As much as a mobile has the best camera, an eternal battery, or power to scare, if the software does not accompany, you will not be completely satisfied. The software experience is half of the experience that the mobile user has and, as the famous slogan says, “power without control is useless” .
This software improves even more with the updates , especially with the most recent version of Android released by Google, as well as with the different security patches. The company releases a new version of its operating system every year but depends on adapting their respective customization layers to the latest version of Android by adding features, user interface changes and more.
Who does the update of my mobile depend on?
For this reason, it is up to the OEM , and not Google , to bring the updates to your mobile. Depending on one manufacturer or another, it will take more or less to receive the new software on your device as well as the security patches. The longer the period during which the company provides updates, the longer the consumer will stick with the brand and the more the life of the phone will be expanded.
Of course, here you have to add one more variable, and it is not the same to have a free mobile or tied to an operator. In this second case, in addition to the manufacturer, it is the operator who has to work on the customization layer to add their own apps, which further portrays the arrival of the software.
Updates by brand
Which companies provide updates for the longest time, and which ones stick to a shorter period? After the latest changes made by manufacturers such as Samsung, we reviewed the update policies of all manufacturers that operate in our country.
Google leads the way in updates
Starting with Google’s Pixel devices, these are the first to receive both types of updates, including major operating system updates as well as security updates .
Pixel phones receive Android version updates as well as security updates for at least 3 years since the device hit the Google Store.
Samsung update policy
Increasing its updates and hitting the table, Samsung follows Google’s strategy and offers 3 years of operating system updates as well as 4 years of security updates.
This applies to the Galaxy S10 series onwards (including the S10 Lite), the Galaxy Note 10 family onwards (including the Galaxy Note 10 Lite), the Galaxy A51 and above, and all of the brand’s folding
How many Android updates does Xiaomi offer?
Take out paper and a pen because the case of Xiaomi is quite complicated, because the MIUI and Android updates depend on the brand and the family with which we are working
The company has never published an update policy so it considers the following data as “probable, but not official”.
- Mi series : 2 Android updates and 4 MIUI updates
- Mi Max / Mix / Note / T series: 2 Android updates and 4 MIUI updates
- Mi A series (Android One): 2 Android updates
- Redmi Note series: 1 Android update and 3 MIUI updates
- Redmi series: 1 Android update and 2 MIUI updates
- Poco F and X series: 2 Android updates and 4 MIUI updates
- Poco M series : 1 Android update and 3 MIUI updates
- Poco C series : 1 Android update and 2 MIUI updates
Realme updates
Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth said last year that Realme phones will receive at least one major Android update and security patches for two years . However, there are models, the top of the range, that can enjoy two system updates, if we take the famous Realme X2 Pro as an example.
Android updates and OPPO security patches
Oppo , with ColosOS provides 2 years of major operating system updates with 3 years of security updates that are shipped monthly for flagship devices and quarterly for other devices.
The company is one of the fastest OEMs to update their phones, at least to Android 11.
Motorola update policy
Motorola has gone through different controversies due to the few updates that its devices receive. Most of them, the ones that do not work with Android One, only have a big change of operating system and two years of security patches but there are exceptions like the Motorola Edge + that will receive two big updates to Android .
How many updates does a Nokia mobile receive
Nokia has been one of the fastest OEM release updates for smartphones in the past. The company promises 2 major updates to the operating system (since their phones are part of the Android One program) as well as 3 years of security patches.
Live updates
Vivo is also among the list that provides 2 years of major operating system updates for its phones with 3 years of security updates. Curiously, the brand was the first to launch a phone that came with Android 11 as an operating system, under its FunTouch layer, surpassing even Google’s Pixels.
How many Android updates does OnePlus offer?
OnePlus has always been one of the manufacturers that has given more importance to the software of their phones, OxygenOS. While the company promises 2 years of major operating system updates along with 3 years of security patches, the reality is that the brand has so far provided 3 “big” updates for most of its smartphones. For example the OnePlus 7 Pro launched in 2019 has already been able to enjoy Android 10 and Android 11, but it is also expected to get Android 12.
The “special” case with Huawei updates
All Huawei models will enjoy monthly security patches except the Huawei Y6 from 2019, which will do so on a quarterly basis.
Regarding Android updates , right now the issue is in limbo because not even the smartphones that work on EMUI 11 do so on Android 11, since they work on Android 10. It is likely that all the brand’s phones will continue to update in EMUI, but stay anchored in this version of Android before moving on to enjoy HarmonyOS.
Sony updates
A recent rumor details that the top of the range launched by Sony since 2020 will receive 3 years of operating system updates but, as of today, it has not been confirmed by the manufacturer. So at the moment the firm proposes an update policy similar to that of other OEMs, 2 years of Android change and 3 years of security updates.
What about LG?
After learning that LG closes its mobile division, many wondered what happens with the pending updates for their phones. The firm has announced that some of its smartphones will receive Android 11 and even Android 12, with the LG Wind and LG Velvet being the lucky ones to reach this version.
Why is my mobile no longer receiving updates?
Google establishes the technical requirements necessary to continue receiving updates to new versions of Android . A concrete example: the Android 7.0 Nougat version is not compatible with terminals with Qualcomm 800 and 801 processors because they no longer have official Android support.
Depending on the hardware of your phone, in addition to the brand’s plans, you may or may not continue to receive the new software versions.
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