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I fear that these devices are going to become less and less usable, not because they arent physically operable, but instead because companies like Apple are allowing them to become bricks if the owner doesn't pre-empt their demise or recycling. It's done today in the name of theft deterrence, but once these machines end up in drawers and storage lockers for years, I doubt most people will be able to unlock them successfully, rendering them sadly useless.

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i disagree. The theft deterrence feature that apple offer is actually useful and does what it says - deter theft.

I anticipate the opposite happening because devices are becoming more powerful and more power efficient. I own a PS Vita - this is 2012 hardware - and it holds up very well. granted, this is the exception to the rule but there is no reason why an iphone 12 (for example) cannot be repurposed down the line. the hardware is good enough and fairly durable.

if it stays in a state where it cannot be reused (because the user no longer has the ability to unlock due to forgotten password, etc), then no matter how powerful it is, it will be a brick.

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