Samsung quits updating Galaxy Z Fold 2 that came out in 2020 for $2,000 Chris Mendez | usagoldmines.com

In February 2022, Samsung began promising as much as 4 generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades to “choose” Galaxy gadgets, in addition to “as much as 5 years of safety updates.” And in January, it introduced shifting to seven years of safety and OS updates, matching a transfer from Google. Nonetheless, the Fold 2 wasn’t included in Samsung’s listing of “choose” Galaxy gadgets.

Thus, one might have estimated that the Fold 2 would possibly cease receiving OS and safety updates by 2024, 4 years after its debut. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless laborious to reconcile with paying 4 figures for a cellphone that turned a safety danger after 4 years, regardless of functioning correctly in any other case. Apple, by comparability, now guarantees not less than five years of safety updates. Apple solely began making that promise in 2023 with the iPhone 15 sequence. Nonetheless, the current-generation iOS 18 is supported by iPhones launched in 2020, just like the second-generation iPhone SE, and even older ones, just like the iPhone XR that got here out in 2018. Arguably short-lived costly gadgets just like the Fold 2 are a part of the explanation some activists are pushing for the FTC to require that smart devices state on their packaging how long they’ll receive updates.

Nonetheless, not like iPhones, Samsung telephones aren’t all powered by a proprietary chip, making guarantees of upgrades require commitments from third-party distributors, like Qualcomm. With Qualcomm identified for being proof against longer chip life cycles previously, seven years of updates is progress for Samsung customers—simply not those that invested within the Z Fold 2.