Software program assist for the highest Android telephones has change into a non-issue lately. This contains costly fashions and lots of glorious finances choices. Many cellphone manufacturers are bringing prolonged software program assist to their gadgets, with Google, Samsung, and Honor providing a powerful seven years of updates.
That is nice information. Telephones get longer lives, which reduces e-waste. Nonetheless, maintaining observe of how lengthy that is for every system from every cellphone model may be difficult. Listed below are the favored Android cellphone manufacturers and the OS and safety replace plans for his or her smartphones.
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10
Google
7 years of OS updates and seven years of safety updates
It is sensible that the corporate that produces Android would have the very best replace cycle for its gadgets. Whereas that’s the case now, it wasn’t at all times. Beginning with the Pixel 8 sequence, Google moved to the present seven and 7 replace plans. Any system beginning with the Pixel 8 line and past will get at the least seven Android model updates and 7 years of safety updates. You may count on your Pixel 8 sequence system to replace to Android 21.
As for the sooner Pixel gadgets, Google slotted these gadgets to get three years of OS updates and two years of safety patches. Nonetheless, the corporate backed out of that plan for a purpose: extending the replace schedule to 5 years. In December 2024, Google introduced that beginning with the Pixel 6 lineup by way of the 7 sequence, customers may count on a full 5 years of OS and safety updates.
9
Samsung
So much to replace
Other than Google, the following model to supply long-term assist is Samsung. As the most important OEM for Android-related gadgets, together with telephones, tablets, and wearables, Samsung has the most important carry by way of the variety of gadgets to assist. Its transfer to seven years of Android software program assist beginning with the Galaxy S24 sequence and the opposite telephones launched in 2024, together with foldables just like the Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, is spectacular.
Units earlier than the 2024 cycle had been slated to obtain three years of updates in 2019, however this was prolonged to 4 years. All telephones between the Galaxy S21 and S23 sequence, Galaxy A15 5G and A55 5G, and Z Flip 3 by way of Z Fold 5 will get 4 Android updates. Units earlier than these will keep on the three-year replace schedule.
Relating to its tablets, Samsung is giving 4 years of Android updates to the Tab S8 sequence and past in addition to its Galaxy Watch 4 sequence and newer.
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8
Honor
Welcome to the membership
Within the US, Honor is unknown to the typical client. Nonetheless, the model’s choices lately have been spectacular. The Honor Magic 5 Professional remains to be my favourite and is gaining traction regardless that it is not bought in carriers. The model had provided the usual two years of Android OS updates and three years of safety patches. Nonetheless, it moved to a few years of OS and 5 years of safety patches, beginning with the aforementioned Magic 5 Professional.
As of MWC 2025, Honor pushed the assist of its gadgets additional to affix Google and Samsung with seven years of software program assist. Honor introduced that this transfer is to make sure customers of its Magic Collection gadgets “get pleasure from entry to cutting-edge AI options and modern functionalities for years to come back.” The primary system to obtain this dedication is the Honor Magic 7 Professional, the newest flagship from the model.
7
OnePlus
Staying contemporary
OnePlus has had an awesome final couple of years. The OnePlus 12 set the tone for the corporate final 12 months, and it saved rolling with the spectacular Open and Watch 2. With the OnePlus 13 and Watch 3 out, 2024 was no fluke for the model. Nonetheless, the corporate has greater than a few telephones and watches it should contemplate relating to its software program replace technique.
You should not count on seven years of updates. The corporate’s president in contrast this plan to a stale sandwich. Beginning with final 12 months’s flagship OnePlus 11, customers can count on 4 years of Android OS updates and 5 for safety patches. Shifting to the gadgets previous this, you are three years of OS upgrades and 4 years of safety patches. After we take a look at what the Nord sequence of gadgets will get for updates, OnePlus presents two years of Android updates and three years of safety. When shifting to the Nord N line, you may plan on getting one Android replace and two years of safety patches.
6
Motorola
Do higher
Motorola is a legacy model in Android smartphones and cell telephones. Whereas this pleasure over the model has cooled for the reason that early days of the unique Moto Droid, the corporate continues to supply among the finest finances gadgets with telephones just like the Moto G (2025) and modern choices just like the Moto Razr+. Nonetheless, its software program assist is not as spectacular and follows a path that is nearer to what telephones had in 2009.
Most Moto flagship gadgets get two years of software program assist, whereas most finances gadgets get one Android improve and two years of safety patches. Other than not providing lengthy software program assist, maxing out three years of OS assist and 4 years of safety patches for the Edge Plus (2023), or 5 years of assist for the Edge 50 Neo, which is barely out there in Europe and India, remembering what assist every system within the Motorola portfolio is as dangerous. With a lot uncertainty across the assist plan for every system, Motorola supplies a web site the place you may search for your system.
5
Nothing
Could possibly be worse
Nothing is one thing with its distinctive strategy to product design and give attention to consumer expertise. Although the corporate remains to be younger, it has grown into a preferred model with a budding product portfolio. From spectacular flagship gadgets just like the Telephone 2 and the upcoming budget-conscious Telephone 3a, Nothing is staking its declare as an Android OEM to look at.
A bonus of being younger within the Android house is that the corporate can reap the benefits of improved software program applications from the likes of Google and a smaller product catalog. This results in commendable, although not class-leading, software program assist for its gadgets. Nothing presents three years of Android OS upgrades and 4 years for safety. The rising firm is working to offer customers the prospect to take part in beta testing Nothing software program, to enhance and velocity up secure releases.
4
Oppo
Strong assist
Although not recognized within the US, Oppo is a powerhouse in different elements of the world. The model makes spectacular gadgets, just like the anticipated Discover N5. Whereas I haven’t got entry to those merchandise, many do and luxuriate in a stable software program assist plan from the model.
Flagship merchandise from Oppo from 2023 and on get 4 upgrades and 5 years of patches. Units earlier than 2023 get three upgrades and 4 years of patches. Past the premium handsets, Oppo customers get the identical therapy as these from OnePlus, wherein midrange gadgets are arrange for 2 upgrades and 4 years of patches. Funds gadgets within the A sequence largely get one improve and three years of patches. Not all Oppo’s finances gadgets get this, some obtain zero assist.
3
TCL
It is not nice
Although TCL is thought for its TVs, the corporate has its palms within the cell system house. The corporate’s newest entry into the smartphone market is the 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G. Whereas this is not a powerhouse system, it makes use of the model’s NXTPAPER expertise that offers an E Ink-like viewing expertise with out the drawbacks of 1.
The TCL telephones providing this distinctive function do not get the assist to match different Android OEMs. The define for Android OS updates is unclear, with some gadgets getting no updates and others getting one. Based on TCL’s web site, “Usually, we are going to preserve the safety updates for at the least 2 years after the primary cargo of a sure system mannequin.” It additionally says that some gadgets may get three years or longer relying on rules and different elements.
2
Xiaomi
Anticipate common
Xiaomi makes among the finest smartphones in the marketplace, assuming you may entry one. Nonetheless, the software program assist for many of its telephones is obscure to dangerous, by not totally committing to Android updates on its lower-tier gadgets and as much as two years of safety patches. For Xiaomi’s premium line of gadgets, count on three upgrades and 4 years of patches. The newest Xiaomi 14 Extremely nets 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates.
1
Sony
Brief assist for costly telephones
Sony settled into being a high-end area of interest Android cellphone model. Not like some luxurious manufacturers that take an present system or a white-label cellphone and add premium supplies to the skin and a horrible UI, then mark up the worth, Sony takes a distinct angle. It makes a tool with top-tier specs and goes full pro-mode with the digital camera facet of the system. Topping the sundae is a hard-to-get cellphone costing $1,400, at the least at launch. As for the updates, you may count on, at finest, two years of Android OS updates and two to a few years of safety patches.
Little bit of a blended bag
With regards to how lengthy an Android cellphone will get software program updates, the query of when it’ll get that replace may be complicated. It is nice to see manufacturers like Honor stepping as much as match manufacturers like Samsung and Google. Hopefully, it’ll push different producers to do the identical. Whereas newer gadgets are supported for longer, some aren’t certain that is factor. Nonetheless, your cellphone could should be up to date earlier than then. Should you’re not sure, there are indicators. Realizing that the corporate that makes my cellphone stands behind it sufficient to assist it lengthy after I’ve given my cash to them means quite a bit to me, and it also needs to imply quite a bit to you.