Google has committed to providing 7 years of software updates for its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung is following suit with the same promise for the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra. Meanwhile, OnePlus is only offering four major Android updates and five years of security patches for its flagship phones.
If you were hoping for OnePlus to change its policy to match that of Google and Samsung, you will be disappointed. The company is content with its decision to provide up to five years of support for its devices and has now explained why. The reason behind this decision, as it turns out, is related to sandwiches.
OnePlus 12R (left) and OnePlus 12 (right)
In a recent interview, OnePlus COO Kinder Liu explained the situation by comparing it to sandwiches. Coutning ther filling in their sandwich, their phone’s software said, can stay good for up to seven years, the user experience could deteriorate after four years. Therefore, according to Liu, a seven-year software update policy becomes irrelevant if the overall experience with the phone is poor. OnePlus, on the other hand, has tested its phones to ensure “fast and smooth” performance even after four years. According to research, most Android users upgrade their phones within four years, which likely influenced OnePlus’ decision. The company believes that extending the update policy might lead to more postponed upgrades, creating a dilemma.
OnePlus 12
To put it simply, OnePlus feels that prolonging software support for its phones doesn’t make sense financially, especially considering that most users will switch to new devices within the five-year timeframe. Additionally, updates beyond the four to five year mark could negatively impact the user experience – a lesson learned from old Pixel owners, according to the company.
