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

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sgodsell
sgodsell
Arena Legend
• 1y ago
↵Shkselectah said:

3 years of updates like Google is enough

Google is giving 5 years of software and security updates. They give you 4 years of being on, and using the latest version of Android, and 1 more year is added for security updates.

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AhmadSaboura
AhmadSaboura
Arena Apprentice
• 1y agoedited
↵ovp_andy said:

no-one is MAKING you buy a new phone. If you want to spend your money on something more "meaningful" then do it

Sadly, I must buy a new phone after my OnePlus 6T or my Galaxy S20 operating system becomes insecure and certificates become obsolete. Please refer to Louiss Rossmann for more details on the subject.

http-s://youtu.be/Yn-R39-dtc0?t=02m30s

Added the dash in https because I'm a new member here.



I'm aware of custom ROMs community, but I should not be forced to use it, especially wher banking applications can misfunctiun with them.

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AhmadSaboura
AhmadSaboura
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago
↵MariyanSlavov said:

True. And also stemming from the fact that smartphone design and general interface have been virtually the same in the past 10 years.

I agree, yet applications stop being supported on older software 3 or 4 years old, the number of unsupported applications raise expedientially with time.

You'd be surprised how many apps are not supported on Android 9. I must acknowledge that main everyday applications are indeed supported, yet still my Android 9 'flagship' is capable of so much more than WhatsApp or YouTube..

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AhmadSaboura
AhmadSaboura
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago
↵MariyanSlavov said:

True, but I think manufacturers have slowly conditioned us to be like that. If we realize that there's no need to buy the iPhone 15 or the Galaxy S24 just for the tiny redesign and some camera gimmicks, things could sway in the opposite direction... Batteries are a huge problem, though, and companies know this; they seal smartphones not because of water protection or design ;) Remember the LG G3? Super slim, 3,000 mAh battery, removable back; technically not waterproof but will survive a drop in the sink.

Agreed, same goes for the Galaxy S5 which was IP rated and with removable battery.

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GodMagnus
GodMagnus
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

5 years is the sweet spot for me since hardware performance has already catch up with software so flagship specs can run years of OS updates.


But the best benchmark for me right now is, as long your phone can play Genshin Impact, your phone is still good and should be supported.

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thedigitaljedi
thedigitaljedi
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago
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thedigitaljedi
thedigitaljedi
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

Pixel phones are supported with guaranteed software updates for three years. Starting with the Pixel 6, Google has committed to at least five years of security updates, extending an additional two years beyond the 3-year Android version update commitment. That's good enough for me ...

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Greggs
Greggs
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago
↵propov said:

For me, more than 3 years does not make sense. Modern phones get old too fast. After 3 years they either fail or their battery is very weak. They also become too slow and buggy. Which of you is using a 3-year-old or older phone? 10% or less. if the phone is still alive, it is given to the children or grandparents. They don't install updates. They are absolutely against it because the changes confuse them. It is better to work more on optimizing the new current models.

I'm using a OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren which I believe is about 3.5 years post launch. Honestly I still really like it, despite a few flaws it's been my favorite device ever. Newer models don't offer much else and even the old 855+ still works well. I think security updates are done haven't gotten one since Dec 2022 so if I keep it any longer I'll need to flash an OS.

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Greggs
Greggs
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago
↵Alvee1 said:

Microsoft has always offered 10 years of updates for Windows. No reason why Android and Apple can't do the same for phones. Our smartphones have replaced our computers for most things anyway. I'm sure it's so they can sell more phones.

I don't lose or break phones often, but if I managed 10 years with the same mobile device I'd be mightly impressed with myself. They get more use and abuse than laptops, which tend to get a TON more abuse than a desktop PC.

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