Is repairability enough? big data insights into smartphone obsolescence and consumer interest in repair

A dominant narrative surrounding smartphone lifespans suggests that their objective functional capabilities deteriorate rapidly and if only devices were more repairable consumers would use them longer thereby reducing demand for new production e-waste generation. Here we a big-data approach to help unpack this examine two related yet distinct aspects: performance obsolescence, interest in repair. Examining over 3.5 million iPhone benchmarking test scores, reveal the of remains very stable time does not as common wisdom might suggest. In contrast, testing frequency varies substantially. This discrepancy factors other than meaningfully influence consumers' perceptions functionality obsolescence. Relatedly, our analysis 22 visits website offering free repair manuals revels declines exponentially repairability necessarily prolong consumer's Taken together, findings indicate non-technical aspects, such mental depreciation perceived obsolescence play critical role determining lifespans, suggest focus on technical aspects currently discussed by policy makers is unlikely yield desired extension lifespan. We propose sustainability advocates try avoid narratives planned which have counterproductive impacts consumer's’ repair, instead highlight how well perform time. More broadly, work demonstrates potential using novel datasets directly observe consumer behavior natural settings, improve general understanding issues