Hacker News Reader

Comment by ahmedfromtunis | Hacker News Reader

I'm typing this on my 5-year old Samsung A30 that, aside from a screen crack I take full responsibility for, is still in perfect working conditions.

I never encountered any app that refuses to install despite my device being stuck on Android 11. The only reason this sometimes happen is because of geofencing, or apps built for Pixel phones.

I only started to look for acquiring a new device because telecom operators are readying for a 5G launch next year, for which my current device is incompatible hardware-wise.

And unless something unexpected is happening, I'm going to get the A35, ie the latest version of the same lineage.

View on HN

Just out of curiosity (I’m not familiar with the current state of android software support) does your phone still get security updates and, assuming it does, how much longer do you expect them to continue?

There's no such a thing as "the current state of android". Each manufacturer has its rules and priorities. Heck even within the same manufacturer there are different rules for different tiers; and obviously, pricier devices get more updates.

Samsung is however among the best in that regard. The last security update received on my phone was in February of last year, so almost 4 years after the release of the device. However I forgot how many os updates the device got, but there's at least one received during the first year.

But the company improved its updates policy since. I purchased a galaxy tablet 3 years ago (iirc) and it already received 4 os updates so far. The latest such update, received last month, was just 6 months or so after the previous os update.

But again, this varies from company to the other. I bought phones from Motorola and Nokia that they claimed would receive 2 or 3 os updates, but never delivered even a single one.

Samsung is top-tier by Android standards. 4 years of security updates and 3 years of OS upgrades (minimum - some devices, such as the premium models, get more than that).

Better than Google themselves when last I checked, which is shameful.

Google now promises seven years of OS and security updates. The latest Pixels should be supported until August or September 2031.

That said, I don't trust Google, and would recommend filling out the arbitration optout form when you receive the device.

It's crazy that they don't put a scare screen for arbitration before checkout.

They never have to-- if people knew about them, they would opt out, and Google would lose their advantage.

> and would recommend filling out the arbitration optout form when you receive the device.

Do you assume you'll have some issue with them that will be worth individually suing them for?

What would such an assumption have to do with anything? I put my seatbelt on even when I don't intend to get into car crashes.

Arbitration clauses and class-action waivers universally favor the corporation -- in this case Google -- and should not be legal. I'm proud to retain my basic legal rights.

I think with Apple it's all or nothing. For Android it stops gradually: first you stop receiving OS updates, then system updates and after a while also security updates [1] and then finally maybe also apps.

[1] although they have in past updated very old phones when something really bad has happened.

>I never encountered any app that refuses to install despite my device being stuck on Android 11.

A lot of 2-factor and identity verification type things technically install, but will be blocked as being insecure by the companies that use them and demand a higher security level. Things like Microsoft Authenticator and Duo Mobile, certain time card systems, etc. Working in tech, I'm generally forced update every few years because older phones stop getting android updates, especially since the android updates are generally the responsibility of the vendor and sometimes the carrier, and not google directly.

You’re lucky not using a bank app that enforce minimum version check.

This comes off a little bit like, "You're lucky not paying for streaming services that cost 60 bucks a month."

You, too, can be someone who doesn't use these things. It doesn't take luck.

I can’t buy anything online without the bank app, I need it to pay my phone bill, my electricity bill and many other things. Each time it sends verification code to the phone through the app.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com