The average mobile phone in the early 2000s lasted 5+ years. Today, smartphones are typically replaced after just 2.5 years – not because they stop working, but because of changing user expectations, software support cycles, and rapid upgrades. This shift has doubled the rate of consumption, contributing to e-waste and embedded emissions. It highlights the shared responsibility between consumers and manufacturers, and why regulations like the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) aim to make longer-lasting, repairable products the default.