Importance Of Software Updates For Smartphones

Importance Of Software Updates For Smartphones – Do you want to know how long will your Android smartphone stay updated? It has asked manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus to explain their Android updates and security policies.

An increasingly important purchasing criterion, the update policy of Android smartphones is nevertheless one of the areas where manufacturers remain the most vague. Luckily, things are starting to get better, and it has become easier to tell whether your smartphone will get Android 13 or Android 14.

Importance Of Software Updates For Smartphones

Samsung led the way by improving its update policy, and since then manufacturers like Xiaomi and more recently Google have been making efforts to reassure customers. These brands have a firm commitment regarding the number of Android versions and the period of security updates guaranteed for their smartphones.

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My colleague Antoine contacted most of the most represented Android manufacturers in terms of units sold and market share in August 2022, and in the first version of this article, published in February 2022, he asked them to tell us officially for each range Asked for. Current catalogue, how many Android versions and security patches the respective models will receive.

For this updated version in January 2024, we have checked if there have been any changes in the update policies of the manufacturers mentioned in this article.

As of November 2023, Google is the manufacturer with the best Android update policy. This may seem logical, but a few months ago, Samsung was leading the way. The Mountain View firm is back with its Pixel 8 range and is now promising seven years of Android updates and security patches.

Google clearly states how long and how often its Pixel smartphones will be updated directly on its official website.

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But since not everyone is aware of it, as is natural, I will immediately remind you that the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 ranges benefit from three years of updates. This has been increased to five years for the Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and Pixel Fold range. As mentioned above, you’ll get up to seven years of updates with your Pixel 8 or 8 Pro.

Samsung lost its title as the Android brand with the longest software support to Google in 2023, but as 2024 begins, the company has matched seven years of software support, for now, only for the flagship Galaxy S24 family. For.

Samsung’s official commitment “Samsung allows all Galaxy smartphones to receive at least two Android system updates and regular security updates for four years after their global market launch,” a representative from Samsung Germany told us. samsung smartphone update cycle

Samsung differentiates itself from other Android manufacturers by offering a clear list of updated models. This list is available online and you can see how often your smartphone will receive security updates.

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On the other hand, Samsung does not clarify how long your smartphone will receive monthly updates or what kind of criteria will be taken into account when deciding on the frequency of update releases over time. “The timing of monthly, quarterly and semi-annual security updates depends on the launch date of the device and is reevaluated at regular intervals,” Samsung said.

This may create a contradiction. For example, the Samsung Galaxy A72 will receive quarterly security patches, while the cheaper and less capable Galaxy A52, which was released at the same time, will receive monthly patches.

OnePlus has aligned itself with Samsung’s update policy, promising four major Android updates and five years of security patches for its smartphones from 2023.

The official release did not specify smartphone models or product series, but given previous changes, this policy should only apply to flagships. The N10 5G and N100 to OnePlus Nord N will also get three years of security patches, up from two years previously.

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OnePlus’ official commitment “For all flagships, the Nord and Nord CE OnePlus provides two years of major Android updates and three years of bi-monthly security patches. And for the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100, they get one year “Will get two years of major Android updates and bi-monthly patches,” OnePlus France confirmed with us.

Since I contacted OnePlus on June 22, 2022, the manufacturer has slightly changed its update policy for its most recent flagships. Thus, all flagships since the OnePlus 8 will benefit from three major Android versions and four years of security patches.

However, the manufacturer has explained in detail about its new update policy on its forum. So in this forum post, you can see the update policy applicable to your OnePlus model. Like Oppo, OnePlus has also clearly specified the duration and frequency of its updates over time.

OnePlus groups all its updated ROMs for its models on one dedicated page. You can download them and check their contents to see if they include a security patch or not.

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Motorola used to be one of the first companies to release the update, right after Google. Either because of its proximity to the Mountain View giant or because its software features are very close to “pure” Android. However, this has changed a bit since Lenovo purchased the company.

The Motorola Edge 2023 is entitled to three versions of Android and at least four years of security patches. /

In contact with Motorola via phone in Germany, we were told that “updates are per device line and are region specific”. That said, Android version updates can range from three to one year, while security patch releases can range from four to two years, depending on the series.

Motorola provides an official page to check for Android update files for its devices, as well as another page specifically for security updates. Since the company offers different models around the world, you have to search by region: Motorola US.

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Xiaomi has gone from being one of the worst students of software updates to one of the most exemplary. The manufacturer announced in 2023 that it now offers four years of Android updates and five years of security updates, like Samsung.

This decision was announced on the occasion of the launch of the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro, and so it probably belongs to the brand’s flagships. Don’t expect more than 3 Android versions for the rest of the catalog.

The Chinese company has significantly improved its update promise for some mid-range Redmi Note models, but since many of them are rebranded Poco phones, it’s a little difficult to know which models will get security updates for three or four years. Will be received as is. Case for the 2024 Note 13 family.

As for security patches, this obscure Xiaomi page mentions that the manufacturer provides monthly and quarterly security updates for at least two years after the initial release of the smartphone. For most models released in 2020/2021, the manufacturer extended this promise to three years with a security patch once every 90 days.

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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra will likely be updated less frequently than mid-range Samsung smartphones. /

Xiaomi’s official comment “At the moment we do not offer any official guarantees for our range, but several past examples show that we have regularly provided updates to older devices,” Germany’s Xiaomi noted.

No, as mentioned above, Xiaomi does not offer any guarantees or make any official commitments when it comes to Android versions and security updates.

The information I’ve listed above was compiled from unofficial sources based on updates released for models released in previous years.

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For selected phones listed as AER (Android Enterprise Recommended), Xiaomi publishes a clear table of software support, including update frequency, EOL (end of life), and promised future operating systems.

Apart from those models, it is currently impossible to know for sure how often and for how long your Xiaomi, Redmi, or Poco smartphone will receive updates. However, Xiaomi allows users to download the latest ROM version for their smartphones from its official website.

Oppo, which has long lagged behind in terms of software monitoring, has started upgrading and will guarantee four years of Android updates and five years of security patches for its high-end smartphones like the Oppo Find Has given.

The mid-range smartphone from Oppo Reno or A range gets three Android updates and four years of security patches. More affordable models get one Android update and three years of security updates.

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Although not the most comprehensive, Oppo’s update policy at least has the virtue of being crystal clear. We know how long and how often each model in the catalog will receive updates.

The Oppo Find X5 Pro gets 3 Android versions and 3 years of security patches. /

OPPO’s official commitment “Today, we can guarantee three years of security updates for all our smartphones. For the Find For the Find X3 Pro and Find X2 Pro, there are three OS updates each, for other smartphones in the Find A representative from Germany assured us about the update cycle of Oppo smartphones.

Oppo has displayed it on its official

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