A new analysis reveals that while flagship models from manufacturers like Samsung and Google gain longer support, Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, TCL, Motorola and RedMagic typically offer only two major Android updates, highlighting a significant divide in the industry’s support commitments.
Long software support is becoming one of the clearest divides in the smartphone market, yet a new BGR assessment suggests that several Chinese brands still trail the best-known rivals. The publication’s review of major handset makers placed Motorola, Xiaomi, TCL and RedMagic among the weakest performers for operating-system longevity, with some models receiving only two major Android upgrades.
BGR said Motorola’s support policy is particularly limited at the top end, with even flagship devices typically eligible for just two versions of Android. Xiaomi fared better on paper, because certain premium models are promised as much as five years of updates, but the outlet said most of the company’s phones still receive only two significant Android releases. That leaves a wide gap between the brand’s cheapest and most expensive devices, even though Xiaomi often sells at lower prices than many competitors.
The same report singled out TCL for offering no more than two years of support across much of its range, reflecting its focus on the mid-range market. RedMagic, the gaming brand, was also criticised for offering only two major Android updates despite charging premium prices for its devices. The BGR ranking comes at a time when long-term support has become a major buying criterion, especially as phones are kept longer and software updates are increasingly tied to security.
By contrast, other manufacturers have pushed hard in the opposite direction. Gizmochina reported that Samsung, Google, Apple and OnePlus are among the firms setting the pace for extended support, with Google promising seven years of Android updates, security patches and feature drops for its recent Pixel devices. TechRadar has also noted that public update commitments have become more important as buyers compare how long their phones will remain secure and usable.
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