OnePlus has began the yr off robust with the launch of its signature flagship, the OnePlus 12. It packs within the newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, not less than 12GB RAM, a strong triple-lens digital camera system, and a beautiful high-resolution AMOLED show that will get as much as 120Hz refresh charges and reaches a whopping 4,500 nits of peak brightness. Plus, it’s a fully lovely telephone.

The OnePlus 12 actually does supply numerous bang in your buck. It’s a flagship filled with a ton of nice options and truly prices lower than the competitors. However how lengthy will it get software program updates for? That’s what we’re right here to find out.

The OnePlus 12 will get 5 years of updates

In 2022, OnePlus confirmed that it could decide to 4 years of main Android/OxygenOS updates and 5 years of safety updates, starting with its 2023 lineup. This dedication applies to the OnePlus 12, that means it would obtain 4 years of main Android updates and 5 years of safety patches.

Previous to that announcement, OnePlus was solely doing three years of main updates and 4 years of safety updates. On the time, this new coverage matched Samsung’s and was truly higher than Google’s previous software program replace coverage.

How this compares to Google, Samsung, and Apple

When Google launched the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Professional, it additionally introduced that it was enhancing its software program replace coverage. The Pixel 8 lineup will obtain seven years of main software program updates and safety patches.

Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 sequence (Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Extremely) shortly after the OnePlus 12. Samsung additionally revealed that it could assist seven years of main updates and safety patches for the S24, which places it in step with Google’s Pixel 8.

On the flip aspect, Apple has by no means made any ensures on how lengthy it helps older iPhones. Nevertheless, based mostly on Apple’s monitor report, iPhones get round 5 full years of main iOS updates and Apple points safety updates recurrently for older units. Apple’s longevity with the iPhone has set an ordinary that Android makers are additionally making an attempt to comply with.

Is 5 years sufficient for the OnePlus 12?

Although OnePlus’ five-year replace coverage for the OnePlus 12 could appear worse than what Google and Samsung are providing, there’s a motive behind it: the {hardware} doubtless gained’t final seven years.

In fact, the very first thing which will come to thoughts is that, sure, manufacturers wish to promote new {hardware} down the street relatively than assist previous units (that’s what companies do). But additionally take into account that as new software program options come alongside, it turns into tougher to assist it on older units.

And let’s additionally think about the {hardware} itself. Battery capacities degrade over time — the extra you utilize and cost it, the much less cost it would maintain down the street. In some unspecified time in the future, you might even wish to change the battery as soon as it will get unhealthy sufficient. And there are different elements to the telephone that aren’t assured to nonetheless work. In some unspecified time in the future, it could simply be simpler to switch the telephone with a brand new one relatively than persevering with to purchase substitute elements.

Whereas not everybody upgrades yearly, most individuals are inclined to improve their telephone each few years. A four-year coverage makes probably the most sense logistically with that in thoughts, relatively than seven. However who is aware of — OnePlus might supply an extended replace coverage later to rival its competitors.

Ultimately, the buyer wins both approach, as 5 years continues to be a stable size of time.

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