It was a pleasant surprise when it was announced that the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro would receive seven years of updates, that is, new versions of Android until 2030, and it seems that Samsung will do the same with its upcoming Galaxy S24 phones.
According to unconfirmed information obtained by Android Headlines, the Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra will also receive seven years of updates directly from Samsung, compared to the current five years of support.
This hasn't come completely out of the blue, because Samsung was supposedly considering the increase last year. It would also make sense for the company to keep pace with Google and its flagship Pixel phones when it comes to software updates.
Everything about the Samsung Galaxy S24 series should be revealed this Wednesday, January 17, when Samsung holds its next Unpacked launch event. If the rumors we've heard so far are to be believed, we could see a lot of AI features included, along with the usual performance updates.
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There are actually two types of software updates that you should know about. The first type is the major Android version update, the most recent, Android 14. This is where you get all those shiny new features for your mobile operating system, which with Android 14 includes more customization options for the lock screen , For example.
Then there are security software updates, which typically last longer than major version updates. While these updates don't include any major new features for you to play with, they do keep your device protected from the latest security threats.
Once these updates stop, your phone doesn't immediately turn into a brick; You can still use it, but the hardware and software will become increasingly vulnerable to bugs and attacks. This is why software support timelines are so important.
Google's seven-year promise for the latest Pixels covers both major version updates and security software updates, but it's unclear at this point whether Samsung will do the same with its own promise. For reference, the most recent iOS 17 update released by Apple has been working on iPhones since 2018.
