Seven years of Android updates does not imply you will get the newest options

Top-of-the-line developments you will discover in Android proper now sees OEMs providing seven years of software program updates for his or her new premium flagship gadgets. Within the endless Android vs iOS battle, one of many largest wins for Apple has been supporting its smartphones for longer with 5 years of software program updates, in comparison with the 2 or three that the majority Android gadgets as soon as provided. This lastly modified final yr when Google introduced that the Pixel 8 and eight Professional can be supported for seven years. And earlier this yr, Samsung jumped on the seven-year bandwagon as effectively.

These strikes have the potential to draw prospects who have a tendency to make use of their telephones for a number of years, and even those that think about the resale worth of a product whereas making a purchase order determination. If you’re impressed with these claims, listed here are some caveats you may want to bear in mind.

Setting the best precedent

There are some considerations value conserving in thoughts

The primary drawback that we’re fairly sure prospects will face a number of years down the road is that most of the newer options are more likely to be paywalled (requiring a subscription) sooner or later. For example, the brand new Galaxy AI options on the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence are free solely till the tip of 2025 — that is lower than two years total — after which they may want a subscription. As OEMs look to seek out new methods to maintain that money rolling in, count on virtually all of the signature options require a further fee to be accessed.

Samsung has not revealed what the pricing will likely be, however Samsung Cellular’s President TM Roh not too long ago revealed how their Galaxy AI options may very well be monetized, making a distinction between the free and paid options in a method that the free customers get the fundamentals whereas paying customers get “extra highly effective AI capabilities.” I consider that is simply the beginning, and types will attempt exhausting to push extra customers to the paid phase by conserving the most effective options unique. Samsung shouldn’t be the one one responsible of this — even among the new options on the Pixel 8 require a Google One membership.

So, whereas, in a method, Samsung and Google (and presumably different OEMs sooner or later) have dedicated to supporting their gadgets for the higher a part of the last decade, we are able to’t assist however be pessimistic about how the rollout will likely be addressed.

Positive, these telephones will get the brand new Android model updates and safety patches, however they seldom change how a cellphone is used. It’s the extra progressive and smarter options that breathe new life into gadgets. And for now, it looks like they received’t make the minimize, at the least not at no cost.

This leads us to the larger concern that we foresee customers will face down the street. Samsung and Google are obligated to solely present Android and safety updates, and never essentially the newer options that will likely be introduced sooner or later — even inside a single technology, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional did not get an equivalent characteristic set. And in a time when AI is getting higher by the day and extra smartphones are resorting to software program to distinguish themselves, this will likely be an enormous bummer for customers hoping to get the most effective a number of years later.

{Hardware} and software program go hand in hand

It is not nearly new OS upgrades

Merely put, you shouldn’t count on to see the Pixel 8 or Galaxy S24 get the brand new headlining options that may debut on the Pixel 14 or Galaxy S30 in 2030. This gorgeous a lot defeats the aim of the promise of longer software program help. Don’t get me flawed, I nonetheless admire the transfer, however this received’t essentially change how folks use their telephones. You’ll be stunned to understand how few folks even know the present Android model variety of their gadgets. It appears to be one thing that customers don’t care about.

We don’t even have to go too far into the long run to examine how this can pan out. Take the instance of the Pixel 7. It’s promised to obtain updates for at the least two extra years. Nonetheless, it received’t get any of the brand new AI options introduced with the Pixel 8, equivalent to Magic Editor and Video Enhance. Samsung is a bit of higher on this regard by committing to supply Galaxy AI to its 2023 flagships however to not any of its 2022 launches.

Associated

How lengthy will my Google Pixel get updates?

Google’s Pixel telephones are among the longest-supported Android telephones

Samsung tried to justify this transfer by suggesting that the older {hardware} won’t sustain with the processing energy necessities of recent software program options. However with that logic, received’t most options sooner or later require larger processing energy? Moreover, wanting on the method issues are managed proper now, the heavier options are anyway offloaded to the cloud for processing. Then it shouldn’t be tough to deliver them to older gadgets. This might additionally higher justify a subscription, because the infrastructure to supply these options straight prices cash.

An outlier amongst Android giants

Do not let the moldy sandwich analogy distract you

If there’s one firm on the skin of this phenomenon — whereas additionally managing to weigh in with its personal take — it is OnePlus. The OnePlus 12 is promised to obtain 4 generations of Android updates, whereas the OnePlus 12R will obtain simply three. Whereas the corporate’s moldy sandwich analogy was pointless, it does make sense — the strategy of providing fewer updates and acknowledging the constraints of {hardware} is much much less deceptive.

I am not making an attempt to throw shade at Samsung or Google. What they’ve began will push the business to do higher and, total, deliver Apple stronger competitors. We hope that what we’re suggesting doesn’t find yourself being the truth, however prospects have to know what you’re shopping for into. In spite of everything, it’s not like telephones are getting cheaper.