An Android update policy is a manufacturer’s commitment to supply operating system and security updates for a set number of years. Google and Samsung now promise seven years on recent flagships, and policies differ by brand and model.
Update length is one of the specs covered in the guide on how to choose a smartphone, because it decides how long a phone stays supported after purchase.
What an update policy covers
A policy usually promises two kinds of updates. Operating system updates move a phone to a new Android version, with new features. Security updates fix vulnerabilities and are delivered more frequently. A phone can be covered for one kind longer than the other, so the exact wording of a promise matters.
The Android Open Source Project publishes monthly Android Security Bulletins. Its overview page says that Security Bulletins are published on the first Monday of each month unless that Monday falls on a holiday. A manufacturer that follows the cycle can ship the fixes in a monthly security update, though what a particular phone receives, and when, is decided by its maker.
Google adds that delivery is not instant. In the Pixel support documentation it states that updates roll out gradually and are dependent on carrier and device, so the date a policy begins and the date a given phone gets a particular update are not the same thing.
Google Pixel policy
Google publishes its policy on a Pixel help page. According to that page, Pixel 8 and later phones will get updates for 7 years starting from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US. That includes 7 years of OS and security updates, and may also include new and upgraded features with Pixel Drops.
Earlier models have shorter terms. The same page says that the group including Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6a will get updates for 5 years from the same starting point. It also lists Pixel models that no longer receive Android version updates and security updates, which shows that a promise has an end date.
Google also explains how an owner can check. The page says to open the device’s Settings app, tap System, then Software update, where the update status is shown, and that a notification appears once an update is ready to install. Because roll-outs are gradual, a phone may show no update on a day when another owner of the same model already has one.
| Pixel models | Update period |
|---|---|
| Pixel 8 and later phones | 7 years of OS and security updates |
| Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6a | 5 years of OS and security updates |
The periods above are those stated on Google’s Pixel software update page, and each runs from the date the model first became available on the Google Store in the US.
Samsung Galaxy policy
Samsung makes a comparable commitment for its recent flagships. Its newsroom release for the Galaxy S25 series states that the series will support seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from global launch date, and adds that the timing of OS upgrades and security updates may vary by device model, network provider and market.
Samsung’s sustainability pages repeat the pledge for the Galaxy S26 series, saying the company provides seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from the initial global launch date. The wording differs slightly from Google’s. Samsung counts OS upgrades in generations, meaning Android versions, and security updates in years, while Google gives one figure for both.
Both companies state their promises as applying to named models. The policy page for the specific model is therefore the one to read, rather than a brand-wide figure.
Reading the two promises together shows why details matter. A figure of seven years could mean seven years of every kind of update, or seven OS upgrades, or seven years of security patches alone, and each reading leads to a different outcome for an owner. Neither company’s wording means that every feature announced in future will reach older hardware, since both texts speak only of OS upgrades and security updates, plus Pixel Drops in Google’s case.
Rules in the European Union
Regulators have started to set a floor. The European Union’s ecodesign regulation for smartphones, 2023/1670, establishes ecodesign requirements for the placing on the market of smartphones, other mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets. According to EUR-Lex, it applies from 20 June 2025.
On updates, the regulation requires that, from the date of end of placement on the market to at least 5 years after that date, manufacturers must make security updates, corrective updates or functionality updates to the operating system available at no cost, if they provide such updates. Security and corrective updates must be available to the user at the latest 4 months after the public release of the source code of an update of the underlying operating system, and functionality updates at the latest 6 months after.
Note the starting point. The EU requirement counts from the end of placement on the market, which is when the model leaves the market, not from launch. A phone sold for several years therefore carries a long support tail under this rule. That differs from the launch-based promises that Google and Samsung describe.
How to read a policy before buying
Four questions help compare policies. First, does the promise cover only security updates, or OS upgrades too? Second, when does the clock start, at launch, at first availability in a particular store, or at the end of sales? Third, does the promise apply to the model in the region where it will be used, given that Samsung notes timing may vary by market and network provider? Fourth, does the page say what happens at the end, including whether security-only support continues?
Software support also sits alongside hardware choices. The explainer on sub-6 vs mmwave 5G covers radio hardware, and the guide to the IP68 rating covers water resistance. Both are specs to weigh next to update length, since a long update policy does little for a phone that fails for another reason.
Google’s own page points out that other makers handle this differently: for a phone that is not a Pixel, it says to contact the manufacturer or carrier for update info. That advice applies to any brand not covered in this guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long do Pixel phones get updates?
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Pixel 8 and later phones get 7 years of OS and security updates, counted from first availability on the Google Store in the US. Pixel 6 and 7 series phones and Pixel Fold get 5 years, according to Google.
How long does Samsung support the Galaxy S25 series?
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Samsung states seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from global launch, with timing that may vary by model, network provider and market.
Does the EU set a minimum update period?
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Yes. Regulation 2023/1670 requires updates to be available at no cost for at least 5 years after the end of placement on the market, if a manufacturer provides them.
Are security updates and OS updates the same thing?
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No. An OS update moves a phone to a new Android version, while a security update fixes vulnerabilities, and a policy can promise them for different lengths of time.
