Once one of the better exponents of software updates, OnePlus has been overtaken by Samsung whose recent promise of issuing three major OS updates for its flagships and four years of security updates for its lesser-specced handsets has rocketed it to the top of the software support charts. Thanks to the recent merger with OPPO that promises greater integration, though, OnePlus has announced that it will provide 3 major OS updates and 4 years of security patches for flagship phones such as the Oneplus 9 and 9 Pro. But it’s not all good news.
When it comes to its N-series of budget smartphones such as the N200 5G, OnePlus is sticking to the one OS update and done strategy, which has to be said is rather disappointing but they will receive 3 years of security updates, which is something I guess. The mid-range Nord series fares a little better in that it is promised 2 Android OS updates with 3 year’s worth of security patches.
- Flagship product line (including T / R): The OnePlus 8 series and newer devices will receive 3 major Android updates and 4 years of security updates.
- Nord / Nord CE: The first OnePlus Nord and newer Nord / Nord CE devices will receive 2 major Android updates and 3 years of security updates.
- Nord N series: Starting from N10 and N100, all N series devices will receive 1 major Android update and 3 years of security updates.
Circling back to the merger between OnePlus and OPPO, or the synergizing of resources which may be more accurate, it has been confirmed that the codebase for OxygenOS and ColorOS will also be integrated this year. OnePlus says that the changes will be under the hood and that it would be unnoticeable to users when it happens. OnePlus smartphones that have already launched will get the integrated codebase when the Android 12 update rolls out while upcoming handsets will launch using it.
