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Phones Now Get 7 Years of Updates. Here's What That Means for Buying Used
Samsung and Google now support their flagships for 7 years. A 2-year-old refurbished phone can have 5 years of updates left.
Samsung and Google now promise 7 years of software and security updates on their flagship phones. That means a two-year-old refurbished Galaxy S24 or Pixel 8 still has around five years of updates left. Buying used just got a lot safer.
What changed
For years, Android phones got two or three years of major updates. After that, no new features and, eventually, no security fixes. That was the biggest reason not to buy an older Android phone.
Google changed that with the Pixel 8 in October 2023: 7 years of OS and security updates. Samsung followed with the Galaxy S24 in January 2024, also 7 years. Samsung has since extended long support to cheaper phones too, with models like the Galaxy A16 5G promised six years of updates.
Apple has never published a fixed number, but iPhones have typically been supported for six years or more. In a 2024 UK regulatory filing, Apple committed to at least five years of security updates for the iPhone 15 from when it first went on sale.
How long your phone is supported
| Phone | Launched | Updates promised until |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel 8 | Oct 2023 | 2030 |
| Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra | Jan 2024 | 2031 |
| Galaxy S24 FE | Oct 2024 | 2031 |
| Galaxy S25 series | Feb 2025 | 2032 |
| Galaxy S23 series | Feb 2023 | 4 OS upgrades, 5 years security (2028) |
Exact dates vary by model and are set by the manufacturer. Check the brand's own support page for your model.
What this means for you
- Refurbished flagships are the sweet spot. You skip the steepest drop in price and still get years of updates.
- Check the launch date, not just the price. A cheap phone near the end of its support is worse value than it looks.
- Batteries are now the limit, not software. Most batteries wear down in two to three years, so a battery swap or a Premium-grade phone with a new battery makes sense.
- Your old phone is worth more. Longer support means better resale value. Check what yours is worth.
Our take
This is the best thing to happen to used phones in years. A phone with long support is a safe buy even if someone else owned it first, as long as it's been properly tested. Not sure what to look for? Read new vs used vs refurbished.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-owned from $323.99, tested by real technicians with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.