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by kanbara 1026 days ago
apple _de facto_ ships software + security updates for many many years, and does so longer than google.

who cares if android has _de jure_ lifetimes, as they are shorter. apple won’t suddenly stop giving any devices updates after 1yr, so it doesnt really matter
2 comments
makeitdouble 1026 days ago
It's still more complicated than that.

Apple ships OS updates for longer, but not all features make it to the older devices, even when they're not bound to specific hardware. Also devices that don't get OS updates might as well be dead. Third party software support becomes non existent, Safari gets locked in time, the usability significantly decays.

In comparison Google decoupled their framework updates from OS updates a while ago now, and there will be enough third party options to keep the device useful long after the official support has ended. The Pixel 4a's support has ended, but it's still a useable device, where the iPhone 6S is already losing some apps that stopped supporting iOS15 completely.

At the end of the day, I don't think both approaches make that much of a difference.

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mpixel 1026 days ago
iphone 6s came out in 2015. pixel 4a came out in 2020.
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makeitdouble 1026 days ago
Let's take the Pixel 1 then.

You can still update the play services [0] or straight root it and install another OS

[0]: http://google-play-services.apk.watch/23.06.17%20(040400-511...

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yftsui 1026 days ago
Pixel 1 was released in 2016, you have to root to upgrade OS, but not able to upgrade Android major versions.
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jeroenhd 1026 days ago
Apple is a weird company. They will provide software updates for their phones for longer than for their computers. Computers that have lost support still get some security updates (not all).

They won't go full Wish.com phone on you, but with the prices of modern smartphones (€556 for the cheapest model, doesn't even come with a charger) I think the question "can I use this for five years or for eight years" is fair to ask.

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theonlybutlet 1026 days ago
The difference being the computers are still usable, the phones, being so locked down, basically become bricks without updates.
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Almondsetat 1026 days ago
How come? When you stop receiving macOS updates Safari becomes a dead man walking, just like with phones. I seriously doubt anyone uses their Mac without browsing the internet
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nicoburns 1026 days ago
You can use alternate browsers. You can also install linux on old macs. Or even windows on x86 macs.
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