Debate: How many years of software updates should flagship phones get?

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12sag02
12sag02
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

Most of system updates is frivolous stuff. Security updates are more important.

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poptart
poptart
Arena Master
• 1y ago

I'd take 2 years minimum. I change phones every 4 months so i really don't care honestly.

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Gintasb
Gintasb
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

At least for 4 years, 5 would be even better... ?

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Mariyan Slavov
Mariyan Slavov
Phonearena team
Original poster
• 1y ago
↵Annyms said:

There is actually no reason to have a new OS release each year. Both iOS and Android are stable now, with addition of new meaningful features decreasing with each version. We can have OS upgrades similar to Windows. The major versions are spaced 7 to 8 years apart with biannual minor upgrades. We can have a major upgrade every 2-3 years and minor upgrade every quarter. This way users can have new features every quarter and the OEMs can also support the devices for longer(no changes to APIs for major version).

That's an interesting angle! I never thought about it that way. You're completely right, but then again, a lot of devs would be losing their jobs, and companies wouldn't be able to force people into buying new models for the software experience (the latest OS).

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Charlie2k
Charlie2k
Arena Apprentice
• 1y agoedited

Samsung 4 years

Google 5 years

Apple 5 years

Fairphone 6 years

Ofc PA won't mention the leader and instead stopping at Apple.

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Mariyan Slavov
Mariyan Slavov
Phonearena team
Original poster
• 1y ago
↵Charlie2k said:

Samsung 4 years

Google 5 years

Apple 5 years

Fairphone 6 years

Ofc PA won't mention the leader and instead stopping at Apple.

Faiphone sold around 120,000 devices last year, up from around 88,000 in 2021 and 23,000 in 2018. I'm sure there's a Linux-based phone somewhere that will be updated until the end of time :)), but is it really relevant when nobody has ever heard about it?

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Brewski
Brewski
Arena Master
• 1y ago
↵MariyanSlavov said:

Wow, that's a bit extreme - so many people will lose there jobs (mostly marketing and PR staff, though) :)))

PA: "Do we need something more radical and stretched out, like ten years? What do you think?"

User: 8 to 10 years.

PA: Wow, that's a bit extreme

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Jason2k13
Jason2k13
Arena Master
• 1y ago

2 or 3 years, reason: I upgrade every 2 years.

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Exikias
Exikias
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

Four years minimum! The phones are already Uber so why not?

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Takeharu
Takeharu
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

4 years of full software updates, one additional year of security patches

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