Andrew Hoyle/CNETįinding out if your Android phone is supported will involve some digging. That means that there are two years of new exploits that this phone is susceptible to. , by comparison, still provides software updates for phones going back almost seven years, because it has relatively few models to manage.ĭespite having the latest software installed, this Galaxy S6's last security update was applied in 2018. Google also mandates that manufacturers must provide at least two years of updates for devices. ![]() Google's older Pixel phones typically got three years of software updates, but it upped that to five years of guaranteed updates with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. This varies from company to company, however. Sadly, manufacturers don't give you a warning that tells you when they've dropped support for a phone, so you either find out through a rude awakening like I mentioned above, or figure it out yourself through some other means.Ī good rule of thumb is that a phone will no longer be supported if it's two to three years old. Your phone is probably no longer supported. If your phone says it has the latest OS software, but that latest version was installed many months or even years ago, it's bad news. Usually it'll give you some indication of when the phone was last updated. Install the latest version that's available. ![]() To start, go into Settings and check your software updates. Andrew Hoyle/CNET How do I know if my phone is too old?įinding out if your phone is still supported and receiving security patches often isn't straightforward. If you're concerned about security and privacy - and you should be - here are some things to consider.Ĭheck to see if your phone has the latest software installed. ![]() Though the hardware itself is often fine to keep using, particularly if you don't crave the best cameras or fastest processors, the lack of security support means that older phones could be far less safe. The problem is that phones released years ago might run outdated versions of Android or iOS, which means they often don't have critical security updates that can keep you - and your data - safe from prying eyes. And why not? The hardware is usually more than capable of handling what you need it to, and it's more environmentally friendly to keep using phones for longer, rather than sending them to a landfill. It's tempting, then, to consider buying a cheap older or used phone from eBay. With top-end smartphones like the iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra costing over $1,000, and even Google's more approachable Pixel 7 Pro coming in at $899, buying today's best new phones is simply out of the question for many of us.
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