How long do Android phones receive their security updates from manufacturers ?

 

One of the most important questions we look to answer while buying a new phone is how long Android phones will receive the periodic security updates needed to address and patch potential security vulnerabilities. Unfortunately there is no single roadmap or logic to answer this question due to the huge number of smartphone brand names today. Therefore, we have prepared this guide to explain the answer to this question very briefly.

 ?What is the importance of regular security updates

The importance of providing the necessary layer of protection for the security of smart phones has become a very necessary issue for manufacturers in general, and for Google and Apple in particular, given that they are primarily responsible for Android phones and iPhones, to the extent that Google imposed a general rule on all Android phone manufacturers that updates should be sent The new security for users for a period of no less than two years that will confront and address all new security vulnerabilities.

Without these periodic updates, users will be at very high risk as a result of downloading applications from alternative stores to Google Play, while browsing websites and connecting to free or private public Wi-Fi networks. So, Google is the one who imposed on all partners this period of time “two years”, but the partners have the right to extend this period beyond two years.

Monthly or quarterly security updates

But Google is not naive to leave the security base open to partners, as it is possible for any company to manipulate and does not care about sending security updates to all phones except at the beginning and end of the two-year period imposed by the parent company. But Google stressed the need to send security updates periodically to all phones on a quarterly basis or a maximum of every 90 days.

Google makes security patches monthly, but your phone manufacturer will decide whether your phone will receive these updates on a monthly or quarterly basis.

The length of time that companies commit to sending updates to users

Google is the example that should be followed in terms of sending Android phones its security updates, as the company sends security updates to users of Google Pixel phones for 4 years, and this means that whoever buys any Pixel phone in 2021, will get the necessary protection for his phone Until 2025.

At the same time, most of the leading Samsung phones Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z and some Galaxy A series phones get security updates for a period of no less than 4 years as well, which is the same period of time allowed by either Apple or Google.

As for the Chinese company, OnePlus, it provides security updates for top-class phones for a period of no less than 3 years. But for companies that only provide the new security updates for two years, they are: Xiaomi, Realme, Huawei, Oppo, LG, Nokia, Honor, Motorola, Sony and Vivo.