to update, or not to update.

I'm glad to hear that you're thinking about sustainability. After all, the environment is our livelihood and so we should do our best to protect and preserve it.
But the fact remains that, when you buy stuff, resources are used, greenhouse gases are emited, in the manufacturing process and so on. So, from an environmental point of view, it's best to keep stuff for as long as possible, especially when it's made of heavy metal or other precious non-renewable/finite resources. Don't you agree?

And even if the 4s wouldn't become too slow, it may take up too much space (apparently 2 GB, it says). And what if it does get too slow? Then you're forced to get a new device, and – one can say what one will :-) – that just isn't sustainable (though of course, if one just throws away the old device instead of keeping it or selling it, that's even worse).

So summing up :-) , I'd say updating an 8 GB 4s is too risky, (especially if one is concerned about the environment). What if it does get too slow, too much space is lost, or something? Then even the direct Braille input and so on wouldn't be of much use. Don't you agree?

I agree that updating an older phone (or even an iPhone 5) is more risk than *I* would want to take on at this time. Let a few more bugs be squashed before I take the plunge.

However, unless a substantial fraction of the techie market suddenly becomes environmentally conscious, I submit that the amount of precious metals, rare earths and the like that will be saved by even the entire blind I-device subset of those using I-devices is minuscule at best. It may make you feel good to wear the hair shirt, so-to-speak, but the environment is not going to be less despoiled by your doing so.

But this 'It's just me, so it makes no difference either way' argument can always be made. For example: Whether or not I eat meat/animal products makes no difference because I'm just one person. Whether or not I buy cheap clothes that have to be replaced every year makes no difference because most people buy clothes of poor quality. Whether I buy a new iDevice every 2-3 years or choose to keep mine for as long as possible makes no difference because most people don't think that way anyway. So much plastic is produced/used, so whether I buy lots of cheap plastic furniture or fewer good quality wood/metal furniture makes no difference.
Of course many people do think like that. I've heard this kind of argument many times, I just think that that's not a very helpful attitude, sorry for saying so. After all, if everyone thinks that way, there really is not the slightest chance that anything will be achieved.
This is not about 'feeling good' or some naive idea that the behaviour of a few people can 'change the world'. Please! This is about doing one's part, as best as one can.
Or to put it another way: The fact that the manufacturers will not become environmentally concious over night, or that even if all blind iDevice users were concerned about the environment that wouldn't be many, doesn't mean that none of us should be thinking about sustainability. The more people demand that manufacturers adopt a more sustainable approach (e.g. by keeping their devices for as long as possible), the more likely it becomes that they will do so. But simply saying, 'Our impact is minuscule at best, so I'm not doing anything', won't help us either. Do you see what I mean? I do hope so.
And having said all that, I would never buy a new device just because it exists. I would not allow any huge company to convince me I need some new product, when really I don't. Whether I buy something entirely depends on whether I need it :-) .
Please -– let us be critical thinkers and environmentally concious consumers!

I'm glad you're saying protecting the environment is important to you!

Of course they're not explicitly saying, 'Buy a new device every few years'! That's not what I said.
But they're making the devices in such a way that they will not last long, for example by building the battery into the device. These devices are not supposed to last long, because if they would, Apple (and any other company) wouldn't make enough profit. Also, they're constantly releasing new software that will not be supported by older devices, and so on.
Of course it's not 'Apple's fault' that people buy stuff! Please! That is not what I said. But they do WANT people to buy as much stuff as possible! Of course it's the consumer's choice, and that's exactly what I meant when I said 'Let us be critical/environmentally concious consumers'. Everyone of us has a responsibility to live as sustainable as possible, a responsibility to do their part, as best as they can, but I said that already.
I do hope my argument makes mor sense to you now.
And for the sake of completeness: Hopefully no one is taking what I'm saying personally or anything! That's not how I mean it! And I most certainly don't want to offend anyone, and apologise if I have done so. I'm just putting forward my argument, because I am concerned about the environment as it is our livelihood.

And of course it's possible that updating may make a 4s more responsive. But what if an 8 GB device becomes too slow, too much storage space is lost, there are too many annoying bugs, or something? Then the person would be forced to get a new phone (which Apple would undoubtedly like :-) ), but it would be best to keep one's device for as long as possible.
So, I'd say the risks of updating do outweigh the benefits :-) .

The thing is, Apple doesn't require you to update. In no way do you need to update your software simply because your phone supports it; my grandmother still has an iPhone 4 running iOS 7, as does one of my best friends. The earliest most applications support is iOS 5, and I even know someone who was using a 3GS until recently. So these devices can technically last you at least 5-6 years if you're careful with them and treat them right. And while the battery isn't user-replaceable, you can take it to an Apple store and they'll replace it and hand you the device right back.
And, yes, an 8GB device is running it a bit tight; if it had more memory, I'd say update. But given how much memory the device itself has, I would advise against it.

Of course they don't 'require you to update'. That's not what I said.
And yes you can get a replacement for your battery (which not many people know or would consider doing), and if you treat your device right, it can last many years. But I'm sure you agree that that is not what these huge companies 'want', simply because selling as many devices as possible for as long as possible makes them more money. The devices CAN last long, but they are not intended for that, because companies want to keep selling their products.

It's great that you know people who are using older phones! I am glad to hear that.

And who would have thought it :-) , we all end up agreeing that updating an 8 GB 4s is 'probably not a good idea'/'too risky' (and I would add: 'especially if one is concerned about the environment and wants to keep one's device for as long as possible' :-) ).
With that, the question of the original poster should be answered sufficiently, which is a good point at which to close this discussion :-) . Don't you agree :-) ?

I can assure you that I was not attacking you personally! I was appealing to everyone – generally. I did state several times that I hope no one will take what I'm saying personally, and that that is not how I mean it. But you think it came across that way. I am very sorry to hear that, and hope that you believe me that my comments are intended as a general appeal ('Let us be critical consumers.') and not criticising you personally ('You're the bad guy.').

I am very glad to hear that you don't just buy new stuff because it exists, but you think about whether you actually need it. Of course that is a good attitude. Sure.
It's also good to hear that you still own and use older devices.

But as others have said, I wouldn't update.
Yes of course direct third-party input is nice. Believe me, I am probably the slowest 'on-screen keyboard touch typer' in the whole world :-) . Compared to me, you're probably 'extremely fast' :-) . But what if you update and your device becomes too slow, too buggy, or too much storage space is lost, so there's not enough space left for the stuff you need? Then you'd need a new device after all. And, from an environmental point of view (this is not an 'attack' but a fact) it's best to keep one's device for as long as possible.
So I'd say, the risks of updating outweigh the benefits. (Sorry for repeating myself!)

I sincerely hope you accept my apology and that my comments make sense to you. I was appealing to everyone, not attacking you personally.

Sorry, and all the best!

May I respond quickly.

I am very glad that you appreciate my position!

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you're not 'a fan of ecology'. (I'm certainly not a fan of anything, I just want us – including the next generation – to be able to survive and live healthy lives.)

But generally, we are in total agreement, also as far as buying stuff one doesn't need just because it exists is concerned. Great :) .

But to respond briefly to the point you raised there - if I may. The idea that there is such a thing as an 'environment that needs to be protected' only came into being in the 1960s or so. And even now that climate change, the damage humans have done to the environment and so on, have become so obvious, it's still business as usual because of influential lobbies, mighty multinational companies, greedy politicians and so on.
I'm just contending that we should still be thinking about sustainability, about how we can best preserve our livelihood, the environment. Yes, we are late – possibly too late – but don't we still have a responsibility to do our part? After all, we cannot know whether or not we really are too late, or whether we can still do things to mitigate this disaster. And just saying, 'We're too late already, so it's not worth doing anything', isn't helpful either and won't improve things (but – though the chance is minimal – doing one's part and trying to live sustainably possibly may), don't you agree? That's all I'm saying.