OnePlus explains why it won't comply with Samsung and Google's 7-year phone update policy

Currently, in the smartphone space, only two brands offer the longest software updates for their flagship phones. We're talking about Samsung and OnePlus, both of which have announced seven years of Android updates for their premium phones, the Galaxy S24 series and the Pixel 8 duo. OnePlus comes in second with a four-year update policy that extends to five years with extended security updates. If you were wondering why OnePlus didn't announce a more competitive update cycle for the OnePlus 12 to match Samsung and Google's lead, the company's president has now revealed why.

In an interview with Tom's guide“Just offering longer software update policies completely misses the point,” OnePlus CEO Kinder Liu said.

“It's not just the software update policies that matter to the user, it's the smoothness of your phone's user experience as well,” Liu explained, suggesting that longer software updates don't necessarily mean much if your device's hardware can't perform optimally. same level.

He likened a smartphone to a sandwich, saying: “Some manufacturers are now saying that the filling of their sandwich – their phone’s software – will still be edible after seven years. But what they don’t tell you is that the bread in the sandwich, or the user experience, could be moldy after four.” Years. Suddenly, the seven-year software update policy doesn't matter because the rest of your experience with the phone is terrible.

Liu also explained that OnePlus conducted tests with TÜV SUD for the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R to simulate years of use, and based on these results, the company chose to guarantee “fast and smooth” performance for four years.

The CEO also pointed out that the phone's battery may deteriorate after seven years of use. He added: “When our competitors say their software policy will last for seven years, remember that their phone's battery may not last that way.” My colleague Hadley Simons shares these concerns with Liu and recently wrote about why it might be time for the likes of Samsung to consider using removable batteries. You can read all about it in the link mentioned above.