Thread 106404709

Google Pixel 7a stops getting software updates in a year. I've had this phone for 2 years now... and I have to buy a new one already!? Which phone should I buy that will let me have updates for at least 5+ years?

Fucking stop. They aren't developing safety or features, keep your working phone now

iphone

>>106404784
Software updates are a must-have unless you want to live in the stone age
>>106404896
no

>>106404709 (OP)
Install graphene

GrapheneOS keeps getting updates, install that.

>>106405018
I can still use all apps from the play store? My bank app is important

>>106405033
It isn't.

>>106404709 (OP)
>>106404936
>Software updates are a must-have
Why? Your phone has 3 main functions:
>Communication (SMS, GSM calls, VoIP, email)
Communication standards have remained identical for the last 10+ years. The only thing that changed with 3G/4G/5G was bandwidth upgrades. It's functionally complete.
>Web browsing
Browsers get updated outside of OS. Also functionally complete for simple pages, anything else shouldn't be browsed on mobile anyway.
>Multimedia (music, video, YT etc)
Functionally complete.
All main usecases of a phone are complete. There is nothing more to update. Treat it less like "abandoned" and more like "done". Finished. Complete. Implemented.
>inb4 security/privacy/whatever
GrapheneOS. It's also functionally complete and rarely adds new features, but has much better security than stock Android/AOSP and ships updates regularly. It's even better because you get a blank slate instead of shitty jewgle SaaS apps.
>inb4 GrapheneOS will drop support too
LineageOS. That will have support for literally the next 20+ years if not more.
Install FDroid, then from there: Fossify phone, messages, contacts, clock. Telegram FOSS, Signal, Conversations (XMPP), K-9 mail are also there. Use Vanadium for web, Tubular for YouTube. Search up your favorite offline mp3 music player and install it. Fossify provides one as well, in general any "core" phone app Fossify should be your goto.
And then... you are done. That's it. No more features, no more updates. You have every feature you need. You're simply addicted to updates and have withdrawals because jewgle brainwashed you into thinking you need theirs, and theirs only. You don't.

>>106404709 (OP)
My 6a recently started draining its battery faster ever since the new Android OS released.

I think its 100% intentional to force me to buy a new phone.

>>106404709 (OP)
good goy, just buy more products.

>>106404709 (OP)
My phone is from 2018 and still works fine. It stopped getting OS updates a good while ago.

>>106404709 (OP)
>using oem roms
just buy an iphone if you're too retarded for android

>>106404709 (OP)
that makes it 3 years? you think those russians are abusing college/master students, who go back to china, india,... afterwards?

>>106405238
>here bro just do these 200 steps to get a half working device just trust me bro
meds

>>106404709 (OP)
Get a rooted phone with GSI images or LineageOS. Downside is of course that you will have to install the OS, maybe even reinstall it at some point during an update to another ROM.

> Which phone should I buy that will let me have updates for at least 5+ years?
This doesn't make the phone makers money, duh. They want money.

In theory there could be something like a fairphone ubuntu version but it all sucks, not least since that too doesn't make enough money. Phones ultimately are high tech hardware plus high tech software.

>>106406448
GrapheneOS install with web installer is trivial. 1 step, 20 minutes max.
Installing F-Droid is another step, ~2 minutes.
Installing 6 apps by searching and tapping "install", assuming 10 sec to find each app and they download in the background, 60 seconds.

3 steps, 23 minutes, most of which is spent waiting for GrapheneOS to download/install.

You asked for a solution for your phone not being updated anymore. I offered one. I don't know what else you want from me.

>>106404709 (OP)
OS updates? Not very relevant, sweetie. You just need your apps to update, the phone doesn't matter in this context outside of simply working. If it still works, you are good to go, that's how anyone who isn't an idiot handles these things. The minority (and fucktarded) are the fools obsessed with being in the current or switching devices annually or biannually or whatever. Not my problem, and don't make it yours. Try talking to common folks more often, too.

>>106404709 (OP)
>Which phone should I buy that will let me have updates for at least 5+ years?


Google Pixel 9 / 8 / 10 series 7 years
Samsung Galaxy S24 / S25 7 years
Apple iPhone 6 years
Fairphone 5 5 years (8 years - security updates)
Nothing Phone 3 5 years (7 years - security updates)
Motorola Edge 50 Neo 5 years


Software update support is measured from the phone’s release date, not when you buy it. So if a phone launched in January 2025 and offers five years of updates, it will be supported until January 2030

On the bright side, Google is doing some bullshit next year with sideloading so you can get an iPhone or some shit instead...

functionally complete anon has a point. part of why so many updates seem like senseless aesthetic changes or actively break older stuff is because everything important has already been done and works, but acknowledging this would put them out of a job or at least lower profit margins

>>106409074
A fact relevant, per my opinion, to the efforts we see cited in another thread up right now.

>>106404709 (OP)
>pixel
Don't worry, the hardware will let you down before you run out of software support.

>>106409129
idk, my 5a with graphene is still working fine

>>106404709 (OP)
It'll still get security updates so who cares, just install grapheneos

>>106404936
For the iUsers maybe, but android achieves long-time support at the app level
But nowadays major android apps still support android versions from 2017
Current versions of Androidx (main android dev library) and Google play services still support Android 5.0 from 2014

ITT

Why do I need to buy a new phone? Why should I not be able to keep it for 10-15 years?

>>106405382
It's to prevent the battery from exploding and kicks in once you have charged around 400 cycles on your battery.
>sauce: my battery in my 6a puffed up
best solution would be to replace your battery and install GrapheneOS, but make sure to have a heated tool to take the adhesive off. Otherwise it takes about 20 minutes to scrape it all off with a spudger.

>>106404709 (OP)
I have a pixel 7 and i threw graphene on it. I will continue to receive updates

install Lineage or Graphene, faggot.

Take it as a reason to abandon this piece of trash for either a iphone or a sony. Unfortunately I fell for the software updoot meme and bought a pixel 8 pro when I should have opted for a sony (the only android brand that doesn't intentionally fuck you in the ass). I don't even play games or do anything fancy on this fuckass phone, I have no idea why I thought it was so important.
Seriously, do not consider another pixel or samshit or whatever again. Android will be on its deathbed in a few months so there is no reason not to buy iPhones anymore unless you want a headphone jack and strong battery (sony).

>>106412354
Because Planned Obsolescence has been a lucrative business model for decades.

Who cares? Just keep using it.
Unless you download shaky apps from f-droid is see no reason to upgroot

>>106404936
>Software updates
software updates != phone software updates
you can easily use it for another 4-5 years.