As smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, the rate of obsolescence of devices has also increased. However, many of us prefer not to sell our old phone when we buy a new one, but to leave it somewhere or give it to someone. A survey of 10,000 people from 26 countries revealed that between 5 and 10 billion old phones are idle worldwide. So why don’t we sell these devices?

According to the research, the main reason is the fear of replacement phones

According to the research, 27 per cent of people prefer to keep their old phones as a backup. Another important reason is the concern that the photos or data on the device will be lost… Especially the fear of erasing valuable memories causes old devices to be forgotten in the drawer instead of selling them. In addition, 20 per cent stated that they do not know what to do with their old phones.

The GSMA report says that if 5 billion phones are recycled worldwide, precious minerals such as gold, silver and cobalt worth about $8 billion could be saved. These minerals can be used in many areas, from new smartphones to electric vehicle batteries.

Why are our phones becoming obsolete?
Other data highlighted by the research are as follows:

• The average lifespan of smartphones is 3 years. 75 per cent of users change their phones during this period.
• Battery life (90 per cent) and performance problems (87 per cent) are the main reasons for changing the device.
• Especially the younger generation considers the sustainability factor when buying a new phone. 49 per cent of the participants in the research state that this factor is very important for them.

According to experts, instead of leaving old phones to gather dust, recycling or second-hand sales systems can both provide environmental benefits and create economic value. This trend is expected to accelerate as recycling and exchange programmes become widespread.

So, how many old mobile phones do you have at home? Why don’t you dispose of your old phones? Share your views with us in the comments!