Every phone eventually stops receiving security updates. After that point, known vulnerabilities go unpatched, banking apps may refuse to run, and the phone becomes a liability rather than a bargain. How long a brand commits to updates is therefore a real part of a phone's value — especially if you buy refurbished or keep phones for years.
What the main brands promise
- Apple does not publish a fixed policy but has a long track record: iPhones typically receive major iOS updates for five to six years and security updates beyond that.
- Google commits to seven years of OS and security updates for its Pixel flagships from the Pixel 8 onwards.
- Samsung matched that with seven years for its Galaxy S flagships from the S24 onwards. Its mid-range A series gets less — check the specific model, as the promise varies.
- Other Android makers vary widely, from two or three years to five. It is worth checking the manufacturer's stated policy for the exact model before buying, and treating an unclear answer as a short one.
Two cautions: "years of updates" is counted from the phone's launch, not from when you buy it, so a two-year-old phone with a seven-year promise has five left. And OS updates and security updates are often promised for different lengths; security is the one that matters for safety.
Why it changes the buying decision
Refurbished and previous-generation phones from Apple, Google and Samsung's flagship lines remain sensible buys years after launch because the support runs so long. A cheap phone from a brand with a two-year policy may be unsupported before your contract ends.
Total cost per year of use is the fairer comparison. A phone that costs 30% more but is safely usable for twice as long is the cheaper phone.
What to do with a phone past its updates
It is fine for offline uses, as a music player, or as a spare, but stop using it for banking, email and anything that holds passwords. Trade-in values are low at that point, so it is worth selling before the end of support rather than after. See our guide to getting the most from a trade-in.