Why companies make you upgrade to the latest technology
By: Stevie Wilt
Tags: Outdated, Devices, Obsolete, Electronics, Technology

Have you ever seen a screen like this when trying to open an application? It is annoying, and part of the plan that companies use to make money.

Recently, my dad was trying to open an app on his phone that he uses for work purposes. He had a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge phone with the latest software. But there was a problem that prevented him from using the app that is important to his job.

As Samsung is currently introducing new phones, the latest software updates are only available on newer phones, as now the Galaxy S7 series is now “obsolete” when it comes to software updates. Depending on the apps, this may or may not affect everyone, but with the apps themselves getting updates and also following the cycle of only supporting the newest devices, sooner or later your device will become “obsolete” by the company’s standards.

As a result, he had to get a new Samsung Galaxy S10 phone and trade in the S7 Edge in order to use his work app. Even with the trade-in, he still had to pay out-of-pocket to cover the remaining phone balance. So why do companies do this to users of its products? It is simple - money.

By restricting the update availability of its phone software, Samsung (as well as all other companies selling electronic devices) is making people buy newer devices, which in turn, generates money for the company. Usually, our household buys electronics and other big-money purchases only when needed. As long as the product works properly, it will still be used. It will mainly be replaced if it is broken to the point where it can’t be fixed or if it keeps having glitches that impact the product’s use. But if important apps and features are unable to run on the devices, then what choice do we have?

By holding off on buying the latest, greatest thing, people can save money. For example, instead of financing the newest phone, you can continue using your current phone and have the interest work for you by investing the money you save instead of using it to paying the company. And especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, where many people have lost their jobs or have had a reduction in pay, holding on to money is very important. But companies don’t seem to care; they still want to make money off of those that may or may not be able to afford the newest electronic device just because their current device is considered “obsolete” by company standards.

Over the years, everything from cell phones and computers to iPods and gaming consoles become obsolete at one point or another. You might be able to continue listening to a first-generation iPod, but it may not work with your car’s audio nor be able to download new songs. You can still play games on an original Xbox, but the ability to play games like Halo 2 online are not possible as the game’s server shut down years ago. You can still use an old Windows 95 computer (if it even works), but you probably won’t be able to go online and be limited to playing pre-loaded games like Solitaire. As with those devices, phones are no stranger to becoming obsolete.

You can still make emergency calls from a cell phone even if it doesn’t have service. Some outdated apps can still run if the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. But very few people use cell phones that are 15 years old. It can be annoying that people have to replace their device not because it quit working but because it doesn’t have the latest software updates needed to run certain apps. As for my dad, this was the first time anyone in our household needed to replace an electronic device without planning on it; at least he was able to afford the new Galaxy S10 needed to continue using his work app. But companies need to realize that there are people not strapped with cash out there using the company’s products, and the proper thing companies should do is making sure everyone has access to the things they need to continue using their devices, and to use those devices until they are no longer working. If companies truly cared, they would put their customers before profits.

Update: I had to upgrade my phone as well because the app needed for my current job was not compatible with my old Samsung Galaxy S7. However, I was able to change to a Google Pixel 4 as a result, and it not only runs the work app but also runs smoother and faster, in part that there is less “bloatware” on the phone.