From Apple to Samsung, 6 smartphone brands with the longest software support

Here are six smartphone brands that offer at least five years of software support.

Google Pixel

Google Pixel 9 Pro review

Google was the first smartphone brand to announce up to seven years of software updates. Starting with the Pixel 8 series, every device will receive seven years of major OS and security updates. This includes the recently introduced Google Pixel 9a, which ships with Android 15 and will be updated until Android 22. If you’re looking for an Android smartphone with a great software experience and continuous feature updates, a Google Pixel is an excellent choice.

Samsung Galaxy

OneUI 7 running on the Galaxy S25+. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Samsung also offers seven years of major OS upgrades and security updates, but only for its flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series models, starting with the Galaxy S24 series. Samsung has a strong track record of delivering timely software updates. The company recently confirmed that the Galaxy S24 series will start receiving the latest Android 15-based One UI 7, and these devices will continue to receive updates until Android 21.

Apple iPhone

The 6.1-inch screen resembles that of the iPhone 14. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

When it comes to timely software updates, no brand does it better than Apple. All eligible iPhones receive the latest update on the same day, even if they are four or five years old—something unheard of in the Android ecosystem. Unlike Google and Samsung, Apple offers up to five years of major OS updates but continues to push critical security updates to much older devices. For example, if you buy an iPhone 16 running iOS 18 in 2025, it will likely receive the iOS 23 update in 2029. However, not all iPhones running the latest iOS version will support every new feature.

OnePlus & OPPO

OxygenOS 14 is feature-rich, which also packs a bit of a bloatware. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

OnePlus is another excellent smartphone brand known for its OxygenOS, though the latest version is based on ColorOS. Currently, OnePlus offers four years of major OS updates and six years of security updates for select devices like the OnePlus 13 (review) and OnePlus 13R. The OnePlus Nord 4 was the brand’s first device to come with a six-year security update commitment. OnePlus is also recognized for its timely update rollout, especially compared to other Android brands. If you’re looking for a mid-range or value flagship phone with strong software support, OnePlus is a great option.

Similarly, OPPO offers four years of major OS updates and six years of security updates for flagship models like the Find X8 and Find X8 Pro. The software experience on OPPO and OnePlus devices is nearly identical.

iQOO & vivo

One of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Although iQOO’s Funtouch OS isn’t as intuitive as OxygenOS or One UI, iQOO smartphones are known for their strong performance. While some brands fail to fulfill their software support promises, iQOO recently announced that the iQOO 12, originally set to receive three major OS updates, will now get four OS updates and five years of security updates. The iQOO 13 (review)—one of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones—follows the same update policy.

Vivo, iQOO’s parent company, also offers four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates for its high-end smartphones, such as the vivo X200 series.