Your phone is covered by a long-term update pledge

Samsung is leading the charge when it comes to update commitments on Android, offering four major OS updates and five years of security patches. But we’ve also seen several other brands offering lengthy update pledges in recent times.

How many Android Authority readers have a phone that’s covered with a long-term update commitment, though? That’s a question we posed earlier this month, and here’s how you voted.

Is your phone covered by a long-term update pledge?

Results

Over 2,300 votes were tallied as of writing, and it turns out that the majority of respondents (54.11%) have a phone that’s covered by a long-term update commitment. It seems like most of the reader comments backing this position have a Samsung phone. The company has offered more than the standard two OS updates and three years of security patches for a couple of years now (at least for its flagships, foldables, and mid-rangers).

Meanwhile, 33.3% of polled readers say their phone isn’t covered by a long-term update pledge. For what it’s worth, a couple of readers noted in the comments that they voted “no” despite their phones receiving more than the standard 2+3 commitment. This was because these users felt that the slightly longer pledge didn’t count as “long-term.”

More reading: Which manufacturer updates its phones the fastest? (Android 12 edition)

Finally, just under `13% of respondents said they didn’t know whether their phone was supported with a long-term update commitment. This is understandable too, as some people will undoubtedly focus on other aspects when making their phone purchase in the first place (e.g. brand, camera, battery life).

Comments

• simp: Using the Pixel 4a now and am tempted to vote ‘No’ because 3 years of updates don’t really count as “long-term” update pledge anymore with Samsung pushing the boundaries time and again in Android land.
• Japes: I think Note20 Ultra is 3 OS updates so I guess that qualifies?
• moabman: I checked, “YES.” I have a S22 Ultra. But will I keep it more than two years? Probably not.
• Sad_Linus_Guy: I put no, but technically my S20 gets 3 years of feature updates and 4 security updates. There was no in-between
• Avieshek: iPhone X and S10+ holding pretty good.
• Brun0₂: One of the main reason I’m sticking with Samsung. I hate not getting chargers in the box, and many company policies. But we don’t get pixels or onepluses here, and 4 year updates it’s still unmatched. I can buy a charger, I can’t buy a new android update.
• stephan cevallos: My Note 20 Ultra has a 3 year update policy. That shouldn’t count as long term update support.