Why does the smartphone start to slow down over time? (Topic)

The smartphone slows down over time. You have probably noticed this if you have been using the same device for 2-3 years. Let's find out why this might be happening.

Slowdowns and lags are ok if

• the device is low on RAM;
• you just launched the application and it hasn't really loaded yet;
• the application is launched from the sd card;
• you are running an application that requires an internet connection.

In all other cases, lags and reduced response speed are abnormal. There may be several reasons for it.

Additional applications and running processes

The number of installed apps is one of those things that many users forget about. When you first bought a smartphone, there was almost nothing in it. But the more you use it, the more APK you have installed. It also means that you run a lot of programs during the day and there are many processes running in the background. Resetting the device to factory settings frees up memory and restores the smartphone to its original performance, but only until the memory is clogged again.

New operating system

Small system updates bring optimizations and security patches. If the performance of the device changes after their installation, then only for the better. Conversely, installing a major OS update (for example, moving from Android 7.0 to Android 8.0 ) can lead to performance issues. It should be noted right away that this does not always happen. In most cases, after installing a major update, you will find that the system has speeded up. But this will only happen if the update has been well optimized for your device.

Do not forget that the physical components of a smartphone are subject to wear and tear and become obsolete over time. Each new system update is carefully optimized for new chipsets, not old ones. Therefore, on devices 3-4 years old, the update may cause performance and compatibility issues.

Since minor updates are intended to fix potential security threats, you should install them right away. But if you received a major OS update, and the performance of your smartphone is already poor, then wait a little before installing it. Explore the technical forums to see how the update behaves for other users with the same phone model.

Out of memory

First, the more clogged the internal memory of the device, the worse it will work. Smartphones use NAND flash memory and require enough free space to work efficiently. Therefore, a thorough disk cleaning will help speed up your work right now.

Second, NAND memory degrades over time. She is assigned a certain number of recording cycles. Basically, when you remove something from your smartphone, an electrical impulse is sent to the cell. Under its action, the semiconductor layer on the chip is gradually destroyed.

If data is overwritten often enough, individual areas of memory degrade to the point of being completely unusable. Fortunately, using special software, you can block damaged cells and prevent your smartphone from using them. This will return the device to the nimbleness, but only for a while. This measure will not save the rest of the memory from destruction, so sooner or later the problem will return again. Performance will suffer again as there are fewer and fewer available cells to complete tasks.

The number of write cycles for mobile flash usually depends on the quality of the manufacturing process. But NAND memory in smartphones wears out faster than the same type of memory found in SSDs for laptops and PCs.

Maybe manufacturers deliberately make smartphones wear out faster?

Typically, the performance of a smartphone decreases noticeably 2 years after purchase. It seems that this is on purpose, because this is the period of the warranty for the device. Many people feel that manufacturers intentionally assemble electronics in such a way that after this two-year period, buyers will have to purchase new models.

Maybe so. But there is also a more obvious reason. It makes more sense to assume that smartphone makers want to save on hardware first. By installing cheaper and more fragile chips, they reduce production costs and at the same time contribute to the sale of new devices, because after 3-4 years it becomes impossible to work with worn-out ones.

The Topic of Article: Why does the smartphone start to slow down over time?.
Author: Jake Pinkman