How long should you keep your phone before upgrading? For smartphones, the answer is less about physical age and more about what sort of software. Software that the phone can run and if the most recent known vulnerabilities have been fixed is good to go. The finest iPhones and best Android phones differ significantly in this regard, albeit the margin between the two is closing. Mobile device security is more dependent on software than on hardware.

How Long Can You Use an Outdated Android?

Because Android phones are not as standardized as iPhones, determining the safe-use boundaries of an Android phone might be more difficult. A few years ago, an Android phone would no longer receive security upgrades if it was more than three years old, assuming it could still receive all previous updates. You’d be better off acquiring a new phone after three years.

That has since changed. Google, Samsung, and chipmaker Qualcomm have all committed to delivering four years of security upgrades for select devices in late 2020 and early 2021. Google eventually increased it to five years for its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones, however the handsets, like other Pixel phones, would only receive three years of Android OS upgrades.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why You Should Pick Android Over iPhone in 2023

How Long Can You Use an Outdated iPhone Safely?

Apple guarantees its devices for at least five years after they are released, however this period can sometimes be extended. During such period, an iPhone will receive the most recent versions of iOS as well as patches for known vulnerabilities. Given that most individuals receive a new smartphone every two to three years, this is rather generous.

For example, if you have an iPhone 6 (launched in September 2015), upgrading to iOS 14 may be challenging. You might, however, continue to utilise iOS 13, which was launched in 2019.

Also Read: Reasons Why Apple Can’t Beat Android In 2023?

How to Handle Old Phones Correctly?

“The other option, and seemingly the better choice,” Santorelli expressed, “is to have a cell phone, however guarantee it’s completely fixed with one of the most incredible secret key directors, and a client with a consciousness of dangers and ways of making preparations for them. Two-factor validation will likewise keep you in the clear a great deal of the time.”

In that sense, Santorelli said, patches are vital, in any event, for outsider applications that aren’t important for the working framework.

“Each portable working framework and most applications will emerge with patches constantly,” he said. “Analysts find openings in programming and engineers fix them, ideally, before such a large number of programmers begin to utilize them to think twice about framework.”

So, update those applications each time the Google Play or iOS application stores tell you to. Acknowledge the moves up to the most recent working framework variants when they show up. Introduce and utilize one of the most amazing Android antivirus applications on your Android gadget. (There is no such thing as unfortunately that for iOS.)

Furthermore, on the off chance that your cell phone no longer gets operating system updates or security fixes, now is the right time to continue on. Here is the most secure method for disposing of an old cell phone.

Samsung Phones Already Receive A Little Something Extra

Samsung’s own security-update chart (opens in new tab) shows the organization as of now gives a more drawn out time of help than Google does, even with pre-2019 models. You could get almost four years of updates with Samsung’s more established leads.

For instance, the Samsung System S8, delivered in April 2017, is finished with refreshes. In any case, its Light form, delivered a couple of months after the fact, actually gets half-yearly security refreshes as of Walk 2022. The two telephones delivered with Android 7 Nougat and can be moved up to Android 10.

The Samsung System S9 and S9+, delivered in Walk 2018, were on Samsung’s quarterly-update track as of Walk 2022, in spite of the fact that they go simply up to Android 10 authoritatively. They’ve probably got a few additional long periods of safety refreshes, as telephones frequently move to the semiannual update track prior to going all the way out of help.

The most seasoned Samsung Universe telephones to be on the month to month update cycle are the World 10 and Cosmic system Note 10 series, both sent off in the principal half of 2019. Per Samsung’s new help explanation, they ought to be great to use until the center of 2023.