking part in product exchange programs.
- Change advocacy
As consumers, we can pressure businesses to change their policies. This can be done by raising your voice in support of more moral and environmentally friendly behavior. Sending letters to businesses, signing petitions, and lending your support to laws that attempt to control planned obsolescence.
Proponents of Planned Obsolescence
Shorter replacement cycle proponents contend that obsolescence benefits consumers by producing ever-improving items, as newer iterations of products are always better than their predecessors.
This can also be beneficial for the economy as it promotes consumption, which helps the economy thrive while generating jobs.
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