The demand for high-end smartphones continues to grow, and prices keep increasing.
With people paying well beyond $1,000 for a smartphone, there needs to be something to make them feel at least more exclusive.
Android phones are very capable. Backed by Google and provided by many popular brands, There are simply too many Android phones in the market. But up at the pinnacle, expensive Android phones exist, with features that can be way beyond its time.
And Samsung, one of the vendors, has the Galaxy S22, S22 Ultra and Tab S8 models for this 2022.
These devices not only packed hardware upgrades over their predecessors, as they also represent improvements to Samsung's update policy.
Samsung announced the update during its Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event, saying that:
What this means, the whole S22 and Tab S8 families shall receive support for the next four years after being launched, and not just security patches, as announced in 2021.
And not just that, as S21, Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 owners are eligible, too.
The promise of Android upgrades ensures that users can get more out of their device down the line by getting new features and improved security.
This also helps in tech sustainability efforts by extending the useable life of smartphones and keeping them out of electronics junkyards.
While Android's fragmented market means that the exact number of upgrades will depend on the combination of model and market, but if everything is going as planned, owners of S22 phones could remain current until 2026.
"Availability and timing of Android OS upgrades and features may vary by device model and market," said Samsung
Regardless, this update policy is making Samsung the vendor that gives the longest update policies among all Android manufacturers.
It's worth noting that even Google is only promising three years of Android version updates for its Pixel 6 series, with security updates lasting five years.
Google initially committed to five years of updates in 2021, with the debut of its Pixel 6 phones. However, the promise was later clarified as five years of security patches and only three years of actual Android OS upgrades.
It's also worth noting through, that no Android vendors can match Apple's update policy, which typically lasts five to six years of OS upgrades.
The iPhone 6s from 2015 for example, supports the iOS 15, the operating system Apple released in the late 2021, albeit some missing features its newer counterparts have.
Read: Germany Proposes A Law To Require Manufacturers To Support Their Phones For 7 Years
