World5 min(s) read
Published 12:50 28 Jul 2026 GMT
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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 12 and newer models get four years of Android updates and five years of security updates from now.
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.
Everything releaed after June 2025 is good for four years Android and six years security updates.
Motorola’s Edge series is guaranteed to update for Android for three years and security for four.
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.
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.
3 min(s) read
2 min(s) read
3 min(s) read
1 min(s) read
4 min(s) read
uncategorised3 min(s) read
Published 16:44 23 Aug 2017 GMT
science & tech2 min(s) read
Published 13:37 19 Sep 2018 GMT
innovation3 min(s) read
design1 min(s) read
uncategorised4 min(s) read
Published 14:35 15 Nov 2017 GMT
WhatsApp has become our go-to messaging service and nowadays anyone who doesn't have it is considered a little out of the loop. You still text? Get out of here!
Allegedly used by up to one billion people every single day of the year, the app is now the world's most popular messaging service and it looks like nothing is going to stop it.
However, many users of the free-to-download service are due for a shock, given the fact that WhatsApp is soon to be no longer compatible with millions of smartphones.
The issue, destined to annoy many a WhatsApp user, is caused by a recent version 2.18.90 update, which removes support for some older devices. The company reportedly plans to stop support for all iPhones running iOS 7 by February, 2020, meaning that anyone who owns an iPhone 4 or an earlier version of the Apple phone will have to either buy a new device or simply give up their favourite messaging service.
Furthermore, anyone out there who owns a later iPhone will also be forced to update their device; if they started using Whatsapp on an iPhone running iOS 7, they will still be able to use the older version of the app until February 2020, when it will stop working for them altogether.
The official cut-off date is February 1; however, this does not necessarily mean that all the functions will be maintained until then, with reports claiming that some could disappear at any time without prior warning.
It's certainly not the first time that WhatsApp has dropped support for certain phones; last year, the company revoked support for Nokia Symbian S60 phones, and it will reportedly do the same for Nokia S40 handsets on December 31 2018.
In other WhatsApp news, fans of the app in the UK are allegedly being warned about a new scam. According to British newspaper, the Daily Express, Police in the UK are warning about messages claiming to be from someone who is "a friend of a friend".
Apparently, the "friend of a friend" - often named Olivia- normally states they have got a new number as they begin the conversation. If the WhatsApp user questions their identity, they offer to send a picture of themselves; when they do, it is a hyperlink that, when opened, shows pornographic images.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/HaltonBrookPol/status/1037059831725735936]]
Cheshire Constabulary’s Halton Brook Police have taken to Twitter to warn parents about the threat, claiming the scam targets children. The user behind the account posted: "I have been made aware of worrying WhatsApp messages being sent from a number registered overseas. The sender pretends to be a friend with a new number but then sends a pornographic picture. If your kids use the App please have a chat with them & check their messages #HereForYou".
Stay safe out there, WhatsApp users.
Published 21:25 24 Oct 2018 GMT
Smartphones are amazing, but they're also ridiculously expensive. It seems like we go through them way too quickly. Can you believe that after I forgot my iPhone in my swim trunks, and sat in a hot tub drinking for two hours, it stopped working?! You can? Oh. Well... Um... Anyway, let's say you don't accidentally drop your phone or submerge it in water. As time goes by, it gets slower and slower, just like the plot on Westworld. The paranoid side of you wonders, "Are they slowing my phone down on purpose?"
The answer appears to be yes. In Italy, Apple and Samsung have each been fined $6.44 million (€5m) for 'planned obsolescence' of their smartphones. That means they intentionally build the device so that it slows down over time, forcing customers to purchase new models. In fact, the software updates were found to have a detrimental effect. Apple told iPhone 6 owners to install an update meant for an iPhone 7, and users claim it made their phone iSuck. Meanwhile, Samsung told Galaxy Note 4 owners to install an update meant for a Galaxy Note 7, and users complained it made the models more sluggish. You might say that the smartphones became 'dumbphones.' (Nailed it!)
The investigation was conducted in January by an Italian antitrust watchdog. They stated that "Apple and Samsung implemented dishonest commercial practices" and that operating systems "caused serious malfunctions and significantly reduced performance, thus accelerating phones' substitution." They also roasted the companies for not adequately informing customers about the impact of updated software. Nor did they offer "any means of restoring the original functionality of the products." Shame, Apple and Samsung! Shame! Shame! Shame!
Apple was fined with an additional $6.44 million (€5m) just for sticking us all with that crappy U2 album. Just kidding. They were fined an additional $6.44 million (€5m) for a separate issue involving batteries. Last December, Apple acknowledged they were intentionally slowing iPhones down with software updates. (Those bastards!) The company claimed they were only doing so to prevent wonky shutdown problems caused by the degradation of the lithium batteries. This didn't fly with consumers. So, Apple apologized, lowered the cost of batteries, added battery health information, and allowed users stop the processor from slowing down.
In response to the $6.44 million lawsuit, a Samsung spokesman said "Hey, it was just a prank, bro!" Just kidding. The spokesperson said, "Samsung did not issue any software update that reduced the Galaxy Note 4's performance. In contrast, Samsung has always released software updates enabling our customers to have the best experience possible." The company intends to appeal the decision, as this is the first time their software updates have been questioned.
Currently there is an ongoing investigation in France, as well as a $999 billion class-action lawsuit in California. I'm not sure exactly how these things work, but I live in California and I have an iPhone, so I must have big money coming in the mail soon! Time to put my iPhone in my pocket, hop in the hot tub and forget my worries.
Published 07:56 27 May 2019 GMT
Google has cut tech giant Huawei's access to their Android mobile operating system on its new range of smartphones, Reuters reports.
Smartphones made by the Chinese telecommunications company are set to be blocked from use of a range of Google apps including Gmail and YouTube.
Find out more about the implications of the move:
[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/t461SGfP-Q0L14jDU.mp4||t461SGfP]]
It is expected to be a major blow to Huawei, the world's second largest smartphone manufacturer, who rely heavily on the Google-developed Android operating system.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Android/status/1130313848332988421]]
The move comes after the Trump administration included Huawei in a list of firms that US companies cannot trade with unless they have a licence.
"We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications," a Google spokesperson said. "For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices."
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/randytter/status/1130324130270797824]]
The move means security updates for Google's operating system will not protect Huawei's new smartphones and tablets
In a statement, the company said: "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those have been sold or still in stock globally."
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/dvdbraz/status/1130314970867093505]]
It is being reported that Huawei users will have to use Android Open Source Project, a public version of the operating system. This system does not include Gmail, Google Maps, Google Photos or YouTube.
In recent times, Huawei has managed to overtake iPhone maker Apple in terms of market share and is only behind Samsung when it comes to global smartphone sales, with 59.1 million shipments in the first quarter of 2019.
The US sanctions, however, could damage the company's ambitions of further expansion.
