In a recent interview, Kinder Liu, the President of OnePlus, expressed skepticism over Samsung and Google’s commitment to providing seven years of Android and security updates for their smartphones. He argued that the focus on prolonged software updates misses the mark and does not necessarily lead to the best user experience.
Comparative Software Support Strategies
OnePlus has taken a divergent path with the release of its OnePlus 12, providing four years of Android updates and five years of security patches. Liu justified this strategy during his interview with Tom’s Guide, emphasizing that OnePlus prioritizes a balance between hardware performance and software longevity. He implied that offering updates beyond a certain point might be redundant due to the inevitable hardware degradation.
Testing for Longevity and Performance
OnePlus has partnered with TÜV SUD to conduct rigorous tests on the OnePlus 12 and 12R models, aiming to deliver a sustained “fast and smooth” user experience for at least four years. This testing aligns with the company’s philosophy that the fluency of the phone’s operation is as critical as its software update policy.
Liu also highlighted the limitations of hardware, particularly the battery, which usually begins to degrade after a few years. He questioned whether devices could still perform effectively after four to five years and suggested that advancements in chipsets might encourage users to upgrade sooner.
The President of OnePlus used a food analogy to convey his message, comparing a smartphone to a sandwich. He explained that while manufacturers promise long-lasting software (the filling), they fail to address the potential for a deteriorated user experience (the bread) over time.
In the rapidly advancing world of consumer electronics, the debate over software updates and hardware performance continues. OnePlus’s stance represents a belief that the overall quality of the smartphone experience should not be compromised for the sake of extended update policies.
