Planned obsolescence

Planned obsolescence is a business strategy where products are intentionally designed to become obsolete, undesirable, or to stop functioning within a predetermined time-frame, forcing consumers to replace them. This practice maximizes profits for corporations, but leads to unnecessary waste and consumer frustration.

The phrase "planned obsolescence" was coined in 1932 by Bernard London, who proposed mandatory product expiration to stimulate Depression-era economies. Brooks Stevens later popularized it in the 1950s, defining it as instilling a desire for newer products "sooner than necessary".

Vance Packard’s 1960, The Waste Makers, critiqued corporations for manipulating desires through style changes and a perception of being out of date. Modern fast fashion and tech industries continue this trend, fostering "throwaway" cultures.

Types of Planned Obsolescence:

•    Contrived or Artificial Durability: Designing products with inferior materials that wear out quickly or using non removable/repairable components.
•    Systemic Obsolescence: Technological incompatibility, such as software updates rendering older devices unusable.
•    Perceived or Aesthetic Obsolescence: Marketing-driven trends that make functional items seem outdated.
•    Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.

Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, glued in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies

A foundational 1984 Stanford study theorized that monopolists intentionally reduce product durability to maximize profits by forcing repeat purchases. Oligopolists may collude to shorten product lifespans, though outcomes depend on market dynamics.

Examples of Planned Obsolescence

Software updates:

• Apple’s "Batterygate": Apple admitted to slowing down older iPhones via iOS updates to compensate for aging batteries, pushing users to upgrade.
• Samsung Smart TV "Slowdowns": Older TVs received updates that degraded performance.
• Fitbit’s Planned Software Expiration: Older devices lose app compatibility after updates.
• Sonos Speaker "Recycle Mode": Software updates brick older devices during setup.

Hardware limitations:

• Tesla Battery Degradation: Older Tesla models experience rapid battery capacity loss, requiring costly replacements.
• GE Microwaves with Sealed Electronics: Circuit boards prone to failure but inaccessible for repair.
• HP printers reject third-party ink cartridges via firmware updates.

Famous Planned Obsolescence Cases

Cases

Year	Company	Product	Details
2017	Apple	iPhones	Apple admitted it had released software updates that could slow down older iPhone models when their batteries degraded. This was allegedly done to prevent unexpected shutdowns caused by aging batteries. This resulted in 3 settlements totaling over USD $600M
2018	Samsung	Galaxy Note 4	Italy’s antitrust body fined Samsung €5 million regarding software updates that allegedly slowed down certain Galaxy phones.
2016	HP	Printer	HP released firmware updates for "Dynamic Security", causing printers to show error messages or stop working if a non-HP-branded cartridge was installed. Multiple settlements were reached totaling over USD $5M between 2016 and 2020.
1925	Associated Electrical Industries(UK), General Electric(US), Osram(GER), Phillips(US), Tungsram(HUN)	Incandescent Light Bulbs	One of the earliest examples of planned obsolescence. On January 15, 1925 corporations based in Europe and the U.S. incorperated a cartel called, Phœbus S.A. Compagnie Industrielle pour le Développement de l'Éclairage, Industrial Company for the Development of Lighting. Until 1939, Phoebus S.A. kept the life-span of light bulbs to 1,000 hours. After the cartel was dissolved the industry continued this practice for years.

Related Practice:

Non Repairability:

Non-repairability is a critical enabler of planned obsolescence, as manufacturers intentionally design products to limit repair options, thereby shortening their functional lifespans and forcing consumers to replace them prematurely. This practice amplifies environmental harm, economic costs, and consumer dependence on new purchases.

1. Design Barriers to Repair

Manufacturers employ physical and technical design choices to obstruct repairs, such as:

Proprietary components: Printers often include chips that block third-party ink cartridges, rendering devices unusable unless replaced with expensive OEM parts.

Glued or sealed units: Smartphones and laptops increasingly use non-removable batteries or adhesives, making replacements hazardous or impossible without specialized tools. For example, Apple’s iPhones require prying open glued batteries, risking damage to internal components.

Incompatible fasteners: Companies like Apple use tamper-resistant screws (e.g., pentalobe screws), preventing users from accessing internal parts.

These design choices ensure that even minor malfunctions necessitate professional (and costly) repairs or replacements, accelerating product turnover.

2. Software and Legal Restrictions

Software locks: Manufacturers embed software that disables devices if third-party parts are detected. For instance, Apple’s iOS has historically blocked phones with non-OEM screens or batteries from functioning fully.

Warranty voiding: Many companies void warranties if users attempt repairs, deterring independent fixes. This practice forces consumers to rely on manufacturer-approved services, which may be prohibitively expensive or unavailable.

Copyrighted repair manuals: Toshiba and others have restricted access to repair guides, stifling third-party repair markets.

Such tactics disproportionately affect low-income and geographically isolated consumers, who lack access to authorized repair centers.

3. Legal and Policy Responses

Governments are addressing non-repairability through legislation:

EU Right to Repair Directive: Mandates spare parts availability and prohibits anti-repair practices like software locks.

Québec’s Bill 29: Criminalizes planned obsolescence and requires manufacturers to provide repair services, spare parts, and warranties for up to 10 years.

EU Battery Regulation (2026): Requires user-replaceable batteries in electronics, countering sealed designs.

Despite these efforts, enforcement remains challenging. France’s 2015 law against planned obsolescence saw no convictions until 2022 due to the difficulty of proving manufacturer intent.

Non-repairability is a cornerstone of planned obsolescence, enabling manufacturers to control product lifespans and maximize profits. While legislation like the EU’s Right to Repair represents progress, systemic change requires dismantling design barriers, improving consumer access to repairs, and shifting cultural norms toward durability over disposability

See Also

• IPhone planned obsolescence incidences
  

References

1. REDIRECT Self-destructive design