If the answer is "Google-Carrier-Me" or "Google-Vendor-Carrier-Me" and not "Google-Me", then fuck it sideways. I'm so done with Android until the update model stops being garbage.
I do find it interesting though, as someone who through work has deployed a lot of cell phones for field ops - the situation seems to be kind of, sort of getting better in that respect.
We bought a ton of Moto G4s and G5s in last 18 months, and for the first year, I saw maybe one OS update and a couple security patches?. In the past six months, it's been noticably different (and these phones are only getting older, mind).
I'm writing this on a Moto G5+ which has 7.1.1 and the January security patches, including fix for KRACK vulnerability. G4 models have the same patch level and 7.0. Updates have been deployed fairly regularly lately (if still not quite on a monthly cycle).
This from Lenovo, who have historically been terrible for issuing updates in a timely manner.
I wonder if the message is finally getting to these OEMs that they can't afford to let current models wither on the vine in this IT security climate, even if only for their own selfish ends (e.g. avoiding bad press).
I really hope so. It's way overdue.
Disclaimer: total anecdata, handle with gloves.
Well my G5+ says it's still on 7.0, and 7.1.1 still isn't the 8 update that was promised many months ago.
> and the January security patches
If you want to sleep at night, don't count the number of critical severity CVEs fixed in the February and March updates that you don't have.
I personally own a Xiaomi Mi A1[2] that I purchased from Amazon for under CAD$320. Solid phone and overall great specs for this price range. The only thing missing is NFC, but I don't miss it too much since the rollout of Android Pay (Google Pay) in Canada extends only to few financial institutions.
[2] https://www.amazon.ca/Xiaomi-Android-Cameras-Unlocked-Versio...
Android One says "two years of upgrades", but I see no promises about patch schedule reliability. Motorola also promised to bring Android 8 to the G5+. Maybe it will happen in 2018. We'll see. That's just not good enough.
Also...2 years is an impoverished standard compared to the 5 years that iPhones get.
Huh? I see the Moto X4 as 350 USD without a service contract.
I think you're using carrier rebates on only one side of your equation.
I like the direction Google one + lineage Os seem to be taking us; even if the baseband are still a problem / back-door.
The only non-obscure device in that list that has a "Yes" in the "mainline" column seems to be the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet.
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/1/15/16889854/p...
If the option of installing your own OS isn't available, eg due to insufficient community interest or DRM-based fraud, then don't buy the brick in the first place.
The closest right now is maybe a used iPhone SE? Or maybe something old that happens to be well supported by LineageOS, if ADB is your idea of a fun time. Neither seem like great options to me. I don't have a good answer.