Upgrading from iPhone 16 to 17

Batteries in phones can be replaced

Can you pair earbuds from different sets?

Repair culture's role in fighting fast fashion

How to decipher green washing tactics

Would repair vouchers encourage more repairs?

Buying new iPhones, wardrobe makeovers and single-use products have become social norms. But what happens to the old, replaced items? 

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Annual launches like Apple’s iPhone have spurred the desire to own the latest piece of technology, as consumers face up to marketing tactics from smartphones to fast fashion. 

Usually, older items that are replaced are being tossed away to make way for the new.

What else can be done to the replaced items apart from sending them to the landfill? 

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong examines whether we have a throwaway culture that’s grown despite years of public education and outreach and whether we are too quick to chuck stuff to make way for new ones. She also explores if the iPhone 17 is worth the upgrade from the iPhone 16. 

Her guests are Mr Tan Ching Hwee, founder of myhalo, a platform allowing users to trade-in, repair, sell, and buy used digital devices; and Mr Lionel Dorai, executive director of Zerowaste SG, an NGO that advocates for Singapore to go zero waste through public education. 

Highlights (click/tap above): 

9:03 Upgrading from iPhone 16 to 17

12:53 Batteries in phones can be replaced

17:03 Pairing earbuds from different sets - does it work? 

23:44 The repairing culture in curbing throwaways in fast fashion 

31:46 How to decipher green washing tactics

35:34 Would CDC vouchers to subsidise repair costs encourage more to repair? 

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

Buying new iPhones, wardrobe makeovers and single-use products have become social norms. But what happens to the old, replaced items?&nbsp;
Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Annual launches like Apple&rsquo;s iPhone have spurred the desire to own the latest piece of technology, as consumers face up to marketing tactics from smartphones to fast fashion.&nbsp;
Usually, older items that are replaced are being tossed away to make way for the new.
What else can be done to the replaced items apart from sending them to the landfill?&nbsp;
In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong examines whether we have a throwaway culture that&rsquo;s grown despite years of public education and outreach and whether we are too quick to chuck stuff to make way for new ones. She also explores if the iPhone 17 is worth the upgrade from the iPhone 16.&nbsp;
Her guests are Mr Tan Ching Hwee, founder of myhalo, a platform allowing users to trade-in, repair, sell, and buy used digital devices; and Mr Lionel Dorai, executive director of Zerowaste SG, an NGO that advocates for Singapore to go zero waste through public education.&nbsp;
Highlights (click/tap above):&nbsp;
9:03 Upgrading from iPhone 16 to 17
12:53 Batteries in phones can be replaced
17:03 Pairing earbuds from different sets - does it work?&nbsp;
23:44 The repairing culture in curbing throwaways in fast fashion&nbsp;
31:46 How to decipher green washing tactics
35:34 Would CDC vouchers to subsidise repair costs encourage more to repair?&nbsp;
Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Host: Lynda Hong (<a href="mailto:lyndahong@sph.com.sg">lyndahong@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-stringify-link="https://www.awedio.sg" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Podcasters: Lynda Hong

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Podcasters: Lynda Hong
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

In Your Opinion

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Podcaster: Lynda Hong

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Podcaster: Lynda Hong
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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