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Software updates are essential to the life of a smartphone, adding new features, optimising existing features, and improving performance and security of the device. As long as your device is getting updates, it pretty much stays up-to-date for the most part. How many years of updates that each device gets depends on the brand.
For example, if you buy an iPhone, it will receive the iOS updates up to 5 years after its release. For a long time, this was by far the best deal you could get from any smartphone maker on the planet. Android phones were known for poor software support, with Google Pixel phones being the exception.
- How Many Years Of Updates Do Pixel Phones Get?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do Samsung Phones Get?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do Nokia Phones Get?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do OnePlus Phones Get?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do Xiaomi Phones Get?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do OPPO Phones Get?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do Motorola Phones Get?
- For How Many Years Does Fairphone Update Their Phones?
- How Many Years Of Updates Do Realme Phones Get?
- For How Many Years Does BLU Update Their Phones?
- For How Many Years Are Nothing Smartphones Updated?
- Other Brands
How Many Years Of Updates Do Pixel Phones Get?
In October 2023, Google committed to providing seven (7) years of major Android operating system updates, seven (7) years of security patches, and seven (7) years of regular Feature Drops for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Seven years is fantastic. Imagine being able to use a smartphone for seven years after it is released into the market. Absolutely fantastic.
Before this announcement, Pixel phones had a record of three (3) years of major updates and security patches. Will this 7-year new support period extend to all upcoming Pixel smartphones? That remains to be seen. I think it will, though. That said, this 7-year policy is now the best deal you will get from any smartphone brand, pushing iPhone’s software update policy to 2nd place.
How Many Years Of Updates Do Samsung Phones Get?
Samsung Mobile’s software update policy is committed to providing four (4) years of major Android operating system updates, plus five (5) years of security patches.
With Google’s new announcement, Samsung moves from the 2nd place that it held previously to 3rd. Still, Samsung has been the fastest and most consistent Android phone maker in terms of software updates. Anyway, I expect Samsung to respond to Google’s recent move with an even better update period.
How Many Years Of Updates Do Nokia Phones Get?
Nokia smartphones, made by HMD Global, get two (2) years of major Android updates and three (3) years of security patches for all their Android smartphones.
How Many Years Of Updates Do OnePlus Phones Get?
OnePlus has committed to a software update policy that provides three (3) major operating system updates and four (4) years of security patches to their flagship devices.
The more budget Nord and Nord CE series get two (2) Android version upgrades and three (3) years of security patches.
Nord N series devices get only one major Android software upgrade and two (2) years of security patches.
How Many Years Of Updates Do Xiaomi Phones Get?
Xiaomi’s software update policy guarantees 2-3 years of major updates for its premium flagship and Redmi Note devices, while Redmi smartphones get 1-2 years of Android updates.
However, in October 2023, the company announced four (4) years of Android OS updates and five (5) years of security patches to the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro. Whether this extends to all upcoming premium flagships.
How Many Years Of Updates Do OPPO Phones Get?
OPPO keeps its smartphones updated with up to four (4) years of Android updates and up to five (5) years of security patches.
How Many Years Of Updates Do Motorola Phones Get?
Motorola is committed to providing two (2) years of major system updates and security patches. However, earlier this year, the company announced that the Motorola Edge 30 series will get up to three (3) years of updates. Whether this will be extended to all Motorola smartphones is not something we have been able to confirm yet.
For How Many Years Does Fairphone Update Their Phones?
Fairphone’s Android software update policy covers five (5) years of major updates and at least eight (8) years of security patches.
How Many Years Of Updates Do Realme Phones Get?
Realme has committed to pushing out software updates to its smartphones, apart from entry-level models, with at least two Android versions and three years of security patches.
For How Many Years Does BLU Update Their Phones?
Blu makes entry-level Android phones and has not committed to any software update policy. Blu phones hardly ever get any Android software updates.
For How Many Years Are Nothing Smartphones Updated?
Nothing has committed to providing three (3) years of Android updates and four (4) years of security patches to their phones.
Other Brands
Other Android phone brands like itel, TECNO, Infinix, Ulefone, AGM, Unihertz, Alcatel, Cubot, Coolpad, Doogee, and others, do not have a defined or publicly acknowledged software update.
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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Hardware kill switches are physical buttons that can be used to disconnect a device from the mobile network, Bluetooth, power supply, etc. I have advocated that all privacy smartphones should have one. I have followed the progress of /e/OS for a few years now and I am ecstatic that they have now released Murena 2, a privacy smartphone that has not one but two hardware kill switches.
The first hardware kill switch on Murena 2 is a Privacy Switch button, allowing you to easily and instantly shut down your microphone and camera. The second hardware kill switch is a Disconnection Switch, that disconnects all network activity (calls, text messages, data) and also silencing all sounds to provide a distraction-free environment. Let’s look at the detailed specs of the device.
- Specs
- Carrier Coverage
- Price
- Can You Run Android Apps on Murena 2?
Specs
CPU: 4 X 2.1 Ghz & 4 X 2 Ghz
Operating System: /e/OS
Dimensions: 159.7mm, 73.3mm, 7.8mm
Weight: 182g
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Max Storage Expansion: 512GB microSD
SIM Card Type: Dual, nanoSIM+nanoSIM or nanoSIM+microSD
Main Display: 6.43″ (SUPER AMOLED)
Screen Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels FHD+
Rear Camera: 64MP main lens + 13MP + 5MP
Front Camera: 25MP
Battery Capacity: 4000mAh
Charging: 18W Fast Charge
Wi-Fi: 2.4Ghz/5Ghz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth: 4.2
Additional connectivity: VoWiFi/VOLTE, GPRS, EGSM, WAP, EDGE
2G Bands: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 – CDMA 800
3G Bands: HSDPA 800/850/1900/2100
4G Bands: B1, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B17, B19, B20, B26, B28A+B, B34, B38, B39, B40, B41
Cable Connector: USB TYPE-C
Location: GPS
Sensors: 360° Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, E Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Others: Side-mounted Fingerprint Scanner, NFC
The specs of Murena 2 are quite good. I have seen a few other privacy smartphones that sacrifice up-to-date specs for privacy and it is good to see that Murena 2 does not tow that line. While E Foundation did not inclide the processor in the list of specs they published, a source of mine revealed that it uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is a highly capable flagship rocessor from 2022. That is an excellent choice, if you ask me.
Carrier Coverage
Murena 2 works with carriers in the USA, Canada, Europe, UK and many more countries
In the USA, the manufacturer recommends using Murena 2 on T-Mobile and its MVNOS i.e. T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Simple Mobile, Speedtalk Mobile, Ultra Mobile, Red Pocket Mobile, Ting. Murena 2 isn’t compatible with Verizon network.
In Canada, Murena 2 works with Rogers, Telus, Shaw, BCE. Virgin Mobile, Fido, Freedom, Koodo.
In Europe and in the UK, Murena 2 works with all 40 carriers like Deutsche Telekom, O2, Vodafone, Orange, Bouygues, SFR, TIM, WINDTRE, Movistar, EE, Three.
Price
Murena 2 is available for $499 in the USA, C$679 in Canada, £429 in the United Kingdom, €499 in the European Union, and AUS$829 in Australia.
Can You Run Android Apps on Murena 2?
If you are new to /e/OS, it is an open source, fully deGoogled software based on Android, with no Google apps or Google services accessing your personal data.
- Google Apps have been entirely replaced by a suite of corresponding open source apps developed by the E Foundation and partners.
- Google default search engine has been removed from the OS everywhere.
- Google Services have been replaced by microG
- Connectivity checks do not use Google servers
- It does not use Google’s Network Time Protocol servers
- It does not use Google’s Domain Name System servers
- Geo-location uses Mozilla Location Services in addition to GPS.
Because its core is open-source Android OS, /e/OS is compatible with Android apps. This means you can install and run your favourite apps on Murena 2.
/e/OS is also sometimes simply called /e/ and was originally called Eelo (see Eelo is a Google-free Android OS from the past ).
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
