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I think we also need to discuss how long all these phones were on sale. Sure, if you bought a brand new iPhone in Sep 2013, you're still getting updates. But i

I think we also need to discuss how long all these phones were on sale. Sure, if you bought a brand new iPhone in Sep 2013, you're still getting updates. But if you bought the iPhone 5c (which was sold by Apple until August 2015), you're out of luck -- it is no longer supported by iOS 11. I don't know how long other companies sell their models, but Apple typically sells every iPhone model for 3 years. For customers it's not as important how long a model is supported after it was released, but rather how long it is supported after you buy it!

neogodless 9y ago
I think that really is a great point. If Google actually sold their phones for more than 24 months, they'd stop supporting software updates before they stopped selling brand new phones! Would you buy a Dell, HP or Lenovo today if Windows 10 would only get software updates two years after it was released (July 29, 2015...)? To be sure, phones (and computers) don't need software (feature) updates, necessarily. They can still perform functions (and install apps) long after the updates stop coming. Security updates, on the other hand, should have a guarantee more inline with computers - say 5 years after the product is no longer sold. (Of course, that's much more ambiguous then "2 years after release date" but 5 years for security doesn't seem unreasonable to me.)
shinratdr 9y ago
This comparison requires context. ----------------- First, timelines: Nexus 5X Released: October 22nd, 2015 Discontinued: October 5th, 2016 - (12 months from release) Mainstream Software Support Ended: December 5th, 2017 (13 months from discontinuation, 25 months from release) iPhone 5C Released: September 20th, 2013 Discontinued: September 9th, 2015 (24 months from release) Mainstream Software Support Ended: July 19th, 2017 (22 months from discontinuation, 46 months from release) ----------------- Next, positioning: iPhone 5c: Bottom of the lineup, released as a budget/$0 contract option in comparison to the rest of the iPhone line. Nexus 5X: Flagship of the Nexus line. You could argue the Nexus 6P was the flagship, but it's irrelevant as it was also released, discontinued and exited support on the same days. Point is, these were the top-of-the-line Nexus phones at the time. ----------------- Here is how I see it: Apple had a reduced support lifecycle for a bottom-of-the-line experimental phone that they never repeated. They typically support a phone for 3-5 years, this one was 2-4 years depending if you count from release or discontinuation date. This was still longer than the support life cycle for the flagship, top of the line Nexus phones, the only Android phones with the reputation and stated goal of offering extended software support. They managed to make it just over 1-2 years. I don't care how you slice it, that's embarrassing. Even the flagships can't begin to approach Apple's support timeline for their worst and most neglected device. Throw in non-flagships, even from just the major manufacturers, and it just gets depressing. There are phones being sold right now that will never see an update after the customer purchases them. They've exited support before the customer even unwraps them. I think any way you look at it, Apple is the only company who can be trusted to provide a reasonable support lifecycle, regardless of when you buy the phone.

neogodless 9y ago

I think that really is a great point. If Google actually sold their phones for more than 24 months, they'd stop supporting software updates before they stopped selling brand new phones! Would you buy a Dell, HP or Lenovo today if Windows 10 would only get software updates two years after it was released (July 29, 2015...)? To be sure, phones (and computers) don't need software (feature) updates, necessarily. They can still perform functions (and install apps) long after the updates stop coming. Security updates, on the other hand, should have a guarantee more inline with computers - say 5 years after the product is no longer sold. (Of course, that's much more ambiguous then "2 years after release date" but 5 years for security doesn't seem unreasonable to me.)

shinratdr 9y ago

This comparison requires context. ----------------- First, timelines: Nexus 5X Released: October 22nd, 2015 Discontinued: October 5th, 2016 - (12 months from release) Mainstream Software Support Ended: December 5th, 2017 (13 months from discontinuation, 25 months from release) iPhone 5C Released: September 20th, 2013 Discontinued: September 9th, 2015 (24 months from release) Mainstream Software Support Ended: July 19th, 2017 (22 months from discontinuation, 46 months from release) ----------------- Next, positioning: iPhone 5c: Bottom of the lineup, released as a budget/$0 contract option in comparison to the rest of the iPhone line. Nexus 5X: Flagship of the Nexus line. You could argue the Nexus 6P was the flagship, but it's irrelevant as it was also released, discontinued and exited support on the same days. Point is, these were the top-of-the-line Nexus phones at the time. ----------------- Here is how I see it: Apple had a reduced support lifecycle for a bottom-of-the-line experimental phone that they never repeated. They typically support a phone for 3-5 years, this one was 2-4 years depending if you count from release or discontinuation date. This was still longer than the support life cycle for the flagship, top of the line Nexus phones, the only Android phones with the reputation and stated goal of offering extended software support. They managed to make it just over 1-2 years. I don't care how you slice it, that's embarrassing. Even the flagships can't begin to approach Apple's support timeline for their worst and most neglected device. Throw in non-flagships, even from just the major manufacturers, and it just gets depressing. There are phones being sold right now that will never see an update after the customer purchases them. They've exited support before the customer even unwraps them. I think any way you look at it, Apple is the only company who can be trusted to provide a reasonable support lifecycle, regardless of when you buy the phone.