Using a $1000 Samsung Galaxy phone? You deserve 3 years of software updates

Hello Folks, I am writing this article because I have been using the Samsung Galaxy phones since 2014. Let me tell you my story. I am currently using the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, bought them for $1299.99 and $1599.99 respectively.

I still have the Galaxy Note 9, it was my first $1000 phone, the successor of the great and fabulous Galaxy Note 8. I paid $1249.99 for the 512GB variant, the standard variant was available for $999.99. I love the Galaxy Note lineup, the Note 9 is still doing great, the hardware is still good. It can perform any task, mostly similar to the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, of course, no 5G support but it has the same S Pen, outstanding display, and battery life is acceptable.

There’s a disappointing thing about this $1000 phone:- Samsung’s software upgrade policy. Samsung only provides 2 major Android software updates to its smartphones. You can understand my pain, right?

My Galaxy Note 9 has already received the Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update, which was the second (probably the last) major Android OS update. Based on several reports, the device is going to receive the One UI 2.1 in a few weeks but it won’t get Android 11. That’s not what we (you and me) want. Well, you paid more than $1000 for a phone, which is less than 2 years old and won’t be eligible for the next version of Android.

This is the same for the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and S20 Ultra 5G. The Note 10+ 5G came pre-installed with the Android 9 Pie and has received the Android 10-based One UI 2.0 (currently running the One UI 2.1). The device won’t get any major OS update after Android 11 or One UI 3.0. Just imagine, how much you paid for this phone – $1300. I am not complaining. OK… Read ahead.

Let’s come to the latest flagship phone – Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G – $1600 phone. This phone is truly a phone from the future with 5G enabled, can record 8K video, 108MP camera with up to 100X zoom, 512GB of internal storage, 16GB of RAM, 5000mAh battery, 6.9-inch 120Hz display, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset.

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Look at the specs and say to me, this phone only deserves 2 major Android OS updates. When you (Samsung) are asking more than $1000 for a phone, which featured the best hardware combination. The company doesn’t have any other excuse left to not provide a satisfactory software update cycle.

Of course, the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G won’t just stop working after it gets those two major Android updates, but this is still a shame given the price tags.

Let’s forget about the price, Samsung’s flagship smartphones now have much better hardware (at least in the US, thanks to Qualcomm – you have my sympathy Exynos users), but the software update cycle is unchanged.

As a smartphone manufacturer, it is fine to give 2 years of software updates but not as a smartphone user. There are many disappointing users, they are not happy because their smartphones are not eligible for the next major software update.

Two years of software updates are no longer enough for the phones worth $1000 or more. That needs to change. I am not expecting the 4-5 years of support like Apple, but it should be at least 3 years of support. Google is doing the same, they have the best software update policy in all Android smartphone makers. Google updated the first-gen Pixel phone with Android 10, which is the third Android OS update for the phone.

Google is giving three Android OS updates for Pixel phones. Samsung needs to follow suit. Samsung needs to start thinking about changing the software update policy, not just for the flagships but also for the mid-range phones.

A suggestion for Samsung, there’s a $399 phone (iPhone SE 2020), which will get software updates for at least 5 years. Hopefully, Samsung will change its mind over time.

You and Me, we all deserve at least 3 major software updates. Are you agree, of course, you are. Let me know your opinion in the comments below.

This article is written by Robin Williams.

[About Robin Williams (@SamsungCentral1): Robin and his friends started a Samsung fan blog (www.samsungcentral.com), but later Samsung took down the website without any reason.]