News JVTech 7 years of updates for all Android smartphones? Google wants to make this possible with its new program
Published on 10/28/2024 at 6:30 p.m.
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Samsung and Google are currently the only brands to offer 7 years of software support for their smartphones. However, things could change thanks to Google and an improvement in Android…
7 years of software updates for all Android smartphones?
For a long time, iPhones stood out for their long software support, with an average of 5 to 6 years of update. For example, the iPhone 11, released in 2019, has just received its last major update with iOS 18 and has therefore still lasted 5 years.
Google finally took the lead last year by promising 7 years of updates for its Pixel 8. The brand also did the same for its mid-range model released later: the Pixel 8a as well as its Pixel 9. Samsung then followed suit with 7 years of updates for its Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6. Even the Galaxy A16, one of its cheapest smartphones, benefits from 6 years of updates.
But if Google and Samsung are still exceptions when it comes to Android smartphones, with most brands often only offering 4 years of software support at most, things should soon change. Already, a European law will require all manufacturers from June 2025 to ensure at least 5 years of software monitoring for their smartphones. This is a major change considering that many entry-level smartphones are only updated for 2 years.
On top of that, Google has improved Android so that it can make it easier for brands to expand their software tracking. Until now, a brand, if it wanted to offer longer software support, had to pay its processor supplier to have additional updates.
The program, known as “Longevity GRF” (Google Requirements Freeze), is designed to simplify the update process for chipset makers like MediaTek and Qualcomm. Traditionally, these manufacturers could offer up to three major updates. With the Longevity GRF, this number increases to seven, allowing smartphone brands to offer more frequent updates without excessive costs.
New chipsets like the SnapDragon 8 Elite should also contribute to the increase in the number of updates
This development provides an opportunity for other manufacturers, beyond Google and Samsung, to engage in this extended update cycle, while minimizing the financial impact and reducing the engineering resources required. However, to benefit from this extension of updates, smartphone manufacturers must respect a key condition: update the Linux kernel version every three years. This involves a major core update to meet Google’s certification standards. This constraint is necessary to maintain device security.
However, smartphone chip makers are also moving in the direction of longevity. Proof of this is with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Presented a few days ago, Qualcomm’s latest processor, in addition to offering monstrous performance, offers for the first time 8 years of software support plus 8 versions of Android support. Thus, smartphones that will be equipped with it, such as the Xiaomi 15 and Samsung Galaxy S25, will theoretically be able to offer 8 years of software monitoring.
These different innovations move towards more durable devices, capable of supporting us for many years.. This should also stimulate the reconditioned market with references which could benefit from a much more extensive second life than in the past.
