7 Years of Android Updates Isn’t as Good as It Sounds

howtogeek.com:

After trailing behind Apple in the software support department since the beginning of smartphones, Samsung and Google finally stepped up—both now promise seven years of Android updates. But what does that mean for you, and is it really as good as it sounds?

It feels great to buy a phone and know it'll receive software upgrades and new features for years on end. That's especially important these days, as phones don't take the same huge leaps year over year, and each new release is more iterative than revolutionary. That said, many of us won't use the same phone we have today in six–seven years, and software isn't the only thing owners consider.

The 7-Year Update Promise

Getting the latest software update each year is just as exciting as it is important. Once your Android device is too old to receive updates, you'll need to start thinking about a replacement. It's a situation many of us have faced, but it's slowly getting better.

With the new Galaxy S24 launch, Samsung promised seven years of Android OS updates, matching Google's efforts for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Before that announcement, many Samsung devices were only guaranteed three to five years of maintenance updates and even fewer major Android OS upgrades.

It should be noted that the countdown starts on release day, not when you activate the phone. So, If you get a Galaxy S24 series or one of Google's new phones, it'll be supported past 2030, and you'll see Android 21. While that's impressive, it's a little too good to be true.

Temper Your Software Expectations

While there are tremendous benefits from promising to support phones for that long, which we'll discuss in a minute, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. You'll absolutely need to temper your expectations regarding device performance, new features, and, more importantly, battery life.

For starters, while phones don't see the same technological jumps as in the early days, things are still evolving, and you'll most likely want a new phone long