[andix]

Last time I looked into alternatives (it’s been a while) there was no manufacturer that provided updates to latest Android without any delays for longer than 2 years. And manufacturers constantly broke their promise to keep delivering updates as long as possible.

I usually buy 2 year old high end iPhones. So this is very relevant for me. Also from an ecological perspective, smartphones should last at least 5 years.

[layer8]

Smartphones are now required by the EU to provide updates for five years. Samsung even promises seven years now.

[andix]

I guess only security updates are mandated. With an iPhone you always get the newest version of iOS and many/most new features, not just some patches.

[layer8]

No, besides security updates the regulation also covers corrective updates (i.e. bugfixes) and functionality updates for “the same OS”.

Personally I would actually prefer stability over having the system and UI changing every year, and getting slower every year on older hardware.

[smallerfish]

Google Pixels are now shipping 7 years of updates.

[paulddraper]

Lol. My Pixel is newer than that, and I haven't gotten a single update in 2.5 years.

[smallerfish]

They started this on a recent gen, maybe 7. Certainly 8.

[paulddraper]

It hasn't been 7 years yet for either the Pixel 7 or the 8, but I suppose Google never cancels things.

[andix]

Exactly, there were a lot of similar promises like that before. And then the excuses started. Old phones got the promised updates months after the Android release. Sometimes even after already the next Android version was released.

[smallerfish]

Sure, but they'll open themselves up to lawsuits if they back out of this. Cancelling a saas product is one thing; cancelling "guaranteed updates" is another.

[andix]

Can you see the problem? People have Android phones from big manufacturers and not getting updates. If this will change in the future that's great. But now people have phones that don't get updates.