Weekly poll: How long should phones get OS updates?

04 February 2018
Most brands do not have a clear update policy, but usually the last update comes a year or two after the phone is unveiled.

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  • H
  • Hel 662
  • N2m
  • 04 Feb 2018

Sony update xperia z android 4.2 and 4.3 jelibin ,kitkat4.4, lollipop 5.01and lollipop 5.1

    Vineet290, 04 Feb 2018Companies really don't care about their customers after sel... moreOne plus don't have a good track record, and that's even when they have a near stock android firmware on their devices.

      IDk why people want updates for more than 3 years. How do you guys expect the company to gain profit ?
      They came into this business to gain money like you do you your best to make money and not do social service.

        Companies really don't care about their customers after selling their phones/tabs. I still have oneplus X (as my 2nd phone) and even after promising Oneplus provided marshmallow after Google launch thier first gen Pixel phones with Android Nougat (wonder, if they use custom UI/skin and launche like Samsung LG). Immediately after that Oneplus ended support for both H/W and S/W for the device. So finally I have to install Lineage OS to get 7th Android. And now waiting for Lineage 15(Android oreo).

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • HsG
          • 04 Feb 2018

          3 years minimum.. 2 years for low end and lower-mid range.. 3-4 years for upper-mid range and flagship. Security patch 4 years

            I think overall security patches are what's needed, 2-3 years os updates and 4 years or more for security updates.

              As long as phones are capable of running it smoothly

                As focus on gaming and graphic is must have and as people are unable to buy smartphone annually 5 years is standard:
                1st year is system refresh
                2nd year is performance control
                3rd year is feature addition
                4th year is compatibility focus
                5th year is solving final issues
                6th and more are irrelevant as technology is completely changed by the handset available hardware
                --------------------------------------------
                For an OS which doesn't need yearly overhaul, 2 year is enough.
                1st year is system strengthen
                2nd year is prepare the handset for next 3 years.
                --------------------------------------------
                Scalability and expansibility are two factors which must be focused by developers.
                If they do so, new technologies are welcome for more efficient apps with few changes in the source.
                If developers' view sets to 16K video, they can downscale contents to qHD without quality loss. On the contrary, Quality will fade away from HD to FHD
                ---------------------------------------------

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • rJx
                  • 04 Feb 2018

                  Anonymous, 04 Feb 2018Not sure why anyone cares about version upgrades. This is m... moreAgree. Version updates don't matter nearly as much (as the phone was acceptable as the manufacturer sold it, and as the user bought it).

                  Security patches are important (I said earlier in this thread: 3 years from last sale date).

                    • a
                    • alexv
                    • 3A6
                    • 04 Feb 2018

                    flagships 3 years, upper midrangers 2 years and lower end phones 1 year more or less, i think everyone is satisfied with this update cycle

                      • Y
                      • Yep
                      • pdg
                      • 04 Feb 2018

                      As long as it is possible in all reality.
                      If a phone has all the great specs, working camera, battery, etc., simply why upgrade to a new one? - Because updates stop, they slow down or other similar sabotage.
                      Damn consumerism and capitalism.

                        Support lifecycle should be as follows for all the phones:

                        3 years OS upgrades
                        5 (3 + 2) years security updates

                        Update schedule should be monthly.

                        Manufacturers should also have a good supply of spare batteries, as lithium ion batteries have a shelf life of 3-4 years & approx. 500 recharge cycles.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • QWI
                          • 04 Feb 2018

                          Should be 2 years or more, and final android update should give us optional to switch over and join lineage OS nightly updates without unlocking bootloader or rooting the device. Would be a good idea if manufacturers has some sort of partnership with lineage OS one day.

                            • j
                            • jtrogr
                            • sv7
                            • 04 Feb 2018

                            They need 1 year to optimize it, everything after is just bugs, performance issues and lag.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • pWQ
                              • 04 Feb 2018

                              Personally I'm fine with 2 years as that's my usual upgrading cycle. More updates and a longer support would be better, of course.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 017
                                • 04 Feb 2018

                                Today's flagship phones have the hardware to be usable for a long time. OS updates for 2 years plus an additional 2 years of (on time) security updates is my ideal but realistic request. All phones should have 3 years of security updates regardless of their price. Heck, if I have an old phone I would pay to keep monthly security updates coming.

                                  • S
                                  • Spark
                                  • 7%%
                                  • 04 Feb 2018

                                  At least for three year. But for flagship mobile maybe for 5 years. Because of the price a common person can't buy the launching time & may buy after one or two years. So consider that also.

                                    My LG G2 is running Android 7.1.2 smoothly and the Galaxy S6 family is rumored to get Oreo - Manufacturers need to know acknowledge that phones are fast, despite being old.
                                    I know is not true for every smartphone maker or every phone, but for flagships dating as far back to the SD800 and on, there's little excuse no to make at least 4 years of updates

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • I8m
                                      • 04 Feb 2018

                                      Surficial, 04 Feb 2018High end should get the newest version available at 2.5 yea... more Exactly

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-508218
                                        • 0iF
                                        • 04 Feb 2018

                                        The processors on the droids are awesome so they can handle 5 years of updates. That being said unless Samsung is causing the droids to run slow to force you into buying a new Galaxy.. well.
                                        Meantime iOS tends to slow down phones with upgrades.
                                        BlackBerry is the only phone I seen that turned B.B. 10.2 into a smoother B.B. 10.3