Technology

Shocker: Your phone has built-in expiration date

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

Shocker: Your phone has built-in expiration date

Your phone is dying as you’re reading this. Like milk, bike helmets and condoms, phones are sold with a built-in expiration date.

At the low end, we’re talking just a couple years, but most are supported for three to four. It’s not because the hardware will go kaput (though that can happen); it’s all about how long the manufacturer will offer support.

Let’s dive into how to find out your phone’s expiration date, plus tips to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

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The average is really mean

Here are the average lifespans for some of today’s most popular phone brands and makes:

Apple iPhone: 4 to 8 years
Samsung: 3 to 6 years
Google Pixel: 3 to 5 years
Huawei: 2 to 4 years

These are averages, meaning your mileage may vary.

Cellphones, like many other things you buy, come with their own built-in expiration dates. (Fox News Digital)

What’s your number?

Your phone’s lifespan clock starts ticking from its manufacture date, not when you purchased it, so knowing when it was built is the key. Here are ways to find out:

Look around: The manufacture date is often listed on the package. If you tossed it, check the “About” section in your phone’s settings for a date or serial number.
Serial number: Many manufacturers encode the manufacturing date within these numbers. The site SNDeepInfo can help you decode yours.
Dial secret codes: Special codes and menus can reveal manufacturing information. Dialing *#06# might show your phone’s serial number.

Yeah, I know. This looks like way too much work.

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Hallelujah, there’s an easier way

Instead of taking the steps above, head to endoflife.date. This handy site lists the end-of-life (EOL) dates for devices, software programs and others. Some quick links for you to check your phone’s EOL:

The links below aren’t for phones, but you might want to check the EOL for your other tech:

This is an excellent site to check before you buy any used tech. If it’s about to hit its EOL date, don’t buy it.

You can easily check online how long your phone – and other devices – are set to last. (SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

This is serious stuff

Using tech past its EOL date is bad for a bunch of reasons.

No important updates: Sure, you won’t receive the latest features, but, more importantly, you also won’t get any new security updates.
Hackers love you: Cybercriminals can break into your outdated tech much more easily to exploit unfixed bugs and security issues. We’re talking about unauthorized access on your phone to your bank accounts, health data, and even your voice from calls and voicemails.
Bad battery life: As phones age, their battery performance degrades because lithium-ion batteries lose capacity over time.
Slow down: Older phones struggle to run newer apps and operating systems.

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So, how do you make it last the entire lifespan?

Maybe you’re a year in on your phone and thinking, no way this thing is going to last four years. With a little maintenance, it can.

Keep it updated: Updates can not only keep your device running smoothly and safe from bugs, but they can often speed things up on the performance side, too. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Android, it’s under Settings > About Phone > Check for Updates.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to maximize your phone’s mileage and ensure it lasts its entire lifespan. (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Replace the battery: This is one of the most effective upgrades you can give your phone. Aim to replace the battery every couple of years — though you should get the professionals to do it. Contact Apple, Samsung or Google directly for options. You’ll pay less than $100.

Use a case: Keeping your phone “naked” is too risky. Get an OtterBox if you’re a butterfingers. Spigen makes slim, military-grade cases if you like the sleek look. Smartish has wallet cases, grippy options and lots more.

Look after the battery: Phones do best in temps between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your phone out of the sun when it’s hot and in your pocket when it’s freezing out. If it’s burning up, turn it off or put it in a shady spot for a while. Putting it in the freezer is a bad idea.

Delete the junk: Phones work faster with plenty of free storage, so delete any apps and files you don’t use. A quick cleanup: Open the Files app on Android, then tap the Clean tab. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see which apps can get the boot.

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Technology

Betterment’s financial app sends customers a $10,000 crypto scam message

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Betterment’s financial app sends customers a ,000 crypto scam message

We’ll triple your crypto! (Limited Time)

Bryan: Betterment is giving back!

We’re celebrating our best-performing year yet by tripling Bitcoin and Ethereum deposits for the next three hours.

For example, if you send $10,000 in Bitcoin or Ethereum, we’ll send you right back $30,000 to your sending Bitcoin or Ethereum address.

Send deposits to these addresses:

Technology

Fox News AI Newsletter: 10 showstopping CES innovations

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

The LG CLOiD robot and the LG OLED evo AI Wallpaper TV are displayed onstage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2026. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

– CES 2026 showstoppers: 10 gadgets you have to see
– Construction giant unveils AI to help prevent job site accidents: ‘It’s essentially a personal assistant’
– Fox News gets exclusive look at company helping businesses nationwide harness AI-powered robots to boost efficiency and fill labor gaps

CES 2026 put health tech front and center, with companies showcasing smarter ways to support prevention, mobility and long-term wellness. (CES)

FUTURE IS NOW: Every January, the Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, takes over Las Vegas. It’s where tech companies show off what they’re building next, from products that are almost ready to buy to ideas that feel pulled from the future.

SAFER SITES: Construction equipment giant Caterpillar has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to improve job site safety and boost efficiency as the industry grapples with labor shortages.

FUTURE OF WELLNESS: The Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, is the world’s largest consumer technology event, and it’s underway in Las Vegas. It takes over the city every January for four days and draws global attention from tech companies, startups, researchers, investors and journalists, of course.

FUTURE OF WORK: As artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, Fox News got an exclusive look at a company helping businesses nationwide harness AI-powered robots to boost efficiency and fill labor gaps. RobotLAB, with 36 locations across the country and headquartered in Texas, houses more than 50 different types of robots, from cleaning and customer service bots to security bots.

The LG CLOiD robot and the LG OLED evo AI Wallpaper TV are displayed onstage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2026. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

COMPUTE CRUNCH: The price tag for competing in the artificial intelligence race is rapidly climbing, fueling demand for advanced computing power and the high-end chips that are needed to support it. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su said demand for AI computing is accelerating as industries rush to expand their capabilities.

AI GONE WRONG: A California teenager used a chatbot over several months for drug-use guidance on ChatGPT, his mother said. Sam Nelson, 18, was preparing for college when he asked an AI chatbot how many grams of kratom, a plant-based painkiller commonly sold at smoke shops and gas stations across the country, he would need to get a strong high, his mother, Leila Turner-Scott, told SFGate, according to the New York Post.

DR CHAT: ‘The Big Money Show’ panelists weigh in on a report on people turning to ChatGPT for medical and healthcare questions.

‘FUNDAMENTALLY DEFLATIONARY’: OpenAI Board Chair Bret Taylor discusses artificial intelligence’s potential to change traditional work and its increasing use in healthcare on ‘Varney & Co.’

MIND TRAP ALERT: Artificial intelligence chatbots are quickly becoming part of our daily lives. Many of us turn to them for ideas, advice or conversation. For most, that interaction feels harmless. However, mental health experts now warn that for a small group of vulnerable people, long and emotionally charged conversations with AI may worsen delusions or psychotic symptoms.

A California teenager sought drug-use guidance from a ChatGPT chatbot over several months while preparing for college, his mother told SFGate, according to the New York Post. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.

This article was written by Fox News staff.

Technology

Meta expands nuclear power ambitions to include Bill Gates’ startup

Published

22 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Meta expands nuclear power ambitions to include Bill Gates’ startup

These AI projects include Prometheus, the first of several supercluster computing systems, which is expected to come online in New Albany, Ohio, sometime this year. Meta is funding the construction of new nuclear reactors as part of the agreements, the first of which may come online “as early as 2030.” These announcements are part of Meta’s ongoing goal to support its future AI operations with nuclear energy, having previously signed a deal with Constellation to revive an aging nuclear power plant last year.

Financial information for the agreements hasn’t been released, but Meta says that it will “pay the full costs for energy used by our data centers so consumers don’t bear these expenses.”

“Our agreements with Vistra, TerraPower, Oklo, and Constellation make Meta one of the most significant corporate purchasers of nuclear energy in American history,” Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, said in the announcement. “State-of-the-art data centers and AI infrastructure are essential to securing America’s position as a global leader in AI.”