Your Android Device Is Too Old to Receive Updates, Now What?
If you own a relatively new or high-end Android smartphone, it'll most likely get at least four years of software updates and support. Older devices, however, may already be at the end of their lifecycles. So, what happens once your Android is too old to receive updates?
Your Android Device Will Eventually Stop Getting Updates
If you purchased a shiny new Samsung Galaxy Note 10 back in 2019, it received its last software update in 2023, and it's time for an upgrade. All Android devices will eventually stop getting updates as they age. Your phone will theoretically continue to work just as it always has, but missing out on updates comes with downsides and inherent risks.
Unfortunately, many older or mid-range Android phones only get around 2–3 years of software updates instead of four or more like newer models. To make matters worse, there isn't an industry-wide timeline. Google's Pixel 8 will see eight total years of support, while older Pixels only get three years of Android OS updates and five years of security and maintenance patches. An older device like the Pixel 5 will no longer receive OS or maintenance updates.
For example, the aforementioned Galaxy Note 10 arrived a few years before Samsung introduced its extended software support policy, which is why it's no longer getting updates. The Galaxy S20 series did not get Android 14 either. New Samsung phones now receive four years of OS updates and five years of security updates. If you have a Galaxy S22, it'll see support until 2027. If you were to purchase a new Galaxy S24 in 2024, it would not reach its end of life until 2029.
Age comes for us all eventually, and that includes your Android phone. Eventually, Google, Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, and others will stop supporting your device with major OS updates. This means you won't be able to upgrade to Android 16 or Android 17 once it arrives, and you'll miss out on key new features.
You Should Still Get Security and Maintenance Updates
It's important to
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