Android updates come when they come, and that’s if they come. The good news is that in recent months several brands have announced that expand support for Android and security updates of at least some of their cell phones.
If you’re confused about who’s offering what, we’ve compiled the latest information on how many years of updates each manufacturer promises and the fine print behind each of these statements.
If Android updates are an important factor for you when choosing a mobile phone, few options are better than getting a Google Pixel. Mainly because updates arrive before any other mobile, without needing to wait. Plus, they launch with the latest version of Android preinstalled.
With the Google Pixel 8, Google has become the champion of Anroid updates by promising seven years of system and security updates. Previous models get three years of new Android versions and five security updates.
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Android updates: Seven years for the Google Pixel 8. Three years for the previous ones.
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Security updates: Seven years for the Google Pixel 8. Five years for the Google Pixel 6. Three for the previous ones.
Samsung
Samsung was one of the first companies to announce the news of extending Android updates beyond the usual two years. It initially promised us three years of updates, but then upped the ante to four years of Android updates for its most recent high-end models. You have the full list here.
With a huge mobile catalog, the implicit rule is: high-end terminals will receive four years of updates; the others three or two. The most basic terminals usually only receive one or none.
Regarding the security updatesSamsung is raising the bar to five years of updates for its most cutting-edge terminals, in addition to some of its professional mobiles:
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Android updates. Up to four years for the high-end (Galaxy S, Galaxy Z, Galaxy Tab S and certain Galaxy A). Three for other high-end and mid-high-end mobile phones. Two for the mid-range. One or none for the rest.
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Security updates. Up to five years for high-end or business models. Four years for the rest and less for the lower ranges.
OnePlus
OnePlus was recently encouraged to take the step of increasing update support for another year. In this way, the company guarantees four years of Android updates for its most powerful terminals, even if the policy begins to apply in 2023. The mid-range remains at two years of lifespan.
Android updates on OnePlus are underway three speeds. Some of its high-end models will receive four years of updates, others three, the mid-range OnePlus Nord will have two, and the most basic models like the OnePlus N10 and N100 will have a single year of updates . Security updates last three, four years for the top of the range and three for the rest.
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Android updates. Four years for certain high-end phones, three years for other high-end phones. Two for the mid-range. One for entry level.
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Security updates. Five in the next high-end mobile phones. Four years for other high-end products. Three for the rest.
OPPO
OPPO also recently announced increased support for Android updates. Some of its high-end mobile phones launched in 2023 will receive four years of Android updateswith five years of security updates.
For the rest of the terminals there are no fixed rules, so the the general rule. The most powerful ones should receive two years of updates, which will be reduced to one or none as you move down towards the mid-range and entry-level.
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Android updates: Four years for “certain high-end phones” from 2023. Three years or less for the rest.
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Security updates: Up to five on some high-end phones from 2023. There is no information on other models.
Live
Vivo has taken a step beyond the usual two years, after announcing that the brand’s most powerful models, the X series, would receive up to three years of Android and security updatesfor new models launched from this year.
For the rest of the series there are no rules written in stone, so it will depend on each case. The normal thing will be to think that mid-range terminals receive two years of updates and that those that are cheaper have one or none.
Nokia
Android One is widely present in the Nokia catalog, which was one of the first to announce update plans for each new version of Android. Things have changed in recent months but the general rule still applies: two years of updates, with the advantage that some its most economical terminals They also continue to be updated. The Nokia 1 was launched with Android 8.1 Go and has been updated to Android 10 Go.
Recently, Nokia announced that it guaranteed the three years of Android and system updates for some selected models. Without further news on other terminals, it is assumed that the rest of the catalog remains within two years of updates and the system, unless otherwise noted.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi has always prioritized the MIUI version over the Android version, so trying to find the logic behind the update policy guarantees a good headache. However, he recently surprised us with the promise of four years of updates and five of securitystarting with the Xiaomi 13T.
This is for the moment the exception to the rule, followed by the Xiaomi 11T which raised the bar to three years of updates. In the rest, theor normal it’s still two years of updates Android, I hope.
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Android updates. Four for the Xiaomi 13T. Three for the Xiaomi 11T. Two, one or none for the rest.
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Android updates. Five for the Xiaomi 13T, four for the Xiaomi 11T. At least two years for the rest.
LG
LG has officially abandoned the mobile business, but still with stocks and recently launched high-end terminals, the company has decided to calm things down by announcing its support for up to three years of Android updates for some of its terminals.
This expanded support applies to most of LG’s premium phones, including the LG series LG G, LG V, LG Velvet and LG Wing which have been launched since 2019. The other terminals are governed by the common rule of two years of updates.
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Android updates. Up to three years for LG G, V, Velvet and Wing. Two for the rest.
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Security updates. Up to three years for LG G, V, Velvet and Wing. Two for the rest.
Realme, Huawei, Honor, Sony and Motorola
Previous manufacturers have announced plans to extend Android or security updates beyond normal, while other brands have not yet commentedlike Huawei, Honor, Sony or Motorola.
Until further notice, in these cases The usual thing is that their most advanced models receive two years Android updates, which will drop to one or none in the mid and entry ranges, but without any promises.
In Xataka Android | Neither Google nor Samsung, there is only one brand that guarantees seven years of Android updates
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