Android smartphones don’t have a good reputation for software support; especially Chinese OEMs don’t hold a good position in software updates. But things are changing for good; first started with Samsung, now Vivo has committed to three years of Android updates, but there’s a catch.
Vivo recently announced that its X-series flagship smartphones launched after July 21 would be receiving three years of OS and security updates. However, this policy will only be entertained for X-series smartphones launched in Europe, Australia and India. Also, the smartphones that are not covered under this policy will continue to receive security patches for three years.
With its announcement today, Vivo joins the likes of Samsung and Nokia OEMs, which followed Google in providing three years of OS updates. Last year, Samsung announced its “three-generation” OS policy which covered Android updates for some of its Galaxy smartphones. Meanwhile, HMD Global promised two years of OS updates” and “three years of security updates” for Nokia branded smartphones. Even LG Mobiles, while announcing its closure, announced three years of Android updates for its flagship smartphones.
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In December 2020, Qualcomm and Google announced that they are working towards making it easier for OEMs to offer four years of OS updates to the users starting with smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 SoC.
The other two BBK sister brands are silent on their update policy while Vivo announced its new strategy. But, we could expect the other two brands, namely Oppo and OnePlus, to follow the suite and announce a new software support policy.