Galaxy S24 is the most important Android phone in ages

Galaxy S24 is the most important Android phone in ages – the reason will surprise you!،

With 5 to 6 years of iOS updates and 6 to 7 years of security patches, the Apple iPhone has been the benchmark for smartphone longevity for around fifteen years now.

It goes without saying that Cupertino's commitment to extensive software support has been a major reason to buy an iPhone over an Android phone – even when talking about an older iPhone model versus to a brand new mid-range Android.

However, it turns out that one of the iPhone's most unique selling points is finally starting to lose its relevance, as after Google's Pixel 8 series, it's now Google's all-new Galaxy S24 series. Samsung, which comes with a 7-year OS and security promise. updates – so you can keep using your expensive Android flagship phone at least until flying cars are real.

All joking aside, Google and Samsung's commitment to supporting flagship phones twice as long as just a few years ago is a huge deal for users! In fact, this might be the biggest upgrade with each new Galaxy S24 the model brings this year…

Groundbreaking flagships Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra join Google Pixel 8 to become the most future-proof Android phone ever

Even though the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 both promise 7 years of OS updates, Google's flagships will be the first to get them.

With a promise of 7 years of OS updates on the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series of phones, Samsung and Google now have a head start on the rest of the Android pack.

To be clear, there are two types of people: those who know about software updates and get excited every time they use their phone, and those who are still using the old version of Android/iOS and don't press the update button only when there is a problem. with their phone (hoping for a solution).

And while people are keeping their phones longer than ever, most tend to buy a new phone every 3 to 5 years, meaning they'll never take full advantage of the promised seven OS updates . Wait then… Are software updates really important?! Of course they do!

Despite the promise of 7 major operating system updates, the Galaxy S24 The series won't update as quickly as the Pixel and iPhone. Google and Apple flagships are always the first to receive new iOS and Android versions, while Samsung flagships tend to be updated gradually, 2-4 months later, depending on your region.

Google and Samsung's promise of 7 years of OS updates makes the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 more valuable and amazing than you think

The Galaxy S24 is the most important Android phone in ages – the reason will surprise you!

Not to go too far, but imagine the value the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series will bring once they turn a year old. $400-600 for flagship phones with 6 years of OS updates? What about high-end cameras? And the flagship chips? And… you understand.

If there's one thing smartphone users love, it's getting a good deal, and that's why Pixel 8 And Galaxy S24 are now the most valuable Android flagships ever released. Sure, a “good deal” can mean buying a phone on sale, but it also means buying a used/refurbished phone that's 1-2 years old.

If Pixel 8 And Galaxy S24 prices on the resale market will hold up much better than older models, that's one thing (I'm guessing it won't), but the great thing is that buying a old used/refurbished Samsung/Google flagship now seems like a definite no. -Brainer.

On the contrary, mid-range phones like the Pixel 7a Galaxy A54 may soon no longer be able to match the value offered by older flagships from Google and Samsung. Of course, we will have to wait until Pixel 8 And Galaxy S24 become affordable enough for this to be true. The good news is that the Pixel 8 can already be found for as little as $500 if you shop around.

It's important to note that while Google and Samsung's promise of 7 years of OS updates seems… promising, we've never seen a 5-7 year old Pixel/Galaxy phone running the latest version of Android. In other words, the Galaxy S24 might be able to run Android 20, but would it be able to run it smoothly? Unlike the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra, the cheaper Galaxy S24 only has 8GB of RAM, which could become a bit of a hindrance in the future.

All eyes are on Apple: will the iPhone 16 match the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 with a promise of 7 iOS updates? We may have to wait another seven years to see…

Apple doesn't explicitly state how many iOS updates you can expect with your new iPhone. Apple also doesn't disclose battery capacity, RAM, storage speeds, camera sensor information, and other top secret specifications.

Of course, no phone exists in isolation, and although Apple was a “pioneer” when it came to long-term software support, Cupertino now finds itself in an interesting position: one of the runners-up.

According to Apple's unwritten rule, iPhones receive 5-6 iOS updates, which means that Pixel 8 And Galaxy S24 expected to receive 1-2 more OS updates compared to the iPhone 15 series.

Now, Apple doesn't specify how many updates each iPhone is supposed to receive, which is why I doubt Tim Cook & Co will start doing that now. Instead, it's more likely that Apple decides to take advantage of the iPhone's powerful hardware and simply push a few more updates to phones like the iPhone15 and iPhone 16 once they are 6-7 years old.

The fact that Apple's iPhone 15 is the only smartphone running on a 3nm chip should make it relatively future-proof. Then again, the vanilla iPhone 15 only has 6GB of RAM, which serves it pretty well, but what about five years and five iOS updates later?

Samsung's commitment to long-term software support inspires other Android phone makers to do better

If you were to buy a Galaxy S24 Ultra right now, you'd get 7 major OS updates compared to 3 with the Galaxy S23 Ultra (already updated to Android 14).

Overall, Google and Samsung seem to be turning what was once one of Android's biggest weaknesses (compared to the iPhone) into a real selling point, and it's great to see.

As someone who writes about phones, I'm glad I no longer have to consider the realm of software support when giving buying advice on flagships from Google, Samsung, and Apple. Instead, I can focus on comparing other areas of the phones.

Better yet, I have a strong feeling that Google and Samsung's software commitment will challenge other phone makers to up their game, which means OnePlus, Motorola, and Xiaomi users should rejoice too… Eh well, maybe not yet, but you get the point. In fact, Google and Samsung's push for longer software support has already spurred many brands to compete.

OnePlus and Xiaomi now offer 4 years of OS upgrades on their flagship phones, while Xiaomi (known for being slow to push updates) now offers 3 years of OS and 4 years of security updates with mid-range and even some budget devices.

Are you likely to keep your Galaxy S24 for seven years?