It might be the current gold standard for Android smartphone software support, and Apple regularly keeps its iPhone range updated for just as long, but seven years is an awfully long time when it comes to tech. Buying a new handset based on the strength of how many operating system versions its promised just doesn’t make sense in 2026 – and there are a bunch of reasons why.
Pick up a Google Pixel 10 today and it could, in theory, still be in your pocket in 2032, running whatever version of Android we’re on by that point. Google and Samsung were first with an official seven year software promise; Honor was quick to follow (if only for its flagship models), while most other Android rivals still pledge between three and five years. Apple has never put an exact figure on how long it’ll support older handsets for, but it’s typically somewhere between five and seven years.
I often highlight in my reviews when brands offer reduced software support – it’s useful info for anyone wanting a phone for the very long haul – but this doesn’t take into account things like battery degradation, or how tomorrow’s software will cope on ageing chipsets. Going longer between phone upgrades is obviously better for the environment, but I doubt many owners are ever going to make it the full seven years before they upgrade.
Software power creep
No manufacturer has committed to how well its seven year old phones will run in their last year of life, just that they’ll be updated to the current version. They could be fine: a Nokia 7 Plus the editor had lurking in a dusty corner of his garage since 2018 scrolled through websites smoothly enough, though it is marooned on Android 10. The original Google Pixel also proved rather nippy when checked this week. Or they could be a sluggish mess.
Go back seven years and 6GB of RAM was just becoming the smartphone norm. Both Android and iOS would run happily enough on 4GB. Now we’re at double that amount, if not higher, to keep the latest versions running smoothly. While that doesn’t mean 24GB will necessarily be the standard by 2031, you can be sure the operating systems of the day will be optimised for more powerful components – and older hardware will have a hard time keeping up.
You’ll almost certainly miss out on features that rely on dedicated hardware, too. Google’s Gemini AI smarts rely so heavily on on-device neural processing units (NPUs) that it only appeared on the two-year old Pixel 8 series in a limited capacity. Seven years after launch, you could be looking at a very bare-bones OS.
Battery degredation
Lets be honest. Few of us treat our phone batteries in a way that’ll see them last more than a few years of daily use. Even if you only ever charge to 80%, never leave it plugged in overnight, and avoid rapid charging, its capacity will still drop over the course of its lifetime.
Earlier iPhones were particularly bad at this, with many needing a battery replacement after just a couple of years. Newer handsets with bigger capacities tend to last longer, but I’d be shocked if any were able to get to the seven year mark and still have enough juice to survive a day of regular use before needing to plug in.
Now that user-replaceable batteries are the exclusive domain of environmentally-minded handsets like the Fairphone, actually getting a new cell fitted either means a trip to the manufacturer’s repair centre, or a third-party tech specialist. And that’s assuming spare batteries are still easy to come by once your phone has been removed from sale.
You’ve also got to hope your handset doesn’t fall victim to battery expansion, which can be disastrous. A colleague found the old Android phone pictured above with its battery having bulged so much it dislodged the screen. Battery swelling is easier to spot when you’re still using your phone every day, but is definitely something to watch out for as a handset ages.
Other ageing hardware
Did you know a phone’s USB port is likely only rated for 10,000 connections, at which point the connector could’ve worn out? That’s being plugged in four times a day over seven years, which might seem excessive for a brand new handset, but will be closer to reality once a portable power bank becomes a necessity for making it from breakfast to bedtime without a visit to a plug socket.
Then there’s the screen. OLED panels are pretty much the norm now, but the chance of image retention – or burn-in – hasn’t gone away. Static UI elements like the Wi-Fi, network and status icons at the top of your phone’s display are most at risk, but it can happen anywhere. One family friend had such bad burn-in on her ageing Galaxy S10 it was almost unusable – though fair play to her for sticking with it until 2025.
Simply put, seven years of software support is pretty meaningless if you have to turn your handset into a Ship of Theseus to make it there.
When it’s time to move on
If you want to last as long as possible between phone upgrades, my advice is to buy the most powerful handset you can today. A flagship model has the best chance of running newer software generations smoothly, while an affordable phone that struggles with Android today is going to be up against it later down the line. Using a protective case or cover and following all the usual advice about battery care should then give it the best chance of survival.
Next, plan to keep your new purchase for roughly half as long as it’s promised software updates for. If you buy a phone in early 2026, for example, have late 2029 in mind for an upgrade. If by then it’s really starting to struggle on the software side, you’ll have budgeted for its replacement. Or if it’s the hardware letting you down, you’ll have some cash set aside for repairs should you want to eke out another year or two of ownership.
You’ll also be in a good spot when it comes to trade-in values with network providers and retailers, or cash if selling privately.
- Related: iOS 26 system requirements – will it run on your iPhone?
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