5 explanation why long-term help is not as vital as quick Android updates

Android producers waste no time bragging about how lengthy they will present software program updates for his or her new telephones. Within the final 12 months or two, corporations like Google and Samsung have promised seven years of Android OS upgrades and safety updates for his or her flagship units. That is enormous progress from a decade in the past when most producers provided two years of main OS updates, and Apple was miles forward, providing software program help for 5 or extra years.

As a lot as I feel long-term software program help is a step in the precise course, how producers roll out software program updates issues extra. Some manufacturers take months to roll out the latest model of Android as a result of they need to add their customized skins to it. I might somewhat have the latest model of Android as quickly as Google rolls it out somewhat than wait months for every replace. Let me clarify why.

5

I improve sooner

I purchase a brand new telephone each 2 to three years

I like having fashionable {hardware}, so I improve my telephone each two or three years. It is principally the digital camera upgrades and battery efficiency that tempt me to improve. I do know a few of you retain your telephones longer, however when was the final time you used the identical telephone for seven years? I really feel corporations use the seven-year replace promise as a bragging proper to make clients buy their units.

When an Android telephone is three or 4 years outdated, it usually feels slower, the battery life is poor, and the digital camera high quality begins to indicate its age. Even for those who get OS updates and safety patches, would you need to replace to the latest Android model when your telephone is already sluggish? That is why I might somewhat have well timed OS updates through the years I exploit a telephone. If I purchased a telephone that shipped with Android 15, I might anticipate an Android 16 replace inside 12 months, not 18 months from now. Nevertheless, most Android producers battle to ship well timed updates.

4

Lacking options on older telephones

Producers prioritize newer units

Simply because your smartphone helps the latest Android model 5 years after its launch doesn’t suggest you may get all of the options it has to supply. Producers usually reserve the most effective options for his or her newer fashions and use the “{hardware} limitations” excuse for not bringing them to older units. As your telephone turns into outdated, updates might grow to be much less frequent and fewer optimized, that means your gadget will not really feel as easy because it used to.

For instance, Samsung’s One UI 6.1 replace in 2024 introduced Galaxy AI options to its older units. Nevertheless, not all Galaxy AI options the corporate launched alongside the S24 Extremely made their option to older fashions just like the Galaxy S23 Extremely, Z Flip 5, and Z Fold 5. I might somewhat have software program updates that do not skip high quality options as a result of my telephone is older. I would not be shocked if a five-year-old telephone will get an Android replace with two or three new options as a result of {hardware} limitations.

3

Quick updates preserve your telephone feeling recent

There’s at all times one thing new to strive

I am a fan of Google’s quarterly Pixel Characteristic Drops. Pixel customers at all times have one thing new to take a look at on their telephones and do not have to attend months for these updates. Nevertheless, different producers, like Samsung and OnePlus, usually take their time with updates, making clients wait months to entry options that Pixel customers have. If you get the replace, these options aren’t as thrilling anymore since they have been round for thus lengthy.

Think about how enraged iPhone customers can be if Apple rolled out iOS 18 to an older mannequin just like the iPhone 13 three or 4 months later to push the gross sales of its newer fashions? Well timed updates could make an growing old telephone really feel new once more, and the joy of making an attempt new options with all people else is one thing I do not need to surrender by switching to an Android model that rolls out updates slowly for a number of years.

2

Bug fixes and safety patches are time-sensitive

Your telephone’s security and efficiency matter probably the most immediately

Smartphones have grow to be important instruments in our day by day lives, and their security and efficiency are some issues that we typically take without any consideration. If my telephone is susceptible to a safety risk, I’d anticipate the producer to roll out a patch inside days, not weeks or months later. Some producers must take notes from Google, which rolls out Android safety updates to Pixel telephones nearly instantly after publishing them at first of every month.

The identical goes for addressing bugs. I perceive you are sure to come across bugs and efficiency points sooner or later whereas utilizing a smartphone. Nevertheless, if a producer is fast to roll out fixes, you will not have to fret about them. If not, you may be annoyed each time you utilize the telephone and don’t have any choice however to attend for an official repair. What is the level of a long-term replace promise when your telephone stays buggy for months? Producers should shortly deal with points like battery drain, laggy animations, and touchscreen issues.

1

Resale worth

A model that rolls out well timed updates is extra interesting

This is a crucial issue since many individuals, together with myself, promote or commerce of their outdated telephones earlier than upgrading to a brand new one. You may assume {that a} smartphone from a model that guarantees a number of years of Android OS upgrades will likely be extra interesting within the second-hand market. Whereas which may be true to an extent, individuals additionally prioritize manufacturers with a superb observe file of rolling out updates. You may have a neater time promoting a three-year-old Pixel telephone than a OnePlus telephone with related {hardware} as a result of individuals know Google’s telephones often get all of the software program updates first.

Furthermore, individuals favor telephones which are on the most recent model of Android. Should you’re promoting a telephone that runs Android 14 when Android 15 has been out for a number of months, you may have a tough time discovering consumers. This is among the most important causes iPhones typically maintain resale worth higher than Android units. Apple rolls out iOS updates for all supported fashions on day one. The corporate would not do staggered releases like many Android producers. Should you contemplate the resale worth when shopping for a brand new Android telephone, select a Pixel telephone over different producers.

An organization’s observe file is extra vital than its guarantees

It is not tough for Android producers to observe within the footsteps of Google and promise software program help for a number of years. What’s extra vital is how lengthy it takes for them to roll out these updates. I might somewhat purchase an Android telephone from a model with a superb observe file of updating its units in a well timed method. I exploit a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and it hasn’t acquired Android 15 as of March 2025, whereas the Pixel 7, which got here out in the identical 12 months, acquired the replace in October 2024.

If Google provided a Pixel Flip, I’d change in a heartbeat to get pleasure from all the brand new software program options as quickly as they’re out there. I’ve performed the ready recreation, and I am not a fan. Seven years of software program help is not sufficient to persuade me to purchase one other Samsung telephone.