iPhone vs Pixel vs Galaxy: Which Gets Updates Longest?

Updated 2 November 2026. Checked against Google's Pixel update page, Samsung's own announcements and Apple's UK security-support statements.

Short answer: Google and Samsung now promise the longest support in writing. Every Pixel from the Pixel 8 onwards gets seven years of Android and security updates, and Samsung's Galaxy S phones get seven as well. Apple doesn't promise a number of years for iOS upgrades, but in practice it's just as good: iOS 27 still runs on the iPhone 11 from 2019. Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A phones get six years.

If you're shopping a new handset and the hard cap is $500, I also compared the current best budget phones under $500 with verified USD and INR prices.

If you keep phones for a long time, this matters more than a slightly better camera. A phone that stops getting security updates gets riskier to use for banking and payments every month after that. Here's how the three big brands compare.

Jump to:

• Update support compared (table)
• Google Pixel
• Samsung Galaxy
• Apple iPhone
• The EU rule that helps everyone
• Which should you pick?
• How to check your own phone
• FAQ

Update support compared

The end dates are my own maths from each company's rule, so treat them as approximate.

Google Pixel

Google's policy is the simplest to read. Its Pixel update page says the Pixel 8 and every later model get 7 years of OS and security updates, counted from when the phone first went on sale in the US Google Store. That list now runs from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 11 series, and includes the cheaper "a" models like the Pixel 9a and 10a.

So a Pixel 10, which went on sale in August 2025, is covered to about August 2032. A Pixel 10a, which went on sale on 5 March 2026, is covered to about March 2033.

Older models get less. The Pixel 6, 6a, 7, 7a and the first Pixel Fold get five years. The Pixel 5a and anything older no longer get updates at all.

One thing to keep in mind: the clock starts at launch, not when you buy. A Pixel 8 bought new today has about four years left, not seven.

Samsung Galaxy

Samsung's promise depends on the series.

• Galaxy S flagships (S24 and newer): seven generations of Android and One UI upgrades and seven years of security updates, counted from the phone's first global launch.
• Galaxy A57 5G and A37 5G: Samsung's March 2026 announcement promises "up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades, along with up to six years of security updates" from the first global launch.

Note the "up to". Samsung also says timing can vary by model and market, and it's true that Galaxy updates often reach some countries and carriers weeks later than others. Samsung lists which models still get monthly, quarterly or occasional security patches on its security updates page.

Cheaper Galaxy phones and older models usually have shorter promises, so check that page before buying an older model on sale.

Apple iPhone

Apple has never published a fixed number of years for iOS upgrades. What it does publish, because UK law requires it, is a minimum security-support period. Its UK statement for the iPhone 17 promises security updates for at least five years from its first supply date of 19 September 2025. You can find these documents on Apple's regulatory information page.

Five years is a legal minimum, though, not what Apple usually does. iOS 27, released in September 2026, didn't drop any iPhones. It still supports the iPhone 11 series and the iPhone SE (2nd generation), so the iPhone 11 is getting major updates seven years after launch. Apple also often releases security fixes for the previous iOS version for phones that can't upgrade.

In practice, then, iPhones match the seven years Google and Samsung promise. The difference is that with Google and Samsung you have it in writing.

The EU rule that helps everyone

Since 20 June 2025, new EU ecodesign rules have applied to smartphones sold there. Makers must keep providing operating system updates for at least five years after they stop selling a model in the EU. That's counted from the end of sales, not from launch, so it can mean even longer support. Since few brands make separate versions for Europe, this tends to help buyers everywhere.

Which should you pick?

• Want the longest written promise for the money: a Pixel "a" model. The Pixel 10a gets the same seven years as the flagship Pixels. Comparing 10a to last year’s a-series? Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a covers the rest of the hardware gap.
• Want Android and the most choice: a Galaxy S phone for seven years, or a Galaxy A57 or A37 for six.
• Already on iPhone: stay. Apple's track record is long, even if it doesn't write a number down.
• Buying an older model on sale: work out how much support is left. The years count from launch, so a two-year-old phone has two fewer years.

How to check your own phone

Android: open Settings > About phone (or Settings > Security & privacy on newer phones) and look for Android security update. If the date there is more than three or four months old and no update is waiting, your phone may be out of support.

iPhone: open Settings > General > Software Update. If it says your iPhone is up to date but shows an old iOS version, check Apple's list of supported iPhones for the current release.

Related guides: if this turns out to be part of a bigger problem, my guide to fixing a phone that charges slowly is where I'd go next. Two others that pair well with this one: a smartwatch that won't sync and moving WhatsApp chats to a new phone.

FAQ

Which phone brand gives the longest software updates?

Google and Samsung both promise seven years for their current flagships, and Google gives its cheaper Pixel "a" phones seven years too. Apple has no stated policy, but its phones usually get major updates for six to seven years.

Do seven years of updates start when I buy the phone?

No. Google counts from the first US Google Store sale and Samsung from the first global launch. Buying a phone later doesn't extend its support.

Is it safe to use a phone that no longer gets updates?

It still works, but new security holes won't be fixed. I'd avoid using it for banking, payments or work email once it's more than a few months past its last update.

Do budget phones get fewer updates?

Often, but not always. The Pixel 10a gets the full seven years and the Galaxy A57 and A37 get six. Cheaper models from many brands get less, so check before you buy.

More help

If a recent update made your phone worse, see my guides to fixing iOS 27 battery drain and fixing Pixel lag on Android 17.