An Android update for your phone? A look at what each brand is promising

Not like Apple’s iOS, Android producers are identified to get away with a low variety of system updates, normally about two Android variations, earlier than focusing all of their consideration on newer gadgets. In the present day we take a look at the varied key manufacturers that function within the Indian smartphone market and what their Android replace roadmap normally is for gadgets.

Disclaimer: Do remember the fact that manufacturers might change their replace plans for any of their telephones or collection (together with present gadgets) sooner or later. Additionally word that the frequency of safety patches is left imprecise by most manufacturers, so if two telephones are each set to obtain three years of safety updates, one might get one each month, whereas one other cellphone may even see a safety replace solely as soon as in three months. That is utterly as much as the model.

OnePlus

OnePlus has normally been clear on giving three Android updates to its flagship telephones, similar to Google’s Pixel gadgets. Flagship telephones just like the OnePlus 9 and 9 Professional will get three years of updates. Nevertheless, OnePlus has been considerably inconsistent with some lower-tier gadgets just like the OnePlus 9R and the Nord collection, and older flagships just like the OnePlus 7 collection.

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This may increasingly have been due to the shift to a ColorOS-based codebase, and it stays to be seen if OnePlus will be capable of provide the identical assist to its gadgets transferring ahead. It’s because it now producers much more fashions yearly, as a substitute of only one or two flagships. The provision of safety updates can be not clear.

Nevertheless, one silver lining is the frequent beta updates accessible for OnePlus gadgets, throughout each the number-series and the Nord collection, which give customers a chance to check out new options early on earlier than a steady replace.

Samsung

Samsung presently provides three years of Android updates and 4 years of safety updates on most of its gadgets, changing into some of the dependable manufacturers proper now when it comes to software program. This contains all the flagship Galaxy S collection, Galaxy Z collection, Galaxy A collection and “choose” M-series telephones.

Among the lower-end M-series gadgets solely get two years of system updates, however they may get 4 years of safety patches. System updates for older gadgets won’t be the quickest, as a consequence of newer telephones getting precedence. That mentioned, Samsung has nonetheless been one of many faster manufacturers to push out updates for its older telephones, each flagships and mid-range choices.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s replace cycle for its gadgets is somewhat tough to grasp, partly due to the model’s MIUI replace cycle which doesn’t sync with the Android replace cycle. As an example, you may even see one Xiaomi cellphone operating MIUI 13 based mostly on Android 12, and one other operating MIUI 13 based mostly on Android 11. What number of updates a cellphone will get additionally varies relying on the machine mannequin.

Flagships just like the Xiaomi 12-series are set to get three years of system updates (by way of MIUI updates) and 4 years of safety patches. Nevertheless, Xiaomi has fallen again on its promise earlier than on this space. The Xiaomi 11T and 11T Professional have been set to obtain three years of system updates on launch. However after the telephones have been introduced, the corporate’s web site instructed the telephones can be accessible for under two – Android 12 and Android 13.

In the meantime, higher mid-range and midrange tier gadgets just like the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G and the Redmi Be aware 11 Professional+ are listed for 2 years of system updates and three years of safety patches.

Oppo and Realme 

Oppo and Realme might provide completely different consumer interfaces on their telephones – ColorOS and RealmeUI, however the manufacturers share an identical replace construction. Not like Xiaomi, new ColorOS and RealmeUI variations correspond with the most recent Android variations.

For flagships just like the GT 2 Professional, Realme will provide three years of system updates and 4 years of safety patches. The identical can be relevant for each machine within the GT 2-series, as claimed by Realme. In the meantime, the Realme GT Neo collection is predicted to get two years of system updates and three years of safety updates. The model just lately rolled out Android 12 for the Realme GT Neo 2, although this can be a beta construct.

There’s no readability on lower-end telephones just like the Realme C-series and the Narzo collection. Bear in mind, the Realme C12 was ignored for the Android 12-powered Realme UI 3.0 replace.

Amongst Oppo telephones, the flagship Discover-series obtain three years of system updates and 4 years of safety patches. For different gadgets just like the Reno, F-series and Ok collection telephones, the corporate has not confirmed the replace cycle.

Vivo and iQOO 

Vivo presently provides three years of system updates and 4 years of safety updates to its flagship X-series telephones by way of FuntouchOS updates. Nevertheless, X-series telephones launched earlier than the three updates promise (telephones launched earlier than July 2021) won’t get this profit, and can possible get on two years of updates,

In the meantime, no info is out there on different gadgets, together with the model’s T-series, V-series and U-series telephones, which can possible get only one or two system updates relying on the phase of the machine.

The iQOO model provides FuntouchOS system updates for its telephones. However flagships just like the iQOO 9 Professional are restricted to 2 years of system updates and three years of safety patches, which is underwhelming. Data on the model’s Z-series gadgets can be unavailable, and these telephones will possible additionally get a yr or two of system updates.

Different manufacturers

Manufacturers like Motorola, Micromax and Infinix, all appear to have no mounted, concrete construction for Android system updates and safety updates. The Android replace plans differ based mostly on every machine. In case you are getting a cellphone from considered one of these corporations, a very good follow is to search out out particular person info relating to updates for the mannequin you might be planning to get your palms on.

Google

Google is understood for its promise of fast Android updates on the Pixel gadgets, which is comprehensible provided that each the OS and the Pixel gadgets are made by the identical firm. That is additionally why developer beta builds for brand new Android variations additionally hit Pixel telephones first.

Pixel telephones have an replace cycle of three years, regardless of which cellphone and which variant you purchase. In case you purchase a Pixel with Android 12, as an illustration, you’re going to get the Android 15 replace. Google additionally releases quite a lot of safety patches, normally as soon as a month for these telephones, making them one of many most secure bets for constant software program assist proper now. However the Pixel telephones usually are not accessible in India. The most recent Pixel 6A is predicted to come back to the Indian market, in accordance with some studies, however we must wait and see if that’s the case.