[Opinion] Despite recent progress, Android OEMs still lag behind Apple’s commitment to software updates

There are two major smartphone platforms in 2020: Apple iOS and Android OS, and they borrow features from one another in a never-ending arms race. As an Android user, I roll my eyes when Apple invents a feature Android users have enjoyed for years, and most of the tech world goes crazy for it. I prefer the Android platform but concede that Apple has one clear advantage: device software support. Let’s take a look at what this means and why the situation is not so straightforward.

Here’s the headline statistic: Apple promises the iPhone will receive iOS updates for five years from launch. Google supports Pixel smartphones for at least three years of monthly software updates, with Samsung promising two platform updates, three years of monthly updates, and a follow-up year of quarterly updates for its flagship models. Other Android-based smartphone manufacturers vary; flagships typically get longer support compared to mid-range and lower models that sometimes get a single OS upgrade if they are lucky, although Nokia is showing itself to be the exception to that rule. Google has pushed to improve software support as devices age, but Android still lags behind Apple here and the situation is not likely to change any time soon.

Why is this and does it actually matter?

The Apple approach

First, I want to set down two important rules about Apple as a business. The first is every Apple product is designed to sell another Apple product. The second is that their marketing department is very, very good.

Apple invests billions of dollars into research and development, and its approach is to design everything: hardware, firmware, software, and user experience. Apple dictates to suppliers its requirements and often uses Apple-customized parts. This detailed understanding of the hardware means Apple can better optimize devices and update the operating system platform.

This strict control of the user experience means a consistent look and feel between different products and generations. If you can use an older iPhone you can use a newer iPhone (but you will need to be shown the iOS user interface gestures).

The Android approach

Several Android original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have successful consumer electronics divisions, such as Samsung and Huawei, but these companies do not have the same cohesive structure.

No Android OEM has been able to wholly design an Android device in the same way Apple does. Samsung is the closest thanks to its semiconductor business and through working with Google on two Nexus devices, and other improvements to Android.

Although a gross oversimplification of the process, an Android OEM designs a new smartphone using a basket of parts from different vendors, before customizing and optimizing Android to work with the hardware. The manufacturer cannot optimize as well as Apple without reverse-engineering the hardware, firmware, or software. Even if permitted, this would be uneconomical and time-consuming.

The high cost of Apple control

There’s a cost associated with Apple’s tight control of the iOS ecosystem – the platform is not as flexible, and customers need to do things the Apple way. Users currently are stuck with the same basic tired interface and stock applications as the original iPhone back in 2007, because you cannot (yet) change default apps or launcher. Apple has finally invented the ability to change default apps with iOS 14, to be released later this year.

Apple also invented widgets and more customization to the home screens, boosting the number of ways iPhone users can customize their devices without jailbreaking. Finally, another way to customize your iPhone apart from changing the wallpaper and using a different case!

The same is not true of the Android platform. Chances are if you’re reading this, you already know that Android is far more customizable without rooting. On most devices, you can change the launcher, default apps, font, and size, automatically change the wallpaper, and readily use automation apps.

Apple’s software support is not the same as Android’s software support

Apple and Android also differ in how they update devices. Apple’s stock applications are baked into the operating system and are only changed with a new release of iOS. If Apple discovers a bug in a stock application it must release a whole new platform update. It also means that after five years, an iPhone no longer receives updates to stock applications.

Android releases monthly security patches for OEMs to implement in device software, as well as platform updates or new versions. But it has a different framework for delivering updates to stock or core applications – the Google Play Store. Many OEMs use this technology to deliver updated applications as it does not require a software update. This feature has been used for a decade and means OEMs do not need to synchronize their app updates with security patches or platform updates. It also means that an Android device can be running an older version of Android but be using the very latest stock application.

How long do customers keep their smartphones?

Writing in the summer of 2020, it’s difficult to answer this question based on trends we have seen in the last few years for two reasons: the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and the introduction of 5G technology.

The average length customers keep their smartphones increased in the last few years as customers balked at increasing prices and reducing improvements with new phones. The disruption and heartache caused by the COVID-19 could accelerate this trend as customers hold back on major purchases. Conversely, we may see customers encouraged to upgrade to take advantage of new 5G networks and replace aging and slower devices, especially if they’ve spent four months in lockdown with it.

Wrapping it up

Apple’s promise to keep devices up to date for five years is the longest in the industry, and it clearly defines the end of all software support for a given iPhone model. This is a feature much loved by procurement departments in big businesses, who may plan to keep a device in service for four or more years. Few private customers plan to keep a phone for five years. Apple’s noble policy of software support out to five years from launch looks like a means of selling more devices to big businesses.

Meanwhile, many Android OEMs do not clearly explain their update policy to customers (here’s one example) and take liberties when it comes to providing “regular and timely” software patches. We’ve seen Google push to keep devices up to date and introduce new technologies, and there are signs that this has helped, but the Android OS software update situation is – still – a mess. The ability to update apps is helpful but not the same as applying the security patches as part of Google’s monthly update cycle.

Few customers buy a phone to keep it for four or more years, and those that do are usually not the type to install third-party apps or even software updates. This is no excuse: Android OEMs still need to do more.

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