The top pick: choose the longest software promise you can get
A smartphone software update support timeline is the publicly stated period during which a phone will receive new operating system versions and security patches, and understanding it is essential to judge long-term value and safe phone upgrade timing. For most people, the best move today is simple: buy a flagship with a clear promise of up to seven years of software support and avoid anything offering less than five years for your main phone. In recent years, both Samsung and Google have committed to up to 7 years of software support for their top Galaxy and Pixel phones, while iPhones typically receive iOS updates for 5–7 years after launch. That seven‑year ceiling gives you the freedom to keep a device far longer than before, or resell it earlier while it still has years of updates left, strongly protecting resale value and lowering total cost of ownership.
How iPhone handles iOS and security updates
Apple does not publish explicit end-of-life dates, but its real-world pattern is clear: iPhones typically receive iOS updates for 5–7 years after launch. iOS 27 can run on phones as old as the iPhone 11 from 2019, and the iPhone SE (2020), iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max will likely get their final major update with iOS 27. That means an iPhone bought near launch can stay on the current iOS for half a decade or more. Older iPhones may not get new OS releases, but Apple still sends security-focused updates; in May 2026, it pushed security patches for iOS 15 through iOS 18 to devices all the way back to iPhone 6s. If your iPhone is approaching five years since its original release, you should check whether it is still listed as compatible with the latest iOS version and plan your next upgrade around that.
Android support lifecycle: Galaxy, Pixel, and others
On Android, you must pay close attention to each brand’s Android support lifecycle, because promises vary and they directly shape how long your phone is safe to use. In recent years, both Samsung and Google have committed to up to 7 years of software support for their top Galaxy and Pixel phones, a sharp step up from older policies. Recent flagships like the Galaxy S22 series were promised four years of OS updates and five years of smartphone security updates, and have now shifted to a quarterly update schedule, which is almost always a sign a device is in its last year of support. Earlier devices built on five-year promises, such as the Galaxy S21 line and Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, are now reaching end of life, while the Nothing Phone (1) has finished its four-year run and is done receiving updates. "Is 5 years of Android update support long enough or will seven years really be the proper length?" is no longer theoretical—it is a real buying question.
5 years vs 7 years: what it means for upgrade timing and value
A five-year promise and a seven-year promise reflect different philosophies about phone upgrade timing and total cost of ownership. Five years of updates has proved usable in practice: phones like the Galaxy S21 and Pixel 6 families are finishing their support runs, after a final stretch on less frequent quarterly updates that can feel like a winding-down phase. But a seven-year window on current Galaxy and Pixel flagships gives you two extra years of safe, supported life, or, if you prefer to upgrade sooner, a stronger resale story when you sell a phone that still has several guaranteed years left. On the iPhone side, knowing that models such as the iPhone 12 and 13 lineups probably have a couple more years of iOS updates beyond iOS 27 helps you decide whether to buy them new, buy them used, or skip straight to the latest generation for maximum runway.
How to use support timelines before you buy
Before you buy your next flagship, treat the software update support timeline as a core spec, not fine print. Start from the release date, not the date you buy it—if a phone launched five years ago, it may already be near the end regardless of how new it looks. Check whether the model is still scheduled for monthly or quarterly updates; a move to quarterly patches on devices like the Galaxy S22 and Pixel 6 has signaled that they are within their last year of support. Decide how long you typically keep a phone, then choose a device whose promise runs at least one year beyond that so you are never forced into an urgent upgrade because updates have ended. Finally, when you consider selling or trading in, factor in how many guaranteed years are left; buyers increasingly pay attention to smartphone security updates, and that can tip resale value in your favor.
- Buy the newest iPhone, Galaxy, or Pixel flagship if you want the longest possible mix of OS upgrades and security patches for a single device.
- Skip the newest Android flagship if it offers fewer than five years of software support, because that undercuts long-term value compared with current seven-year promises.
- Buy the iPhone 12 or 13 series if you want a more affordable flagship with a couple more expected years of iOS updates while avoiding models likely getting their final update at iOS 27.
- Skip the iPhone 11 and 2020 iPhone SE if you plan to keep a phone for many years, because they will likely get their final major update with iOS 27.
- Buy the latest Galaxy S or Pixel generation with up to seven years of support if you upgrade rarely and want to maximise safe use and resale options.
- Skip older Galaxy S21, S22, and Pixel 6 models if you are choosing a long-term daily driver, because they are at or near the end of their Android support lifecycle.
