An increasingly important buying criterion, software maintenance on Android smartphones remains one of the murkiest stats for manufacturers. Wondering if your smartphone will get Android 12 or Android 13? Well, good luck!
Outside of Google, Samsung, or OnePlus, few manufacturers have made firm, and most importantly, written commitments to the number of Android versions and the duration of security updates they guarantee for their smartphones.
Many times we have to settle for a vague informal promise, or even “guess” how many updates the smartphone will receive based on the software tracking (hello Xiaomi) of previous models. Therefore, I contacted most of the most representative Android manufacturers in terms of sales and market share in August 2022.
In the first version of this article, published in February 2022, I asked them to officially tell me how many Android versions and security patches the model in question would get for each range in their current catalog. For this updated version, we checked whether the update policies of the manufacturers mentioned in the article have changed.
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How many Android and security updates Google is committing to
I know that mentioning Google in this article is of limited interest, as there will be no question of transparency and clarity of its update policy.
Google has made it clear when and how often its Pixel smartphones will be updated. You can find all this information through its official website.
But since not everyone necessarily knows, which is only natural, I’ll be quick to remind you that Google Pixels currently benefit from at least 3 versions of Android and at least 3 years of monthly security patches post-exit.
After three years, the smartphones will continue to receive security patches for 18 months after the sale of the aforementioned models ends on Google’s official store.
With the release of the Pixel 6, Google extended its security update policy to five years from the model’s US release date. The same goes for the Pixel 7 series.
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How many Android and security updates Samsung is committing to
Samsung has been the top performer lately when it comes to updates from third-party Android manufacturers. On its latest flagship, Samsung recently committed to 4 major versions of Android and 5 years of security updates.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is a mid-range smartphone with 3 Android versions and 4 years of security patches. / © Didecs / Shutterstock.com
Samsung’s official commitment
“Samsung allows all Galaxy smartphones to receive at least two Android system updates and regular security updates within four years of global market launch,” a Samsung representative in Germany told me.
Samsung smartphone update cycle
Samsung Galaxy S:
- Android versions: 4 if released in 2021 or later; 3 if released in 2019 or 2020.
- Security Updates: 5/4 years if released in 2021 or later, monthly patches for 2 years, then quarterly patches.
Samsung Galaxy Z:
- Android version: 4 if released in 2021 or later, otherwise
- Security Updates: 5 years (4 years if released in or before 2020), monthly for 2 years, then quarterly thereafter
Samsung Galaxy A:
- Android version: minimum 2, some flagships require 3
- Security updates: 4 years, 1 year of monthly patches for some “flagships”, then quarterly or even semi-annual for the final year
Samsung Galaxy M:
- Android version: at least 2
- Security updates: 4 years, quarterly or even last year’s semi-annual patches
Samsung Galaxy Notes:
- Android version: 3 (if released in 2019 or later)
- Security Updates: 4 years, monthly patches for 2 years, then quarterly
Is this information publicly accessible to consumers?
Samsung sets itself apart from other Android makers by offering a fairly clear list of the latest models. The list is available online, and you can check how often your smartphone is currently receiving security updates.
Samsung, on the other hand, doesn’t specify how long your smartphone will receive monthly patches, nor what criteria it takes into account when deciding to reduce the frequency of updates over time. “The monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual security update schedules depend on the release date of the device and are re-evaluated periodically,” Samsung said.
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This leads to contradictions. So the Samsung Galaxy A72, released this year, will receive quarterly security patches, while the Galaxy A52, released at the same time, although cheaper and less efficient, will receive monthly patches.
How many Android and security updates Xiaomi promises
Xiaomi is not the worst student when it comes to software updates. But it’s one of only a few major manufacturers to refuse to be transparent and offer any sort of guarantee. It’s still possible to “guess” your Xiaomi smartphone’s unofficial update policy based on previous models, but we’ve seen better customer service.
On average, don’t expect more than 2 Android versions for the flagship product and 1 version for the rest of the catalog. MifFans will be screaming in my face that the MIUI version is what matters, and the latter does extend the software update cycle for Xiaomi smartphones.
As for security patches, this obscure Xiaomi page states that the manufacturer provides monthly and quarterly security updates for at least 2 years after the smartphone’s global release. For most models released in 2020/2021, manufacturers have even fulfilled their 3-year promise to update patches every 90 days.
The Mi 11 Extreme Commemorative Edition may receive updates on a shorter, but more frequent basis than Samsung’s mid-range smartphones. / © kwgeek
Xiaomi’s official commitment
“We currently do not provide any official guarantees for our series, but many examples in the past show that we regularly provide updates for older devices,” said Xiaomi Germany.
The update cycle of Xiaomi mobile phones
Xiaomi’s flagship (“Numbered Line”)
- Android version: 3, suitable for models released after the 11T line, and 2 for others
- MIUI version: 4
- Security Updates: 4 years for models released after the 11T series, otherwise 3 years, patched every 90 days.
Xiaomi Mi T/Note/Max/Mix
- Android version: 2
- MIUI version: 4
- Security Updates: 3 years, patched every 90 days
Xiaomi Mi A
- Android Version: 2 (Android One)
Redmi Note
- Android version: 1
- MIUI version: 3
- Security Updates: 3 years, patched every 90 days
Red rice
- Android version: 1
- MIUI version: 2
- Security Updates: 3 years, patched every 90 days
Poco F/X
- Android version: 2
- MIUI version: 4
- Security Updates: 3 years, patched every 90 days
pocomi
- Android version: 1
- MIUI version: 3
- Security Updates: 3 years, patched every 90 days
Poco C
- Android version: 1
- MIUI version: 2
- Security Updates: 3 years, patched every 90 days
Is this information publicly accessible to consumers?
No, as mentioned above, Xiaomi does not guarantee or make any official promises regarding Android versions and security updates.
The information I’ve listed above has been compiled from unofficial sources based on updates made to models released in previous years.
It is currently impossible to determine how often and when your Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco smartphones will be updated. However, Xiaomi offers to download the latest ROM for its smartphones from its official website.
How many Android and security updates Oppo is promising
When it comes to software tracking, Oppo is about average among Android vendors, which isn’t a huge deal. Admittedly, it recently announced that it would provide three years of security updates to its Find X, Reno, and A-series, up from just two before, but that only makes up for Oppo’s delays in the face of Samsung or OnePlus.
Oppo’s update policy has definite merit, if not the most extensive. We know when and how often each model in our catalog is updated.
The Oppo Find X3 Pro will get 3 Android versions and 3 years of security patches. / © kwgeek
oppo official promise
“Today, we can guarantee three years of security updates for all smartphones. For the Find X series, we provide them monthly, and for the Reno series and A series, quarterly.
For the Find X3 Pro and Find X2 Pro, there are three OS updates each, and for the other Find X series smartphones, as well as the Reno series and some A series, we distribute two newer OS updates”, the representative of Oppo Germany assured us.
The update cycle of Oppo smartphones
OPPO Find X
- Android version: 3 for Find X5 Pro, Find X3 Pro and Find X2 Pro, 2 for others
- Security Updates: 4 years, monthly patches
Oppo Reno/F/K/Find Lite/Find Neo
- Android version: 2
- Security Updates: 4 years, quarterly patches
Opel A
- Android version: 2
- Security Updates: 3 years, quarterly patches
Is this information publicly accessible to consumers?
Oppo displays a list of models based on update frequency on its official English-language website. You can check how often your smartphone receives security patches.
Unlike Samsung, Oppo has not indicated that the frequency of security updates will change or decrease over time. It also doesn’t allow you to manually download updated ROMs for its models through its official website.
How many Android and security updates OnePlus is committed to
OnePlus has seen better days. But it would be disingenuous to forget that the manufacturer is one of the best students in software monitoring. Yes, OxygenOS 11 divides fans and Android rollout…
