The hardware of a smartphone is as good as its software. Especially with Android phones, security patches and Android version updates elevate the experience of using the phone. Unlike Apple, who controls both the software and hardware for its devices, Android phones are segmented. Hence it depends on manufacturers to provide timely updates to their phones. With this context, as per Counterpoint, a technology market research firm, Nokia leads the pack with nearly 96% of Nokia smartphones sold since Q3 2018 are running on Android Pie (9.0) or have received the update.
With consumers holding on to their device for more than a year, they often look up to the phone manufacturer to provide timely software updates. After Nokia, a surprise entry – Lenovo has been delivering the latest updates to its devices.
Commenting on the performance of smartphone brands, Associate Director, Tarun Pathak, highlighted, “Among the top 10 smartphone makers, nearly 96% of Nokia smartphones, sold cumulatively since Q3 2018, is already running on Android Pie or have had an Android Pie update issued to them. Samsung closely follows Nokia with 89% and Xiaomi with 84%. Xiaomi is good at ensuring its mid-price range products launch with the latest version of Android.”
The Korean giant, Samsung has also not been regular in providing updates to its devices. There have been a lot of delays from Samsung in the past releasing a new version of Android for its devices.
Often manufacturers want to release the latest update to their flagship phones of the year. Other devices come at a low priority. Google releases the beta version of its upcoming Android OS to manufacturers almost 6 months before Google releases the final version.
In terms of timely software updates, there is no comparison of Apple. iOS 13, the next major update will also be released to a 2015 device, iPhone 6S.
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