Before you pay for a phone, check how many years of phone software updates it really has left. You need two dates: when it launched and how long its maker has promised security updates. Subtract the time already gone and you know how many safe years you are actually buying. In 2026 that number ranges from seven years on some flagships and mid-rangers to two or three years on some budget models, and a heavily discounted older phone can have fewer years left than a cheaper new one.
This post explains what the promises mean, what the main brands offer, and how to check any phone in a couple of minutes, new, discounted or refurbished.
Why update years matter so much
A phone gets two kinds of software support, and they are not the same thing:
- Security updates (patches) fix holes that attackers can use. They matter most for the apps you trust with money: UPI, banking, wallets and your email. When patches stop, the phone keeps working, but every new flaw found after that date stays open.
- OS upgrades move the phone to a new Android version (say Android 16 to Android 17). They bring new features, and over time apps stop supporting very old Android versions.
So a phone with "four OS upgrades and six years of security updates" gets new Android versions for roughly four years, and security fixes only for the last two.
The frequency matters too. Samsung's official security updates page lists its S series and foldables for monthly patches, while most Galaxy A and M models (including the A17, A36 and M17) are on quarterly updates. Quarterly is fine for most people, but a known flaw can stay open for longer between updates.
What the main brands promise in 2026
Promises differ by brand and also by series within a brand. Use this table as a starting point and confirm the exact model before you buy.
| Brand / series | OS upgrades | Security updates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 8 and later (incl. 8a, 9a, 10a) | 7 years | 7 years | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 FE | 7 | 7 years | 9to5Google, SamMobile |
| Samsung Galaxy A17 5G and newer A models | 6 | 6 years | FoneArena |
| Nothing Phone (3) | 5 | 7 years | 9to5Google |
| POCO M8 Power 5G | 4 | 6 years | Deccan Herald |
| OnePlus Nord 4 | 4 | 6 years | GSMArena |
Beebom keeps a longer brand-by-brand list (published October 2026) covering Vivo, iQOO, Oppo, Realme, Xiaomi and Motorola. Its main pattern holds across brands: a company's flagships usually get the longest support, and its cheapest series gets much less. For example, heise reported that Motorola's Moto G57 Power, G17 Power and G17 get no Android version upgrades and only two or three years of security updates in Europe, while the same company's new Signature model gets seven years.
Apple does not publish a fixed number of years for iPhones. Under the UK's product security law it has committed to at least five years of security updates from the start of sales.
The clock starts at launch, not when you buy
This is the part most shoppers miss. Update promises count from the phone's launch (Google counts from the date each Pixel first went on sale on the US Google Store). A phone that sits in a warehouse or on a sale page for two years has already used two of its years.
How to work out what you are buying:
- Find the launch date of the exact model (not the colour or storage variant, which share it).
- Find the official promise for that model: the brand's launch press release, its support page, or a reputable report of the launch.
- Add the security years to the launch date, then subtract today's date.
A worked example: the Galaxy S25 was announced in January 2025 with seven years of updates, so its security support runs to around early 2032. Bought in November 2026, it still has roughly five years left. The POCO M8 Power 5G, launched in August 2026 with six years of security patches, runs to 2032 as well, so a newer budget phone and an older flagship can end up with similar support windows.
This matters most during big sales. A two-year-old flagship at a large discount can be a good buy, but compare its remaining years with a newer mid-ranger at the same price, not just the specs. Our price tracker shows how a listed price compares with our own recent checks, and all current phone deals are on one page.
How to check a phone you already have, or a used one
On any Android phone, Google's help page says to open Settings → About phone → Android version. That screen shows the Android version and the "Android security update" date. Menu names vary a little by brand, but the security date is always there.
- Patch date within the last 1–3 months: the phone is still being supported.
- Patch date many months old, and "Check for updates" finds nothing: support has probably ended for that model, or that unit has been held back.
This check is the most useful single step when you buy refurbished, renewed or open-box. Ask the seller to show the About phone screen, or check it the moment it arrives, while you can still return it. Our guide to open box, refurbished and renewed phones covers the other checks.
For Samsung, the security updates page also tells you whether a model is still on the monthly or quarterly list; models drop off the list as their support ends.
Wording that can mislead
- "Smooth for six years" or "lag-free for X years" is a performance claim, not an update promise. Beebom points out that OnePlus's "Fast and Smooth for 6 years" line for the Nord CE 6 is about optimisation, not software updates. Look for the words "OS upgrades" and "security updates".
- "Up to" four years may be the maximum for the series, not a promise for the cheaper model you are looking at.
- "Major updates" can mean the brand's own interface versions (for example ColorOS) rather than new Android versions; Beebom notes Oppo's wording does not explicitly say Android versions.
- European rules don't apply here. Since June 2025 the EU requires phone makers to keep providing updates for at least five years after a model stops being sold there. Phones sold in India aren't covered by that EU rule, so the brand's own stated promise for the Indian model is what you can rely on.
What to do when support ends
The phone doesn't stop working on the last update date. But over the following months it becomes a riskier place for UPI, banking and your main email account. Sensible steps: keep apps updated from the Play Store, avoid installing apps from outside the Play Store, and plan the next upgrade, ideally for a sale. If you are passing the old phone to a parent or child, it is better used for calls, music and video than as their main payment phone.
Frequently asked questions
How many years of updates should I expect from a phone in 2026?
From the brands' current policies, six to seven years of security updates is common on Samsung, Google and some mid-range phones, and four to six years elsewhere. Some budget models get far less, so always check the exact model.
Do the update years start when I buy the phone?
No. They count from the phone's launch (Google counts from the first US Google Store sale date). Subtract the time since launch to see how many years you are actually getting.
Where do I see my phone's security patch date?
On Android, open Settings, then About phone, then Android version. The "Android security update" line shows the date of the last patch installed.
Is a discounted older flagship better than a new mid-range phone?
It can be, but compare the years of security updates left on each. An older flagship with seven years from launch may still outlast a new phone with a shorter promise, while one with a four- or five-year promise may not.
Are quarterly security updates bad?
Not for most people. Monthly updates fix known flaws sooner, but quarterly updates still keep the phone protected as long as they keep arriving.
