On Android Update, Which Smartphone Brand Offers The Best Tracking Software?
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Before engaging with a brand, you should consider their Android update tracking policy. We take stock for you from manufacturers offering the best software monitoring in 2022.
We advise you to take a close look at the update policy of the Android smartphone manufacturer. This is a very important element for two reasons: the first is to make sure you have the latest security patches, the second is to take advantage of new software offered by your phone manufacturer, apart from Google.
If you have been using an Android smartphone for a long time, you must have noticed that software updates often occur early in the product's life, then become progressively longer, until they are completely "abandoned" by the manufacturer. This is where the duration, more or less, of monitoring software from various brands comes in.
Updating your smartphone: what are we talking about?
On Android phones, there are two types of updates. The first concerns major operating system updates. They are generally offered once a year and allow you to upgrade from Android 12 to Android 13, for example. This is an opportunity to take advantage of the changes, both in terms of interface and features.
The second category concerns Android security updates released by Google. More often than not, these patches protect your phone from vulnerabilities that could be exploited by bad guys. According to the manufacturer, this update also includes new features.
Google owns Android, so its Pixel phones are often the first to receive updates. Leaving the former is one thing, providing updates from time to time is another. That's where our list of smartphone manufacturers and their respective update policies come in.
Which brand provides the best Android update tracking?
To avoid jealousy, we have listed the brands in alphabetical order. The duration we share with you is based on the manufacturer's statements as well as updates that have been observed. Also note that all phones from the same manufacturer are not all housed in the same ship.
1. Asus
This Taiwanese manufacturer typically offers two major Android upgrades and two years of security patches. This is the minimum recommended by Google. Given the limited range of smartphones, we would like Asus to put more effort into this.
Its two latest flagship phones, the Zenfone 8 and Zenfone 8 Flip, received the Android 12 update in January 2022, about three months after the stable version launched. The expected true delays can be reduced with the ZenFone 9, of which almost all of them are already known, but which will be officially unveiled on July 28, 2022.
2. Google
To date, most Google smartphones have enjoyed three years of major updates to new versions of their OS and three years of security updates. Recently, the American giant took a step forward by announcing that its Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will still get three years of major updates, but five years of security updates. A policy however, ranks only second in terms of medium longevity.
On the other hand, previously launched Google phones don't benefit from such generosity in tracking software. This American giant is also the most responsive manufacturer when it comes to deploying updates. "Fortunately," some would say because he owns Android. You can easily find all Pixel phone update dates on Google site.
3. Nokia / HDMI
Nokia is not dead, but has delegated the design and production of its smartphones to the Finnish company, HDM Global. The latter offers two years of major Android updates and three years of updates for security patches. The new version should be available soon as the brand's software interface is very close to what Stock Android has to offer.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some of the newly released Nokia phones experience significant delays before receiving the Android update. The company has recently made efforts in the field, in particular by offering a page to provide precise information about Android updates for each model.
4. Honor
Since the US exile from Huawei, Honor has become independent. Companies can now offer products under Android. This is what he did recently with his Honor Magic 4 Pro. Success returns from a hardware point of view which should be concretized with good software follow-up.
We will see how many smartphones the Chinese company will market in different countries in the coming months and years and the seriousness that will ensure Android updates. For now, Honor promises two years of major updates, and the same duration for security patches. Therefore, the minimum union.
5. Huawei
Huawei is no longer allowed to use Google apps and services, so its phones don't have them. But the Chinese company still offers two versions of its OS, based on the free version of Android. As such, China benefits from its Harmony OS overlay and the rest of the world from its EMUI overlay.
In both cases, the former world number two in the smartphone space is still very vague about its update policy. Even the latest high-end products like the Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket have an Android version behind them. As it stands, if you value update trackers, we wouldn't recommend getting a Huawei smartphone.
6. Motorola
In recent years, Motorola has not been shining with its update policy. After promising just one year of Android updates and two years of security updates on the Motorola Edge in 2020, the company faced criticism, before backing out to deliver two years of major Android updates.
The company tried its luck again with the Motorola Edge 20 by making the same mistakes and the same mistakes. It will take until the Motorola Edge 30 in 2022 for the company to jump to two years of Android updates and three years of security patches, released every two months. Also note that this policy only applies to high-end phones. Cheaper phones are not so rich with just one major Android update and two years of security updates.
7. OnePlus
OnePlus has made a name for itself by offering smartphones at excellent value for money, but also by providing quality software support. This is still true, at least in part. Indeed, since being acquired by the company BBK Electronics, OnePlus has doubled its smartphone lineup. We find for example the OnePlus 10 Pro in the high-end and the OnePlus Nord 2 in the mid-range.
So you won't be surprised to know that the high-end models enjoy the longest support. We are talking about three years of major Android updates and four years of security updates. We go to two years of major updates and three years of security for the mid-range model. The entry level is content with one upgrade and two years of improvement.
8. Oppo
Oppo and OnePlus being part of the same "house", you won't be surprised to see a similar update policy. Like almost all manufacturers, Oppo likes its most expensive smartphones, which benefit from three Android upgrades and four years of security patches. We are talking here about a phone like the Oppo Find X5 Pro.
Mid-range products, such as the Oppo Reno, F, K, and Find Lite/Neo, will get two Android upgrades and four years of security patches. Some budget Oppo A-series products will get a major update and three-year patch. Unfortunately, some never see the color.
9. Poco
Poco smartphones are known to offer great performance at an affordable price. Having said that, the price range starts from 159 euros for the Poco M3 to 549 euros for the Poco F4 GT. As you can imagine, they are not all in the same boat. However, it is difficult to identify the Chinese brand renewal policy.
This Xiaomi sub-branch has never been clear on this issue. The company said it followed Google's update policy, but Google never clearly defined it. Historically, we've seen two years of major updates and security. The company says it wants to offer three years of updates and four years of repairs, but that's more of a note of intent for now. You have been warned.
10. realme
Like OnePlus and Oppo, realme (in lower case) is part of the Chinese group BBK Electronics. However, the brand specializes in mid-range and entry-level phones with the 6, 7, 8, 9 and C series. The brand is also trying some breakthroughs into the premium segment with its X and GT series.
No matter how much you want to put in a realme smartphone, the manufacturer sticks to two years of updates and three years of security patches. Policies that are simple to understand, but satisfying with the bare minimum.
11. Redmi
We return to Xiaomi with the Redmi sub-brand, which also specializes in very aggressive value for money and pricing. A strategy similar to realme, for brands that don't really care much about tracking updates. So much so that realme doesn't make any commitments about this.
So don't expect much by picking up a realme smartphone and consider yourself lucky if you benefit from an Android update and a year of security patches.
12. Samsung
The world leader in smartphones is also the undisputed king of Android updates. Samsung even allowed itself to beat Google by offering four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates on high-end models. As such, its premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 (and its variants) benefit from this extended support.
But Samsung doesn't stop there by doing the same with some of its mid-range phones like the Galaxy A33 and Galaxy A53. Even entry-level models get three years of updates and security, which is better than some competitors offer their flagship products. If tracking updates is very important to you before buying a smartphone, Samsung is a safe choice.
13. Sony
In recent years, Sony has not been too bright in the smartphone market. The Japanese company, however, offers very attractive phones like the Sony Xperia 1 IV, talented in photography, but also more expensive than most of its direct competitors. The latest from Sony still promises two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.
On the other hand, all other smartphones, such as the Sony Xperia 5 III, from the Japanese brand offer only two support channels, for OS updates such as security patches. It's not much, especially considering the price of devices sold by Sony.
14. Vivo
Like Oppo and OnePlus, Vivo is part of the Chinese group BBK Electronics. However, the brand has not set a clear renewal policy like its sister. We only know that smartphones released after July 2021 in Europe will benefit from three upgrades and three years of security updates for "select models".
Therefore, it can be said that the Vivo X80 Pro is one of the models. For others, it remains more complicated to determine. For a clearer look, Vivo offers a dedicated page on its website to view the date and download the available updates depending on your smartphone model.
15. Xiaomi
Xiaomi is certainly one of the manufacturers with the most smartphone references in its catalog. Therefore, the brand does not commit to a renewal policy that is common to all its models. It will therefore be on a case by case basis depending on the range and model.
Xiaomi's high-end products, such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro, will get three years of support for major updates and four years for security updates.
For a cheaper phone, don't expect more than two years of support. It's not much, but sadly that's what most Chinese brands have to offer when it comes to budget smartphones.
The Importance of Tracking Android Updates
By going through the list of manufacturers offering Android smartphones, we quickly realized that some of them offer serious follow-up to updates. If there were only two left, it would be Samsung and Google. The first for unmatched extended support on select models. Second, for the responsiveness of the updates offered.
Regarding other brands, tracking can go from very good to bad, depending on the price you want to put in the smartphone. Xiaomi, OnePlus and Oppo are among the good students, but only on their high-end models. Other brands make no special effort, even for their flagships. We think for example Sony, realme or Asus.
Key differences between Android and Apple security updates
The sheer number of smartphone manufacturers and Google's lack of firmness regarding update policies have led to significant fragmentation in the Android ecosystem. A problem that Apple doesn't have, which controls its ecosystem and has offered six years of support to its iPhone 6 users.
We hope that Samsung and Google, the most advanced in their field, will continue their efforts in this direction. Fighting planned obsolescence by offering extended software support is now a critical issue for extending product life and limiting our impact on the climate.
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