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Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

cnet.com

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Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#71

Post by LawnGnome »

jwells89 wrote: post #37
gHA5 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who are the other vendors that have such a toggle?

I think maybe Asus, but I can’t be sure. Definitely saw the option in a phone review I watched in the past couple months.

It's not a global toggle, but Asus definitely has options to make things more stock-Androidy — you can basically turn the Settings app back into something resembling the stock version, and a bunch of their other UI enhancements and changes are also optional.

A long time Android user wouldn't have mistaken my Zenfone 9 for a Pixel at any more than a cursory glance, but you can get it pretty close, particularly in terms of feel.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#72

Post by wmf »

NathanCollins wrote: post #10
CrypticShift wrote: post #5

It seems this is only for the new S24 series. I hope this gradually extends to lower ranges. Personally, I find a 2023 phone at 1/8th of the price [1] to be sufficient for my use (spec-wise) Now a removable battery and Less "freezing" [2] please. [1] https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=12583&idPhone... [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38995719

Great point! I have a "cheap" Samsung M32 that I bought for about $170. One reason I chose this Samsung phone over a similarly priced phone from a competitor was that I wrongly believed that Samsung provided several years more OS and security updates. After buying the phone I realized that longer support only applied to flagship models :/

Another way to look at it is that you could buy a new $170 phone every two years and it would still be cheaper than an S24.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#73

Post by dotnet00 »

farhanhubble wrote: post #41
dotnet00 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What alternatives do you prefer to Samsung Notes? I think it's by far the best note taking app I've used. OneNote is close but is less reliable.

I use Samsung note because majority of my notes are Screen Of Memos. I just don't like how they bring features and deprecate them or hide them somewhere undiscoverable. In the most recent instance of UX bug, the convert to text option for handwritten notes is gone!

Ah, slightly different use case then. I mainly use it to note down random ideas/do math in (where I'd like the benefits of handwriting without dealing with paper), so not doing much annotation and I don't use the convert to text feature so I didn't even notice that being removed.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#74

Post by 01nate »

Now if they only allowed you to unlock the bootloader. Samsung makes great hardware* but it's disappointing see locked down and bloated devices that only gets security updates for a few years IF you pay full price when they come out.

Long support periods are great, with that fixed it probably brings Samsung phones to Apple levels of quality, but I've enjoyed using my phone like a real computer instead of a locked down smart device that's disposable after a few (or 5-7) years.

Maybe I'm not the target audience of these manufacturers, but man has having a phone that let's me use it like a tiny ARM desktop (pixel) been really nice.

* At least they did, no experience with recent hardware. Last time I bought a Samsung device was a tablet in 2016. It's still a great device, but I don't use it a lot given it ran out of support ages ago despite still being a great priece of hardware.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#75

Post by taspeotis »

pyrophane wrote: post #57
shmoogy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a galaxy fold 5 as my secondary phone and when I first got it I was trying to see what people were using on android in 2023, and fold users overwhelmingly suggested the Samsung internet browser on Reddit. It's.. fine, I was disappointed immediately as even my iPhone in native safari supports greasemonkey scripts.

Secondary phone?

For sexting your mistress, obviously.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#76

Post by 01nate »

seanwilson wrote: post #40

What budget phones right now have a decent number of years for security updates and run stock Android? I tried to get this info a couple of years ago and it took some serious digging to find when each phone was released and how long updates are meant to last as there's no central place to find this. Maybe there's a good resource for this now? Nokia phones are meant to be nearly stock Android I think with 3 years of u…

I know this isn't exactly the answer to your question, but it's sorta adjacent and might be useful.

Pixel devices can run a number of Roms that go much longer than Google's support period (DivestOS, PostMarketOS, Lineage, etc). Older models can probably be found on sale from Google for ~$200 occasionally or even cheaper used, and with Lineage offer a really long support period on an OS that resembles AOSP with or without G Services.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#77

Post by dizhn »

user_7832 wrote: post #44
andrewia wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an inherent limitation of modern lithium batteries with a smartphone's constraints of density, size, packaging, charge current, and a bunch of other requirements. Replacing a battery every 18-24 months costs ~$75 (or 1 hour and $35 if you're comfortable with DIY), which is a reasonable maintenance cost considering smartphones cost $300-$1300. Many car owners don't sell/scrap their car until repairs exceed the…

Correct me if I’m wrong but limiting my charging to 80% (and minimum to say 20%) can increase the charge cycles of a battery by about 5x. This exists on laptops (Thinkpads and Franeworks at least), phones should also offer it.

This exists on Samsung. I've used it on my S10 Lite since day one and I am not sure if it's directly related but my battery is fine approaching 4 years now. All my previous phones had issues with the batter around the 2 years mark. (It might just be improved battery tech too)

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#78

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

pyrophane wrote: post #57
shmoogy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a galaxy fold 5 as my secondary phone and when I first got it I was trying to see what people were using on android in 2023, and fold users overwhelmingly suggested the Samsung internet browser on Reddit. It's.. fine, I was disappointed immediately as even my iPhone in native safari supports greasemonkey scripts.

Secondary phone?

Could be work phone / personal phone

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#79

Post by [deleted] »

01nate wrote: post #74

Now if they only allowed you to unlock the bootloader. Samsung makes great hardware* but it's disappointing see locked down and bloated devices that only gets security updates for a few years IF you pay full price when they come out. Long support periods are great, with that fixed it probably brings Samsung phones to Apple levels of quality, but I've enjoyed using my phone like a real computer instead of a locked dow…

[deleted]
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