A phone that lasts for years

Buying a phone to keep for several years means looking past the camera. Batteries lose capacity, updates stop arriving, and an expensive repair can turn an apparently cheap purchase into a costly one.

Short answer

Put years of security updates, battery and repairs, enough storage, a comfortable screen and a clear warranty first. Choose the performance you actually need today, and check what it will cost to keep it running.

1. Start from how you really use it

Write down what you do every day: calls, photos, maps, banking, messaging, video or work. You do not need to pay for a professional camera if what matters is reading the screen comfortably and having the battery last until the end of the day.

You also need to decide what you are not going to do. If you are not going to play games or edit video, extreme power may matter less than more storage or better support.

2. Check the manufacturer’s support

Look on the official site for how many years of updates are promised, and from what date they are counted. Tell system updates apart from security patches. A phrase like “extended support” is no substitute for a date and a specific policy.

Note down the date you checked. Support can change between models, regions and versions.

3. Look at the battery and repairs

The battery is a wearing part. Check whether the manufacturer offers a replacement, how much it costs and who can carry it out. A repair that is possible but has no parts or no service nearby is not a practical solution.

Also check the screen, the charging port and the availability of parts. The phone does not have to be repairable by you; there does have to be a reasonable way to keep it going.

4. Choose memory and storage with room to spare

Photos, videos and apps take up more space over time. If you pick a capacity that only just fits, you will end up deleting files or paying for cloud storage you had not planned for.

Do not confuse a big number on the spec sheet with performance. Check that the model has enough memory for your apps and that the storage is what you will actually be able to use.

5. Buy with a clear warranty and returns policy

Note who is selling the phone, what warranty they offer, how a repair is arranged and how long you have to return it. Keep the invoice and the model number.

Avoid deciding on an offer alone when it does not explain where the phone comes from or what support it has. The purchase price is one part of the total cost; add a case, repairs, storage and a possible battery replacement.

What Europe guarantees, even when the brand says nothing

This is almost never mentioned and it changes the whole conversation: since 20 June 2025 there is a legal minimum for every phone sold in the European Union.

European legal minimum, since 20 June 2025

What the brand is obliged to give you

Even if it promises it nowhere

Operating system updates, security ones includedFree, and required by law. Counted from when the maker stops selling the model, not from your purchase5 years

Spare parts availableThe figure that decides whether a repair is realistic. Delivered within five working days for the first five years7 years

Energy label in the shopCompulsory and on display, like household appliances. Covers battery, drop resistance, charge cycles and dust and water protectioncompulsory

Repairability gradeThe most useful thing on the label and the one nobody looks at. Between two phones at a similar price the gap is enormousA to E

A floor existing does not mean every brand gives you the same: some promise eight years and others sit at the minimum. Each manufacturer’s specific commitments, with names, are in what each brand promises.

Common mistakes

Choosing by the camera

An excellent camera does not make up for short support or a battery that cannot be replaced.

Confusing “upgradable” with “updated for years”

Check the official policy for that model, not a line of shop copy.

Buying only just enough memory

The phone may last physically but become too small for your files.

Ignoring repairs

A broken screen or a worn-out battery are predictable problems, not rare exceptions.

Security and privacy

Updates protect your account and your data. Buy through a trustworthy channel, use the official app store, and turn on a screen lock, backups and two-step verification on your accounts.

What I would do

I would compare support, battery, repairs and total cost before looking at small differences in the camera. If two models do the same job, I would take the one with clearer information and an identifiable repair service.

Final checklist

1. How much security support does the model have?
2. Can the battery be replaced?
3. What happens if the screen breaks?
4. Is there enough storage for several years?
5. Are the warranty, the returns policy and the provenance clear?

Sources

• Smartphones and tablets: ecodesign and energy label — European Commission
• New EU rules for durable, repairable smartphones — European Commission
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 — EUR-Lex

Related

• What to do before changing your phone
• Which AI is worth paying for

Review

Responsible for publication: Ibrahin. Date: 2026-09-02. Last checked: 2026-09-02.