Only Provides 3 Android OS Updates, Counts the Out-of-Box Build

Over the previous couple of days, confusion arrived across the subject of software program updates and the variety of years of assist OnePlus was offering to their smartwatches. As a result of that confusion triggered extra questions than anybody had solutions for, OnePlus reached out to press at present to make clear the scenario surrounding the OnePlus Watch 2 and OnePlus Watch 3. Nevertheless, in doing so, their wording on the timing of updates introduced us to a little bit of a shock twist that now entails their smartphones and the variety of years of updates supplied, which I’m undecided many within the business understood.

Right here’s what we now perceive about OnePlus updates for each smartphones and smartwatches.

When OnePlus launched the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R earlier this 12 months, they stated in an official assertion that each “could have 4 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of safety updates.” We assumed (our dangerous!) that meant 4 Android OS updates sooner or later. For the reason that OnePlus 13 launched with Android 15 out-of-the-box, that might put the 4 updates at Android 16, 17, 18, after which Android 19 to wrap issues up. The rest of the industry believed the same.

That’s not how OnePlus counts years of updates.

We’ve now triple clarified right here, however OnePlus tells us that relying on when a cellphone launches, they will embody the out of field software program as one of many updates. For the OnePlus 13, for instance, they included Android 15 as the primary Android OS replace and solely plan to offer Android 16, 17, and 18 following that.

For his or her watches, just like the OnePlus Watch 2 and OnePlus Watch 3, they’re additionally together with the out-of-box software program as an replace. OnePlus’ official assist assertion says they supply 3 years of software program updates for his or her watches. They’ve confirmed to us that the OnePlus Watch 2 will solely see updates to WearOS 5 and WearOS 6, as they depend WearOS 4 (which it launched with) as an replace. For the OnePlus Watch 3, the identical goes – WearOS 5 out-of-the-box counts, adopted by WearOS 6 and WearOS 7 updates.

OnePlus tells me this has at all times been their replace coverage, which apparently not many people understood. They consider that releasing new software program and putting it on a cellphone at launch, adopted by a 12 months of assist on that OS model, counts as an replace.

After all, I really feel for his or her place some, as a cellphone just like the OnePlus 13 launched with a model of Android (15) that was solely months previous. To get to the total 4th OS model replace would require one more 12 months of assist. Their model of OxygenOS 15 on it’s also a significant refresh of their pores and skin. It’s a massive software program launch, it’s simply exhausting to name it an replace when the cellphone is working it out of the field.

All that stated, Google doesn’t depend its software program updates this manner. For instance, the Pixel 5a launched with Android 11 and was promised 3 years of updates. It then obtained Android 12, 13, and 14 before being cut off. The Pixel 6 collection launched with Android 12 and was initially solely promised 3 years of OS updates. It obtained Android 13, 14, and 15, which was alleged to be the top, however Google has since expanded it for 2 more years to a full 5 years of OS updates.

So now you know the way to depend OnePlus updates.