Android’s biggest problem is fragmentation. Not a lot of phones are upgraded to the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system on time, or at all.
Vivo X60 Pro – for reference
Most OEMs only provide 2 years of Android updates for their devices. But Vivo has promised three years of Android upgrades for some of its phones.
The only other companies to do this are Google and Samsung. While Google’s policy applies to all Pixel series phones, it is not the same with Samsung. This upgrade policy is exclusive to the brands premium phones, so the mid-rangers don’t get the same treatment. Nokia is an exeption, as it is the only brand that supports Android OS upgrades for its entire lineup of phones.
Vivo promises three years of Android upgrades for future X series devices
Circling back to Vivo’s press announcement, the brand says that it will provide three years of Android upgrades for its future X series flagship phones. It is worth noting the word future, because it implies that the current X series devices don’t come under this policy.
The new upgrade policy applies to X series phones sold in India, Australia and Europe. The company’s Senior Vice President and CTO, Yujian Shi, also stated that X series phones that are not eligible for the upgrade will still continue to be supported, with regular Android security updates.
This is a welcome move from Vivo, and we hope that other OEMs take notice. Hopefully, there will come a day when mid-range phones receive the same treatment.