[asciimov]

Updates. No guarantee that you will get the next OS update even on a brand new phone. Which stinks when financial apps require you be on the latest OS.

Yes, this happened to me a decade ago on 2 different Android devices. Since then I've moved my family and extended family to iOS and my ongoing tech support is dramatically reduced.

[rickdeckard]

A lot happens in a decade, at some point even a browser flushes its cache and fetches new data... ;)

[asciimov]

Sure does. I have no problem with using android, but as long as I have to do family tech support, I'll stick to iPhones.

[ripdog]

Just buy Samsung or pixel. 7 years of updates guaranteed.

[asciimov]

Sure I can do that.

It's a lot harder to tell older relatives, just go buy a Samsung Android. Likely they will come back with some low end android that the salesperson said was on sale.

Where as If I tell, go get an Apple iPhone. They can pick that up and get the "right one", which ever it is.

[ripdog]

I'm not sure I understand. Your relatives can remember to buy Apple but not Samsung?

Also, Samsung offers lower end phones with lesser but still good update policies. They're good phones but a lot cheaper than any iPhone, which should satisfy your older relatives.

[asciimov]

Yeah, it's amazing.

If I say buy an Apple iPhone and its very likely they turn up with an iPhone maybe not the one I told them but a new Apple iPhone.

But if I say Samsung Android, they are just as likely to buy some weird no-name Android because it was a color they wanted or size or something the salesman pushed on them cause "Android is Android right?"

[ephemeral-life]

Can confirm this is definitely a thing. Though in my case has to do with PC's. My mother needed a new computer and when searching online for a windows laptop, she always ended up looking at the cheapest garbage on sale. Im talking laptops that cost half as much as her iphone. But tell her to look for a mac and she will have to start looking at more expensive devices that won't be e-waste in 2 years. Pretty bizarre.

[ThePowerOfFuet]

You should try a Pixel with GrapheneOS.

[asciimov]

I know a lot has changed in 10 years, but I'm sure glad to be done with flashing an alternative OS onto my phone to get continued support or to rid it of bloat.