If you own an Android phone, you might be surprised to discover that it has a worrying expiry date. These devices only receive vital security updates and feature upgrades for a limited number of years, and some go out of date far sooner than you might think.
Understanding Android updates
Android updates come in two forms. Firstly, there are Android version drops, which are major changes that Google rolls out each year, bringing new functionality to phones. Then there are urgent Android security updates that instantly patch system bugs and flaws, released regularly throughout the year.
Support varies by manufacturer
Although most Android manufacturers, such as Samsung and Google, have now increased the number of years that devices are supported, many older models are not so lucky. For example, the latest Galaxy S26 phones and Pixel devices get security and Android updates for seven years. However, older Galaxy A-series smartphones are only supported for four years. Things get even worse for owners of some Xiaomi and Motorola devices, as these are only supported for three years.
How to check your phone's end-of-life date
If you want to know how long your Android device has left before it stops getting updates, there’s a very helpful website that will reveal all. Just check which model you have in the Settings menu and then head to endoflife.date. Here you’ll find all phone models along with their upgrade cycles and when things are coming to an end. There are even amber and red alerts displayed when termination is imminent or support has already been discontinued.
What happens when support ends?
If your device has hit its end of life, you can still use it to make calls and send texts. However, it won’t get any new upgrades or features and it could be at greater risk from cyber attacks. As the team at TechAdvisor explains, “It’s particularly risky to continue using it for online banking, shopping and accessing email accounts or password managers. Security vulnerabilities that are no longer patched can be exploited by malware.”
So, check your phone, see when it’s about to lose support and consider when you might need to buy something new.
