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> Few people care to repair Android phones because you can't upgrade the OS after 2 years regardless. This is a mistruth (add: unintentional I'm sure) - and I
by jeswin 6y ago
> Few people care to repair Android phones because you can't upgrade the OS after 2 years regardless.
This is a mistruth (add: unintentional I'm sure) - and I hope people stop repeating this. I'll explain in detail.
1. Older versions of Android aren't crippled in the way an older iOS version is. On iOS for instance, Safari is tied to the iOS, while on Android none of the apps are tied to the OS version. Any phone running Android 7 (or maybe even 6) would run the most Google and non-Google services without any problems.
2. Most good Android phones such as those from Samsung or Google get 3 years of updates. If you have a Galaxy S8 from Apr 2017, you're still receiving updates in 2021.
3. Finally you have LineageOS. If you choose the phone correctly, you can potentially have very long term support with the excellent LineageOS. Now this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for most people on HN it's fairly trivial to do.
- tpxl 6y ago> while on Android none of the apps are tied to the OS version Apps are compiled for target SDKs and if your phone is too old the apps wont work.
- jeswin 6y agoYou're right, I should have been clearer. I meant the Google Apps bundle of essential apps (especially the Web Browser).
- Mediterraneo10 6y agoLineageOS regularly ends support for old devices. Its builds are made by a handful of volunteers in their spare time, and any of those volunteers may lose interest and walk away. Because Android building is so byzantine, it is not trivial for someone else to come along and restore support for an abandoned phone. The LineageOS team has repeatedly emphasized that they do not owe anyone long-term support, so please stop recommending it as such. This is one of the reasons for interest in the PinePhone: it is now supported by the mainline kernel and much easier to build for in perpetuity than an Android device.
- jeswin 6y agoThey don't owe you anything, but for many popular devices support extends to years. There are many devices on their support list which are 8 years old or more. (eg: Galaxy S4 from 2013, yet running 17.1). PinePhone is great, but it certainly isn't for people expecting a smartphone to do regular smartphone things - run apps like Whatsapp/Signal etc.
- Mediterraneo10 6y agoFWIW, two Signal clients now run on the PinePhone.