In the last couple of years, smartphone buyers have begun focusing not just on hardware anymore, but also on the software when purchasing a new device, as users want to be able to use their smartphone beyond just one or two years now. OnePlus knows that, and so they have announced that they will be offering at least four major OS upgrades and five years of security patches from 2023 onwards, albeit for selected devices only.
According to Gary Chen, OnePlus and Oppo’s Head of Operating System Product, OnePlus will be aiming to provide security patches every two months too. However, they did not list out exactly which devices will be able to get the guaranteed four major OS updates along with the five years of security patches, though it will likely at least cover their flagship smartphones such as the upcoming OnePlus 11 series.
“This software upgrade policy is designed in response to changing market dynamics and allows for longer replacement cycles for mobile devices.
This new update policy will give users access to the latest security and functional features required to power OnePlus’ signature fast-and-smooth experience throughout the lifetime of the phone,” – Gary Chen, OnePlus and Oppo Head of Operating System Product
This puts OnePlus firmly on the top when it comes to Android OS upgrades and security patches guaranteed in the Android scene, rivalling Samsung who are the only other major Android smartphone manufacturer to promise this many years of software support. Even the likes of Google and OnePlus stablemate Oppo are only guaranteeing three major OS upgrades and four years of security patches.
At the moment, OnePlus only offers at best three major Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches for their devices such as the OnePlus 10T and OnePlus 10 Pro. Their more midrange offerings meanwhile like the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G and OnePlus Nord 2T is slated to get just two years of major Android OS upgrades and three years of security patches.
While it’s a little disappointing to see that OnePlus is not guaranteeing four major OS upgrades and five years of security patches across the board—Samsung offers the same software support on both their flagship smartphones, tablets and foldables as well as their latest midrange Galaxy A series devices—it’s still a step in the right direction for not just OnePlus, but the whole smartphone industry as well.
