If you compare Android to iOS, one of the primary talking points would be how Apple has supported its iPhones for years whereas Android phones may not get more than one major upgrade in some cases. However, the scenario is changing as Android smartphone makers have understood how crucial keeping their Android OSes updated helps retain users while fending off malware, phishing, or other attacks.
Android smartphone makers are changing their update policy which means there are smartphones out there guaranteed with seven years of major Android updates i.e. Samsung. OnePlus, and Xiaomi, among other makers, have increased the duration of both Android OS and security updates, especially towards the flagship and mid-range phones.
The question is, how many Android updates does your smartphone brand offer? You could be using Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Google, Vivo, Xiaomi, or others which means everything will have different timelines, right? Let’s delve deeper to answer this question.
How many Android and security updates does Samsung promise?
The latest Samsung Galaxy S24 series arrived with seven years of Android and security updates and it is insane. Samsung has been at the forefront of upgrading its Android update policy, especially for the Galaxy S-series flagship and A-series midrange devices. Here’s what the current ‘updates policy’ looks like for Samsung users.
Samsung Galaxy S:
- Android Upgrades:-
- Seven years of Android upgrades for the Galaxy S24 series
- Phones released in 2021 or later: Four years
- Released in 2019 or 2020: Three years
- Security Updates:-
- Seven years of security patches for the Galaxy S24 series
- Phones released in 2021 or later: Five years
- Phones released in 2019 and 2020: Four years
Samsung Galaxy Z:
- Android Upgrades:–
- Phones released in 2021 or later: Four years
- Other Phones: Three years
- Security Updates:-
- Phones released in 2021 or later: Five years
- Phones released in 2020 or before: Four years
Samsung Galaxy A:
- Android Upgrades:- Two Android updates minimum on high-end models
- Security Updates:-
- Flagship models: Four years
- Selected Few: Five years
Samsung Galaxy M:
- Android Upgrades:- Two minimum updates
- Security Updates:- Quarterly or half-yearly: Four years
Samsung Galaxy Note:
- Android Upgrades:- Released in 2019 or later: Three years
- Security Updates:- Monthly: Four years
You can check out more about Android updates and security patches on Samsung devices right here.
How many Android and security updates does OnePlus promise?
Let’s say you own a OnePlus 12 or 11, what do you think would be the Android update policy for your phone? Truth be told, OnePlus has maintained its supremacy in terms of rolling out consecutive Android updates on its flagship lineup.
Starting 2023 i.e. OnePlus 11 and above, all the OnePlus flagship phones are secured with four major Android upgrades plus five years of security updates. The OnePlus R-series is entitled to three years of major upgrades plus four years of security patches.
OnePlus Nord and Nord CE phones are entitled to two major Android versions plus three years of bi-monthly security updates. The OnePlus Nord N series gets one major Android upgrade plus three years of bi-monthly security updates. There were two upgrades for the OnePlus 7 and older while OnePlus 8 to 9 Pro are listed for three major upgrades.
How many Android and security updates does Google promise?
Google prioritizes Android updates on Pixel devices and of course, it is a key factor you would consider when selecting a Pixel phone, right? Google cuts on any waiting period giving Pixel devices first-hand experience of everything from beta updates to stable releases and everything in-between.
Here, Google Pixel 8 and above have been promised seven years of major Android updates while the previous models resort to a still-better-looking three years of support. It means Google Pixel 7 was released in Android 13 and will be supported till Android 16 in 2025.
When it comes to security updates, Pixel 8 and above gets seven years; Pixel 6 and 7 get five years, and finally, all previous models get three years’ worth of security patches.
How many Android and security updates does Motorola promise?
Motorola has maintained its position as one of the first companies to roll out Android updates after Google rolled them out. Motorola’s Android OS-flavored MyUX is among the near ‘pure’ Android experiences you would get on a non-Pixel phone. But something changed after Lenovo took over.
For now, Motorola Android update cycles vary from one to three years while the security patches go from two to four years. These updates are mainly region-specific. Let’s see how the various series under Motorola operate.
Motorola Ultra Series
- Android Updates: Three years
- Security Updates: Four years (bi-monthly)
Motorola Razr Series
- Android Updates: Two years
- Security Updates: Three years (bi-monthly)
Motorola Edge Series
- Android Updates: Two years
- Security Updates: Three years (bi-monthly)
Motorola G-Series
- Android Updates: Two years
- Security Updates: Three years (bi-monthly)
Motorola E-Series
- Android Updates: One year
- Security Updates: Two years (bi-monthly)
You can access this publicly available information on Motorola smartphones and their software updates right here.
How many Android and security updates does Xiaomi promise?
Xiaomi has one of the most complicated lines of smartphones spread across the Poco, Mi, and Redmi series and targets anyone from entry-level to flagship-level target audience. Its custom-made MIUI that has an Android OS has complex logic as well since the same version may arrive with a different Android OS under the hood.
It recently announced four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates for Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro among other flagships. Let’s see how the update policy plays out for Xiaomi.
Flagship Phones:
- Android Updates: Four updates for models released after 13T; Three years for the rest
- MIUI versions: Five
- Security: Five years for phones released after the 13T series; Four years for the rest
Xiaomi Max / Note / Mix
- Android Updates: Two
- MIUI versions: Four
- Security Updates: Three years
Poco F / X Series
- Android Updates: Two
- MIUI versions: Four
- Security Updates: Three years
Poco M
- Android Updates: One
- MIUI versions: Three
- Security Updates: Three years
Poco C
Android Updates: One
MIUI versions: Two
Security Updates: Three years
Xiaomi Mi A
Android Updates: Two
Xiaomi Redmi Note Series
- Android Updates: One
- MIUI versions: Three
- Security Updates: Three
Xiaomi Redmi Series:
- Android Updates: One
- MIUI versions: Two
- Security Updates: Three years
How many Android and security updates does Oppo promise?
Oppo’s update policy wasn’t that robust until 2023 when it changed it. Today, you get three years of security updates across all Oppo smartphones. These are monthly for flagships such as the Find X series while the Reno and A-series get quarterly updates.
When it comes to Android upgrades, the Find X series usually gets four upgrades till Find X2 while the rest of the flagships get two. Security patches on Find X6 and above are for five years while the rest enjoy four years of monthly security updates.
The Reno/ Find Neo/ Find Lite/ K and F series are entitled to two years of major Android updates as well followed by four years of quarterly security patches. Finally, the Oppo A series gets one major Android update plus three years of quarterly security patches.
How many Android and security updates does Nokia promise?
Call it Nokia or HMD Global, this is one of the best comebacks for any smartphone brand out there. Nokia uses Android One which is a very stock-like Android user experience akin to Motorola MyUX. This has helped Nokia keep its phones updated and that includes even the entry-level ones which is a big thing to achieve but that was the initial process. Things have changed now with a seemingly complicated smartphone portfolio targeting various price segments and beyond.
With that being said, Nokia continues to send out updates to its phones. For instance, the Nokia G22 (2023) is entitled to get three years of security patches till April 2026 plus at least two years of major Android OS upgrades for most phones. High-end models such as X10 and X20 are up for three years of Android OS support plus three years of security patches. The rest of the phones get two years’ worth of support.
How many Android and security updates does Sony promise?
Sony currently offers a very fragmented experience when it comes to rolling out Android updates. For basics, the major Android updates are usually rolled out for two years plus three years of security patches. However, these rollouts can be staggered in terms of models and regions. The flagship and high-end models usually get two to three updates while the mid-range and entry-level phones would take on one or none of the upgrades. This is perhaps true for many other brands as well.
How many Android and security updates does Vivo promise?
Vivo is another brand owned by Chinese conglomerate BBK Electronics that backs up OnePlus and Oppo as well. Vivo is one of the leading smartphone brand thanks to its smartphones sales volume worldwide. When it comes to Android and security updates, it promised up to three years of Android updates and security patches on selected X series models. It does maintains other smartphones will still continue to receive their share of security updates. Here’s what the policy looks like for us.
Vivo X Series
- Android Versions:- Three for Vivo X60 and newer
- Security Updates:- Three years of quarterly patches
Vivo Y Series
- Android Updates:- No Guaranteed Updates
- Security Updates:– Three years quarterly patches
You can check out Vivo’s update timeline and rollouts right here.
How many Android and security updates does Realme promise?
One of the leading smartphone brand out there, Realme overhauled its Android update policies in March 2022 announcing GT 2 and GT 2 Pro will get three Android upgrades and four years worth of security patches without specifying the region.
For now, it’s Realme numbered series (10, 11, 12, etc) gets one major upgrade and the same for Realme X series. Both of these series get two years of bi-monthly security patches on the go. The Realme C series (which is budget-friendly) resorts to one major upgrades but with three years of bi-monthly security patches.
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