Back in the day, one of the biggest knocks against Android phones was their longevity. No matter how good the specifications were, users only got 2 years worth of updates and were soon compelled to buy a new phone to get the best of Google. That was a mere thorn in the side when flagship phones cost $600-700 dollars or whereabouts.
Now that we’re seeing the price for yoru average flagship go above 1000 and even into the 2000 mark, that is unacceptable. Thankfully, Samsung has leveled the playing field once again by promising 4 major Android updates for its devices and 5 years of security updates.
How did we get here? Quite a while ago, it was Samsung too who moved the standard from 2 to 3 major updates, and security from 3-4. This applied to their devices coming out in 2019 onwards, which covers the S10 and Note 10 lineups. This was a positive sign for fans of the brand.
At Unpacked 2022, they’ve pushed the envelope even further. It’s been leaked that Samsung plans to announce 4 major Android updates and 5 years of security updates for flagship devices released in 2021 and beyond. Right now, this covers the:
- Galaxy S21 and S22 lineup
- Galaxy S21 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold 3, ZFlip 3
- Galaxy Tab S8
The S21 lineup was also part of the previous announcement for 3 years, so users will be excited to see its lifespan lengthen before their very eyes once again. If you think about it, that means purchasing the highest-end devices now will allow you to breathe easy until upgrading again in 2026 unless you’re the type of person who has a regular upgrading schedule.
What we’re sure many people would like to know is if the midrange A devices will also be receiving the same treatment. These devices also got bumped up from 2-3 years but we’re not sure if Samsung would consider bumping these up again to 4 years, given their relative price point. Either way, this move by Samsung is a step in the right direction for the Android playing field at large.
