Latest Android version

MikeJXE

I know I'm an Apple fan and Half my family have Android they swear by, they don't do banking on them like I do. 

Regarding security Android cannot compete with Apple 

Apple upgrades go back about 6 years and critical updates longer than that, Android 2/3 I'm not sure 

You could by a refurbished IPhone and that will have all the critical update for years ahead. 

k_man

Android security updates for Google and Samsung Galaxy phones are provided for 5 years, so much closer to Apple than historically.
Cheaper Samsung, and other brands can be much shorter, although this is getting better too (IIRC Google and EU are pushing for mandatory 5 years)

This means buying cheap models, or older models can mean not actually saving much in the long term, if you want to stay secure, as you may need to buy 2 or 3 extra new mobiles to stay current.

Pixel Xa models tend to be some of the best value for features Vs cost Vs supported life.

400ixl

Grumpy_chap said:

400ixl said:

Your phone may be going strong as in it is working, but is it still up to date with security updates?

Not from what you advised a couple of posts up thread.

I am at longer length of ownership and lower cost unit.  I am not sure how great the risk profile is as I call, text, browse the web and that's about it.  I can't do anything financial on the phone down to lack of knowledge and trust.

Before, the Samsung Galaxy S series would only last 2 years.  I had the 2 and then the 4.  They got too expensive.

Going strong was your term, I was then questioning whether that included the status of its support. So exactly the same as a couple of posts up the thread. Working and secure as can be are different things.

Given your use, the risk profile is going to be lower than many on a smart phone. 

mongoose2009

buy a pixel 6 or 7

3 updates and 5 yrs of patches

J_B

MikeJXE said:

I know I'm an Apple fan and Half my family have Android they swear by, they don't do banking on them like I do. 

Regarding security Android cannot compete with Apple 

Apple upgrades go back about 6 years and critical updates longer than that, Android 2/3 I'm not sure 

You could by a refurbished IPhone and that will have all the critical update for years ahead. 

But, you can buy an Android phone for a third of the price of an I Phone, so Android would work out cheaper (MSE and all that )

Downthedrain

I bought a Motorola G31 in October after reading that it's on the upgrade list to Android 12, which even then was long overdue. It now looks to be stalled completely and I regret buying this brand and model. I should have taken notice of the product reviews. I managed to squeeze 6 years out of my last Samsung by installing Lineage OS, but it's quite involved to do this and you can't run banking apps. It did give the phone a new lease of life until the battery died, which then was not cost-effective to replace.

liggerz87

Downthedrain said:

I bought a Motorola G31 in October after reading that it's on the upgrade list to Android 12, which even then was long overdue. It now looks to be stalled completely and I regret buying this brand and model. I should have taken notice of the product reviews. I managed to squeeze 6 years out of my last Samsung by installing Lineage OS, but it's quite involved to do this and you can't run banking apps. It did give the phone a new lease of life until the battery died, which then was not cost-effective to replace.

If you look on XDA they have found ways to get banking apps to work it's a pretty good place but as you had leange you prob know about it

liggerz87

Op if you get flagship Samsung they will get update of security for 5 years and 4 years of os updates they are doing the same on the mod range phones but that prob be last year's and this year's then there is pixel 6 range and 7 that offer 5 years security and 3 years of os updates they update on the first Monday of the month

PHK

J_B said:

MikeJXE said:

I know I'm an Apple fan and Half my family have Android they swear by, they don't do banking on them like I do. 

Regarding security Android cannot compete with Apple 

Apple upgrades go back about 6 years and critical updates longer than that, Android 2/3 I'm not sure 

You could by a refurbished IPhone and that will have all the critical update for years ahead. 

But, you can buy an Android phone for a third of the price of an I Phone, so Android would work out cheaper (MSE and all that )

A proper MSE approach would be to look at the total cost of ownership over the desired life of the phone; of which the initial outlay is only a part albeit significant. Some other costs that need to be considered include how much a battery replacement will be ( or even if a new battery will be available) , minor repairs and maintenance, cost of accessories, cost of any necessary apps or services needed. 

So it’s definitely worth considering the overall cost over the desired lifetime before buying. 

eg Considering battery replacement for a phone with initial outlay of around £300

Refurbished iPhone 11 (for comparison as will get the next three OS upgrades and continuing security updates similar to the others) Battery replacement is £69 (on the spot in an Apple Store or post in)

Oppo FindX Pro £30.74 +labour + delivery + VAT (mail in replacement)

Samsung A52 £139 (comes to you or take to service centre)

Incidentally, Motorola don’t seem to publish prices but third parties quote around £50 for battery replacement for something like a G30. A DIY kit for a technical person is around £30

MikeJXE

J_B said:

MikeJXE said:

I know I'm an Apple fan and Half my family have Android they swear by, they don't do banking on them like I do. 

Regarding security Android cannot compete with Apple 

Apple upgrades go back about 6 years and critical updates longer than that, Android 2/3 I'm not sure 

You could by a refurbished IPhone and that will have all the critical update for years ahead. 

But, you can buy an Android phone for a third of the price of an I Phone, so Android would work out cheaper (MSE and all that )

Yes I agree you can but I can keep my iPhone longer with the current software updates going for 6 years instead of Android 2 years plus and more importantly

I can go into an Apple Store with a 10 year old iPhone and they fix any software issues free of charge 

My iPhone syncs seamlessly with my iPad and Macbook

We are all different and have different opinions on anything we buy.