Right now I have a Google Huawei Nexus 6P, support for it will end this October (thanks google). I am considering jumping ship to HTC due to a few things: Sense being very Stock-ish, Speakers, and Optics. I am curious on how HTC's reliability is with Android Security Updates. I am aware on the full version changes (6.0 -> 7.0 -> 7.1) it will be nowhere near as fast as I am used to, but I am very curious about HTC's track record with providing timely security updates and how long they tend to support their phones.
@anthonyjc2010 said:
I am very curious about HTC's track record with providing timely security updates and how long they tend to support their phones.
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Better than average OEM, but still not great. They tend to keep their flagships alive for at least two years, e.g. HTC One m9 released in March of 2015 is still being updated but I highly doubt it will get Android O.
My EMEA unlocked One m9 is currently on Nougat 7.0 with security patch February 1st, and EMEA unlocked HTC 10 Lifestyle is on Nougat 7.0 with security patch December 1st 2016. Carrier's versions in Europe are usually updated shortly after Unlocked, that rule does not apply to USA.
TL;DR: If you want bleeding-edge updates Pixel is the only way to go; if not, then HTC is fairly reliable*.
*applies only to flagships, HTC abandoned some of their budget devices shortly after release.
buttie said:
Better than average OEM, but still not great. They tend to keep their flagships alive for at least two years, e.g. HTC One m9 released in March of 2015 is still being updated but I highly doubt it will get Android O.
My EMEA unlocked One m9 is currently on Nougat 7.0 with security patch February 1st, and EMEA unlocked HTC 10 Lifestyle is on Nougat 7.0 with security patch December 1st 2016. Carrier's versions in Europe are usually updated shortly after Unlocked, that rule does not apply to USA.
TL;DR: If you want bleeding-edge updates Pixel is the only way to go; if not, then HTC is fairly reliable*.
*applies only to flagships, HTC abandoned some of their budget devices shortly after release.
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Does HTC release the OTA's for the unlocked device?
I guess official RUU's will be available since it's not a VZW restricted device?
fuzzynco said:
Does HTC release the OTA's for the unlocked device?
I guess official RUU's will be available since it's not a VZW restricted device?
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HTC US does not officially release the US Unlocked OTAs, but links to them get captured and posted here on XDA and the zips also get re-hosted on AFH. US Unlocked RUUs are usually posted by HTC US a bit after the corresponding OTA starts rolling out, but again the links are guessed ahead of time and RUU executables as well as RUU zips and decrypted firmware are posted. The threads are already here.
VZW RUUs are more like RUUs for non-US markets - RUU zips usually become available from unofficial sources. Obviously, there is no Verizon firmware for U11.
---------- Post added at 11:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 PM ----------
@anthonyjc2010 said:
I am very curious about HTC's track record with providing timely security updates and how long they tend to support their phones.
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Judging by post-Nougat HTC 10, US Unlocked gets security updates relatively frequently, maybe every other month. Other regions are SOL, still stuck on January.
buttie said:
Better than average OEM, but still not great. They tend to keep their flagships alive for at least two years, e.g. HTC One m9 released in March of 2015 is still being updated but I highly doubt it will get Android O.
My EMEA unlocked One m9 is currently on Nougat 7.0 with security patch February 1st, and EMEA unlocked HTC 10 Lifestyle is on Nougat 7.0 with security patch December 1st 2016. Carrier's versions in Europe are usually updated shortly after Unlocked, that rule does not apply to USA.
TL;DR: If you want bleeding-edge updates Pixel is the only way to go; if not, then HTC is fairly reliable*.
*applies only to flagships, HTC abandoned some of their budget devices shortly after release.
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Click to collapse
If I wanted the bleeding edge of updates I would stay go with the xl version of the pixel coming this October (when support for my phone ends, again... thanks Google). I honestly don't want a Pixel for various reasons, that is why I am looking at HTC. My only concern is security patches. I find it concerning that the 10 Lifestyle (Basically HTC 10 but with 3gb of RAM and a Snapdragon 625... right?) is still on December 1st 2016, but maybe Europe is just behind...
Oh, and I am not in the market for a budget HTC phone... besides in the US the only phones we can buy from HTC's website (that I can see) are the HTC U11, HTC U Ultra, HTC 10, HTC Bolt (so the flagships and their larger, lower spec'd counterparts). And I would never get a phone carrier locked (flashback to the days of using a Verizon locked android phone *shivers in terror*).
I probably misworded what I asked.
I meant is, if I am on a bring your own setup, (U11 on Verizon for example), who offers for OTA the patches and updates?
It seems to me Verizon woudn't its not their software. Would Google or HTC?
fuzzynco said:
I probably misworded what I asked.
I meant is, if I am on a bring your own setup, (U11 on Verizon for example), who offers for OTA the patches and updates?
It seems to me Verizon woudn't its not their software. Would Google or HTC?
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HTC, since you'd be using the US Unlocked version of U11.
HTC seem to be very poor at releasing security updates to be honest.
The only real vendor that actually does it monthly appears to be Google themselves or a 3rd party like Lineage.
Electronic Punk said:
HTC seem to be very poor at releasing security updates to be honest.
The only real vendor that actually does it monthly appears to be Google themselves or a 3rd party like Lineage.
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Currently using the Xperia X Compact until the U11 comes out and they've done a monthly update since release. Sony is pretty great about it now.
Got a Sony tablet and they have been pretty quick at updates on that (despite dropping Tablets from their lineup) but I don't get monthly updates tho
everdred said:
Currently using the Xperia X Compact until the U11 comes out and they've done a monthly update since release. Sony is pretty great about it now.
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this just sounds anectodal. One device getting a update is no guarantee the rest of the devices will get it.
Frankly, all OEM's are as bad. Sometimes they are better, sometimes not. My 10 still has Jan patch and android 7.0. Not that i think u there is anything wrong with the current software, and security is quite vague. I dont know of a single instance where people has been exposed to risks or data loss because of a old patch level.
Often people download bad apps and thats just like windows, if you download trojans there is nothing htc or google can do for you.
Electronic Punk said:
HTC seem to be very poor at releasing security updates to be honest.
The only real vendor that actually does it monthly appears to be Google themselves or a 3rd party like Lineage.
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Very poor compared to who ? Maybe Google on the pixel series but pretty much no other. Look at Samsung they take 6 months to get system updates if not longer. Htc has in the past promised system updates with in 90 days. I do not think its fair to call Htc's updates system or security to be poor. Calling Samsungs poor would be more correct and honest.
DirtydAmbrose said:
Very poor compared to who ? Maybe Google on the pixel series but pretty much no other. Look at Samsung they take 6 months to get system updates if not longer. Htc has in the past promised system updates with in 90 days. I do not think its fair to call Htc's updates system or security to be poor. Calling Samsungs poor would be more correct and honest.
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You mean the S7 with April security updates, the S8 with its May ones.
LG are also on April.
Can call it pretty poor with EMEA being on January.
Electronic Punk said:
You mean the S7 with April security updates, the S8 with its May ones.
LG are also on April.
Can call it pretty poor with EMEA being on January.
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My Note 5 received the May security update a couple of days back. They always seem timely with the security updates, it's the general updates that take longer. I only received Android 7 a couple of months ago on it.
A timely article:
https://www.androidcentral.com/just...-months?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
These models have security updates from the last 2 months, although it can't be strictly true.
My mom's Sony Z5 (E6653) is not receiving any update for month... last was Android 7.1.1 with Security Update from September 2017.
My wife's HTC U11 is on Android 8.0 with November 2017 Security.
So I can't recommend any of those company's.
But Samsung is not better - when your mobile gets older > 2y your out of support....
This situation is really poor - hope it get better with Android 8.
Our trusty ol s7 got its updates to November security patch today. Nothing new that I've noticed, still on the old UX but I guess it's better than nothing. I heard the J7 from 2016 is now on UX 8.5, the same as the note 8 and 7.1.1? Oh well my next phone might be the mate 10 or an iPhone 8, still deciding but it won't be until next year.
Has anyone else thought of leaving Samsung and going to a different maker, I will but will keep the s7 edge, for gear VR.
Yeah I bought my two daughters the J7 and it pisses me off to see them with the new updates since Aug and we still lagging behind. This phone is only a little over a year old. Wonder why we don't get any love.
g1-and-only said:
Has anyone else thought of leaving Samsung and going to a different maker, I will but will keep the s7 edge, for gear VR.
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Nope. The phone works well and I have more important things to do than complain about a minor revision of Android that this phone is not currently on. I do find it funny that we now get virtually monthly security updates, and people still find something to complain about.
For the record, I have seen that this phone will make the jump straight to Android 8.0, skipping 7.1. That J7 that's on 7.1 is going to be stuck there.
This is the first Galaxy I have that I didn't root and put a custom rom on. Usually the phone runs like garbage from all the bloat warehouse but this phone has been solid stock
Updates
i7vSa7vi7y said:
This is the first Galaxy I have that I didn't root and put a custom rom on. Usually the phone runs like garbage from all the bloat warehouse but this phone has been solid stock
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Besides the fact that if you have a US variant, you can't flash custom ROMS anyway. All US variants (S7 and S7 Edge) have locked bootloader, which prevents flashing of custom roms. Mine had started to lag a little from LookOut, etc. so I rooted it, and then just used Kernel Adiutor to set the governors correctly to eliminate the ENG bootloader lag issue.
Bad news everyone samsung have just released there official update schedule for android 10 and the S8 is not on the list so it looks like samsung are still only doing 2 years of version updates. Which is sad I use an S8 as my work phone and an s10 plus as my daily will not be getting the s12 enless they change how long they support there devices for.
Just wanted to know people's thoughts on this and get a discussion going.
I have attached screenshots from the update schedule in my samsung members app on my S10.
Strange .. I believe J7 Prime from 2016 still getting Q, which is 3 years old. It already got Pie.
It came with Marshmallow.
Samsung has moved the S8/S8+ from Montly Security Updates to Quartaly Security Updates today. That means, our phones will only be patched every four months and not regulary.
Source: https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb
As you might already know, I only expect the S8/S8+ to be supported till early 2021. After that, it sadly reaches it's end of life, 4 yeara after it's release
Bad news...
Everyone knew it was coming happens every device since day 1. This is not new news. If Samsung had there way end of life would be on release day.
Been keeping an eye out for S10 sales, since that seems to be the last Samsung phone that will keep the headphone jack, but I had been holding off because my S8+ was still getting updates.
Looks like I better up the priority on that.
Need help or suggestions
Ok I am that that GUY! I switched from AT&T to TMobile and want AT&T gone off my phone. I have to reinstall pie anyways, but figured I would go all out now that I can and opportunity presented itself. Need help getting started. Is it worth rooting vs just hiding the ATT Bloatware? I want my phone to be updated also. I am not getting the over the air updates is other reason I want to reinstall or root.
that sucks! im running android 8 oreo right now and im planning to keep my device that way love that firmware (i dont like android 9 looks )
This is my second week using this device and is so awesome i was using an iphone 7 before this screen is amazing ♡ dont miss my iphone at all
Enviado desde mi SM-G950F mediante Tapatalk
Hello everyone, this is my first post on this forum.
I was gifted with a hotwav cyber 7 rugged smartphone which I quite like. The only problem Is that when I try to update It, it says that the last available android security update was on 5 October 2021.. is it normal? Is safe to use a device like that? I forgot to say that it has android 11.
Security patches are frequent for phones, and there are easy ways to keep up to date on your phone in particular. But: It's on OEM whether they provide updates published by Google or not. Google can't force anyone to deliver them to you. So you'll need to wait for them to send an update.
BTW:
That's the reason why I use Google Pixel phones. Thus latest update I got is security upate released 2023-06-05.
Yes I'd use a different phone too, but this one was a gift. So with that said, is it safe to use a device like that as my main smartphone? Are the security patches that important or the usage of an AntiVirus can make up for the shortage of updates?
IMO antivirus programs aren't beneficial on a smartphone, are senseless crap, only the Android security patches MUST NOT BE IGNORED BUT IMMEDIATELY GET INSTALLED.
FYI: Samsung closes a total of 64 security vulnerabilities in Galaxy devices with the June update.
Got it.. so do you suggest me to get rid of a smartphone with android 11 that had its last update in October '21 and will probably never have further updates?