With Apple devices, the information regarding the security patches and updates has not been clearly laid out, contrary to Google and Samsung’s approach, which does not shy away from sharing the details on the update timeline. Recently, as part of UK regulation compliance, the company had to give away specific details on the upgrades, which has led to some surprising revelations.
Apple’s support period for the iPhone 15 Pro Max is less than that of Google and Samsung, leaving users baffled
The UK’s Product Security and Telecommunication Infrastructure regulation was passed and made effective on April 29, 2024. It required for the internet-enabled devices to submit a statement of compliance explaining their support period. As an obligation to fulfill the requirement, Apple submitted its compliance statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as the Android Authority reported, and it is not what we expected.
The software support period signifies the defined time period for which the company will provide security updates. The period for phone support is listed as a minimum of five years from the date of sale. The supply date given for the iPhone 15 lineup is September 22, 2023, as the guaranteed security updates are applicable until September 22, 2028, which makes five years for the iPhone-maker. Meanwhile, Google and Samsung have longer software support.
Google, with the Pixel 8 series, has committed to providing support for the lineup for seven years and would apparently be the standard to be followed afterward. The company, however, did not previously offer security updates for an extended period of time and were merely three years, but then with Pixel 6, it changed its game and went up to 5 years.
Samsung, on the other hand, promised seven years of support with the Galaxy S24 variants this year but did not state whether this would apply to other devices as well. Other Android companies have not matched this extended support, and OnePlus even went on to express that support to that level cannot be committed.
In Apple’s defense, the company has, without declaration, provided generally five years of security patches and upgrades for iPhone devices over the years. So, for now, Google and Samsung might have taken the lead for software support, but if you look at the devices launched by the company as a whole, some of the iPhone models got six years and even more support right after launch. So there is still time for the competition to catch up when it comes to other devices. iPhone users are still hoping that Apple support will not be discontinued after the stated minimum five-year period.