How long will a tablet last?

There are a few things to consider when thinking about longevity

Camilo Delgado

Camilo Delgado

How long will a tablet last - Galaxy Tab

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Tablets are not forever, but they can last for a long time. To give a straight answer a Windows tablet can last for 8-12 years, a Samsung will last for about 5 years, and an iPad will work for as long as nine years.

Now there is something to consider in order to actually say for sure how long will a tablet last. As always, a part of its durability will depend on you.

What is the physical lifespan of a tablet?

The physical durability depends entirely on the use it receives. A tablet that is used to read PDFs and does not require any software updates can last for as long as 9-12 years.

The only part to take care of will be the battery. You might need to invest in purchasing a new battery at some point. There is no way a battery can last for that long on an in-use tablet.

How many years is a tablet supported?

The software lifespan is actually the biggest part for a tablet to outlive you. It won’t matter how careful you are if, all of a sudden your device stops receiving updates and get outdated. 

Each company has its own specific period of time to push their updates and once they stop making updates for a specific tablet you will start running into errors with software.

Big brands like Samsung have proven to push updates for five years. Within the Android ecosystem, this is one of the largest lifespans you’ll find.

Apple’s iOS runs the extra mile here. They have been known for making software updates for as long as nine years. The iPad 2 which was released in 2011 received updates until 2020. Now I haven’t met the first person who still owns an iPad2 that works.

A fair surprise in this category is Windows tablets. I said a surprise, but it shouldn’t be; we all know windows builts their OS to last for at least 10 years. So a Windows tablet will last the best part of a decade and even more if well-taken care of.