World5 min(s) read
Your Android phone has a hidden expiry date - here's how to check
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If you are one of the billions of people - yes, billions - that use an Android device every single day, you might want to tune in for this.
Did you know that Android devices have a hidden ‘expiry date’ that means that they will one day become almost completely useless?
Android phones are used by billions worldwide every day
Android devices are seriously popular - not far off four billion devices are used every day, and the only competitor is iPhone, realistically.
Of course, that’s not exactly fair as Android phones are from many different companies using similar software, but you get the idea - there are A LOT of Android devices out in the world.
However, each one has an ‘end of life’ date that means that they will eventually become completely useless, as the platform will stop issuing security updates, and you can check that out for yourself.
What does the Android expiry date mean?
This is a key difference between the Apple iPhone and Android - with the iPhone, Apple decides how long each device receives updates, whereas Android - which is made by Google but operated on many different companies’ devices - is different.
On Android, it is decided by the manufacturer, and that might be Samsung, Google itself, OnePlus, Huawei, Xiaomi, or another brand.
There are two types of Android update that we are concerned with here.
Android version updates offer new features, designs and improved user experience - meaning that if you stop receiving these updates you’ll stop being able to update some apps and they’ll eventually stop functioning altogether.
Or at the very least they won’t function with the latest features.
Then there are security updates, which are there to stop hackers and patch bugs that can allow phone security to be compromised.
Every time your phone asks you to update this, you should do it - they wouldn’t release a security update without a reason for it, so they are often trying to stop a known threat.
This expiry date is the date at which the manufacturer stops giving out those updates, meaning that the device is no longer fully functional and - more importantly - becomes a security risk.
How long do the updates continue for on Android devices?
This is actually good news, as Samsung and Google have been trailblazers on this front.
Not always because of their own desires, though.
The EU brought in legislation on minimum requirements last year (2025) through the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
That means that all devices released after June 2025 have to be guaranteed software updates for at least five years after the devices goes off the market.
So, depending on your model and manufacturer, you have a while yet.
Here’s the breakdown.
Google Pixel
Google Pixel owners have seven years of Android updates and seven years of security updates - for those who own at least a Google Pixel 6 or newer.
Samsung
For those owning a Galaxy S24, Z Series (2024/35 and newer versions) you’ve got the same seven years guaranteed.
Older A model Samsung owners have four years.
OnePlus
OnePlus 12 and newer models get four years of Android updates and five years of security updates from now.
Xiaomi
For top Xiaomi models - 14 etc -you get four years OS updates and five years of security updates, whereas those in the middle and lower budgets get 2-3 years of Android guarantees and three years of security updates.
Oppo/RealMe
Everything releaed after June 2025 is good for four years Android and six years security updates.
Motorola
Motorola’s Edge series is guaranteed to update for Android for three years and security for four.
How to check when your Android device ‘end of life’ date is
If you want to find out the expiry date of your phone, all you need to know is the exact device you have, which you can get in the settings ‘about phone’ section if you don’t already know.
Then, head to endoflife.date and go to the ‘devices’ tab to get the list.
Find your manufacturer, then find your date - it’s as easy as that.
Outside of that, you can probably just Google it - the brands themselves will have information out there for you as well.
What happens if the date has passed?
If your expiry date has been and gone, you’ll probably need to upgrade, especially if you want to keep doing anything that uses sensitive information such as online banking, shopping or storing passwords.
Those security updates are sometimes reactive or preventative, so your data could be at risk if you aren’t up to date.
You can probably use the phone for some stuff - watching Netflix, GPS, games - but as a secure device, it’s risky at best.
Remember, when you buy that new device, check when the expiry date is.
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