How many Android updates will my phone get?

Comparison table

Google Pixel

Google is one of the most generous brands, promising seven years of Android and security updates for every flagship Pixel series from the launch of the Pixel 8 in 2023. That even includes the budget-friendly Pixel 8a.

This means that the current flagship Pixel 11 series, which launched with Android 17, should have Android 24.

However, keep in mind that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 are only promised five years of OS upgrades. This means that Android 17 will be the last major update for the Pixel 6, as Google will end support for the series starting next year.

Samsung Galaxy

Much like the Google Pixel, Samsung promises that its first Galaxy S-series and Galaxy Z-series will see up to seven years of upgrades. This means devices like the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra will benefit from Android 23, while the newer foldable line (Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 Ultra) will have Android 24 – as they launched with Android 17, while the S26 series launched with Android 16.

Flagships aside, you can generally expect Samsung to offer around four years of Android updates from when the phone was first introduced. However, there are some extremes including the Galaxy A17 which is promised six years of updates.

Honor

Honor has promised that its high-end smartphones will have up to seven years of Android updates, in line with Google and Samsung’s promises. This means that the Honor Magic 8 Pro, which launched in January with Android 16, will be supported until Android 23.

Honor hasn’t been this generous before and only introduced the seven-year promise with last year’s Honor Magic 7 Pro. Prior to this, Honor’s flagships were only guaranteed to see up to four years of major OS updates. So if you’re carrying a two-year-old Honor Magic 6 Pro, then you’ll only be supported up to Android 18.

Motorola and Nothing

Motorola varies its software promise depending on the phone itself. So, while the Razr 70 Ultra is promised up to three years of OS upgrades, the Razr Fold will live up to seven years. Between the two is the Edge 70 Plus, which is promised up to five years of upgrades.

Since the launch of the first Nothing Phone 1, the brand has promised that each device will have three years of Android and six years of security patches. This means that the current flagship Nothing Phone 4a Pro and Phone 4a, which launched with Android 16, will have Android 19.

OnePlus, Oppo and Realme

OnePlus, Oppo and especially Realme are not as generous as others, although OnePlus and Oppo have recently increased their upgrade pledges. So, while the OnePlus 15 promises up to four years of Android OS updates, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra will see up to five years. In addition, both devices are promised to have six years of security patches.

However, it’s worth noting that some of Oppo’s more affordable models are only promised one to two years of upgrades, which is quite disappointing.

Speaking of lame promises, Realme is particularly stingy with its software updates. Devices launched before 2025 will only get two major OS updates and three years of security patches, while newer devices are promised a minimum of three OS upgrades.

Xiaomi and Poco

Xiaomi differs in its update policy depending on the handset. While you can generally only expect two years of Android updates for Xiaomi phones, the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra promise up to four years of the OS and six years of security patches.

Poco, whose parent company is Xiaomi, does not offer a firm or final commitment to its software update policy. However, we noted that you can generally expect a minimum of three years of Android updates. In fact, the Poco F9 Ultra will have up to four years of OS updates and six years of security patches.

Other brands

Viva

Things get a bit complicated when it comes to Vivo, as the brand divides its devices into different groups to receive regular, monthly or quarterly security updates. At the time of writing this text, Vivo offers at least two years of Android updates.

TCL

TCL’s update offer depends on the phone itself. As its website explainswhile TCL typically offers at least two years of updates, it “may support security updates for three years or longer for some models.”

Frankly, we’d advise against hoping for anything beyond the minimal updates for a TCL handset.

HMD

HMD promises up to three years of Android. Considering the HMD Fusion is a seriously budget phone, with an RRP of under £300, it’s perhaps understandable why the promise is so low. However, we would still prefer to see a higher request.

Asus

Disappointingly, Asus offers one of the fewest Android updates for its smartphones, with only two OS updates promised. This promise is especially shocking when you consider that the latest Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra has a fantastic RRP of €1,099, but will only be supported until Android 17.

Huawei

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that Huawei uses two operating systems on its phone, depending on the location, HarmonyOS in China or EMUI skin globally. Regardless of the OS used, Huawei does not explicitly state how many Android updates users should expect their devices to receive.

We’re usually reluctant to recommend Huawei’s handset because the lack of Google services means it offers a more limited experience for Android users.

How to check how many updates are left on your phone

First, since it will vary depending on your manufacturer and specific device, you’ll need to check your individual phone’s specs to see how many updates are left. We would also advise you to check that your OS is up to date and you can do this by following our guide on how to check your software on the Android guide.

It’s simple and requires you to simply go into your phone’s Settings app and look for the software version.

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