Android manufacturers do not waste time boasting time that they will provide software updates for their new phones. In the past year or two, companies like Google and Samsung have promised seven years of upgrades to the Android operating system and safety updates for their flagship devices. This is enormous progress compared to ten years ago, when most manufacturers offered two major updates to the operating system, and Apple had kilometers ahead, offering software management for five years or more.
Even if I think that the management of long -term software is a step in the right direction, the way in which software updates deploy software updates. Some brands take months to deploy the latest version of Android because they want to add their personalized skins. I prefer to have the latest version of Android as soon as Google deploys it rather than waiting for months for each update. Let me explain why.
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5
I put up earlier
I buy a new phone every 2 to 3 years
I like to have modern equipment, so I put my phone every two or three years. It is mainly the upgrades of the camera and the battery performance that tempts me to upgrade. I know that some of you keep your phones longer, but when when you have used the same phone for seven years? I think companies use the seven -year update promise as the right to boast of buying their devices.
When an Android phone is three or four years old, it often feels slower, the battery life is poor and the quality of the camera begins to show its age. Even if you get updates to the operating system and security corrections, would you like to update the latest Android version when your phone is already slow? This is why I prefer to have timely updates during the years that I use a phone. If I bought a phone shipped with Android 15, I expected an Android 16 update in the 12 months, not in 18 months. However, most Android manufacturers find it difficult to provide timely updates.
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Missing features on older phones
Manufacturers prioritize new devices
It is not because your smartphone supports the new Android Android Years version after its release that you will get all the features it has to offer. Manufacturers often reserve the best features for their new models and use the excuse of “hardware limitations” so as not to bring them to older devices. As your phone becomes obsolete, updates can become less frequent and less optimized, which means that your device will not feel as fluid as before.
For example, ONE UI 6.1 update from Samsung in 2024 brought Galaxy AI features to its old devices. However, not all Galaxy AIs are features introduced by the company alongside the Ultra S24 have headed for older models such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. I prefer to have software updates that do not skip quality features because my phone is older. I would not be surprised if a five -year -old phone receives an Android update with two or three new features due to material limitations.
3
Fast updates keep your phone fresh
There is always something new to try
I am a fan of the decreases of quarterly functionalities from Google. Pixel users always have something new to check on their phone and do not have to wait until months for these updates. However, other manufacturers, such as Samsung and OnePlus, often take their time with updates, which makes months to access the features of pixel users. When you get the update, these features are no longer as exciting because they have existed for so long.
Imagine how much iPhone users would be rabid if Apple deployed iOS 18 to an older model like the iPhone 13 three or four months later to push sales of its new models? Updates in a timely manner can make an aging phone feel new again, and the excitement of trying new features with everyone is something that I do not want to abandon by switching to an Android brand that slowly deploys updates for several years.
2
Bug corrections and safety fixes are sensitive to time
Your phone’s safety and performance is the most today
Smartphones have become essential tools in our daily life, and their safety and performance are certain things that we generally have for granted. If my phone is vulnerable to a security threat, I would expect the manufacturer to unroll a patch in a few days, not weeks or months later. Some manufacturers must take notes from Google, which deploy the Android security updates to Pixel phones almost immediately after having published them at the beginning of each month.
The same goes to send it bugs. I understand that you are forced to meet bugs and performance problems at some point when using a smartphone. However, if a manufacturer is quick to deploy fixes, you will not have to worry about it. Otherwise, you will be frustrated each time you use the phone and have no other choice than to wait for an official correction. What is the interest of a long -term update promise when your phone is buggy for months? Manufacturers must quickly solve problems such as battery discharge, lamella animations and touch screen problems.
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Resale value
A brand that deploys update updates is more attractive
It is an important factor because many people, including myself, sell or exchange in their old phones before moving on to a new one. You might think that a brand smartphone that promises several years of upgrades to the Android operating system will be more attractive on the used market. Although this may be true to a certain extent, people also prioritize brands with a good history of deploying updates. You will have easier to sell a three -year pixel phone than a oneplus phone with similar equipment, because people know that Google phones generally get all software updates.
In addition, people prefer the phones on the latest version of Android. If you sell a phone that runs Android 14 when Android 15 has been released for several months, you will find it difficult to find interested buyers. This is one of the main reasons why iPhones generally maintain a resale value better than Android devices. Apple deploys iOS updates for all models supported on the first day. The company does not make quirky outings like many Android manufacturers. If you consider the resale value when buying a new Android phone, choose a Pixel phone compared to other manufacturers.
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The history of a business are more important than its promises
It is not difficult for Android manufacturers to follow the traces of Google and promise software support for several years. What is more important is the time they need to deploy these updates. I prefer to buy an Android phone from a brand with an excellent history of updating its devices in a timely time. I use a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and it did not receive Android 15 in March 2025, while the Pixel 7, which was released the same year, received the update in October 2024.
If Google offered a pixel flip, I would pass in the blink of an eye to take advantage of all the new software features as soon as they are available. I played the waiting game and I am not a fan. Seven years of software assistance is not enough to convince me to buy another Samsung phone.
