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Comment by scarface_74 | Hacker News Reader

Which Android phones have 5-6 years of security updates?

Probably all of them, but that’s only cause, unless things have changed, it takes 3 years to get said updates in the first place.

I remember before I switched to iPhone I would wait and wait and wait and wait for the latest android and updates and a whole new version of android would roll out before I would even get the previous version.

Samsung promised 3 or 4 years of updates in 2019, and then updated that pledge to 5 years for the flagships. What's exciting about Samsung's pledge is that it made this promise for some of the mid-range models in the A series, which are fairly affordable.

My S21 Ultra is in its 3rd year and regularly updated. Should get 5 years of updates, and I intend to keep it until then.

Also, the writing is on the wall that the EU will force phone makers to years of updates, changeable batteries and availability of spare parts.

It's also noteworthy that Google has the ability to update many system services via Google Play. The poor track record of updates from phone makers basically demanded it. In other words, an Android device that hasn't received any system updates in a year or two is still fairly usable.

I have an A70..I was just looking for when it will lose its software updates. The last update I have is from Dec 22, but I can't find information when it will expire.

Indeed, last update is from Dec-22. A70 should have gotten 4 years of security updates.

https://doc.samsungmobile.com/sm-a705fn/sek/doc.html

Looking at this list of devices getting updates, it only lists A70s with "biannual" updates, so A70 may no longer be updated:

https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb

Indeed, some useful links you found there. Thank you!

You asked which Android phones get five years of security updates? Directly from Google, only the Pixel 6 and up, most likely in reaction to Apple's better support policies. Other manufacturers? You have to research it because it varies: https://www.androidauthority.com/phone-update-policies-16586...

Ideally Google would mandate a minimum number of years for both feature and security updates that matches theirs of three and five, respectively. Having said that, these really are wasting assets thanks to storage wearing out, but that's true of all phones, regardless of manufacturer.

Pixel 6 onwards have 5 years https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-os-update-length/

OS updated for only 3 years after release and security updates for 5? This is still really bad.

It really isn't, given how much of Android will get updated during those security fixes only years. Many of the builtin apps will still receive feature updates, likely even beyond that window.

Compared to iOS 17 running on 5 year old phones and the 10 year old iPhone 5s getting a security update earlier this year?

Iirc Apple iOS includes more features than Android in the core OS. Google Services still receive updates and only things like the UI and system settings stay the same. Most people I know don't care at all about updates.

But I agree, it's great how Apple supports devices for 6 years with major updates. It would also be possible for Android phones if SoC & phones manufacturer actually cared.

Anytime a new version of iOS is released, usually within the first 6 months it is on 80%+ of the phones

I have an ancient ipad. It still gets major updates, but not necessarily all of the best features from those updates. Maybe that is a hardware limitation or maybe not.

I also have a Pixel 5. It received Magic Eraser, which used to be a key feature of newer Pixels, as part of a regular Photos app update.

I'm still getting major updates too, but, tbh, they aren't that critical. Chrome, GMail, Maps, YouTube, Calendar, Messaging, the app store itself (including UI) and the core web browser will keep getting updates well beyond the end of life.

There really isn't a direct comparison here, but I wouldn't switch in either direction due to updates.

If I’m not mistaken, apps that use embedded web views don’t use the installed version of Chrome do they? If that’s the case, that’s a major security issue by itself.

I believe the system webview is no longer part of the core Android OS, but instead is updated regularly based on a recent version of Chrome. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...

My Samsung A40 from 2019 should have security updates until 2024. It's still getting them but not as often as in the first 3 years.

The Google ones do since the... 6a iirc?

Samsung provides 5

So a Samsung phone from 2018 is still getting operating system updates or security updates?

Their pledge has started in 2019, and the promise for 5 years of updates is fairly new. I remember they first promised 3 or 4 years of security updates.

For what is worth, I have a Galaxy Tab S6 from 2019 that is still getting security updates, although it wasn't updated to Android 13: https://doc.samsungmobile.com/SM-T865/ROM/doc.html

How are those operating system updates?

For reference, the latest version of iOS will run on 5 year old iPhones when it is released.

Apple has unparalleled support for older devices, I think we agree.

For operating system updates, Samsung pledged 4 years of updates for the flagships starting with S21.

The difference between Android versions isn't big. I also mentioned in another comment that on Android, to cope with phone makers not pushing for system updates, Google can update many system components via Google Play. And apps remain compatible. Being 2 versions behind the latest Android is OK.

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