If your Android phone is more than three years old, there’s a good chance it’s no longer getting official security fixes—leaving it exposed as new vulnerabilities are discovered.
Android is the world’s dominant mobile operating system, but its long-term support often looks very different from Apple’s iPhone. While iPhones can receive updates for close to six years, many Android phones get regular security updates for about three years—sometimes less.
That gap matters because security patches are what close newly discovered holes that criminals can exploit. Without them, an older phone can keep working normally while quietly becoming easier to hack.
Google’s timeline: three years, then support ends
Google sets a firm limit for many Android devices: most phones receive security patches for a maximum of 36 months after launch. For models released four or five years ago, that window has already closed.
The practical takeaway is blunt: if your phone is older than three years, it likely isn’t receiving official security updates anymore.
That creates a serious risk. Any security flaws discovered after support ends won’t be fixed on your device. Hackers know this and target older, unpatched phones—while many people continue using those devices for email, banking, and storing personal photos.
Why is the support window so short?
Google points to technical and economic constraints. Keeping a software supply chain running for six years is expensive: companies must staff teams, manage compatibility with older chips, and test each update across hundreds of different models.
Apple can manage longer support more easily because it controls both the hardware and the software. Google, by contrast, relies on phone makers—such as Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola—to deliver updates to their devices.
Still, that explanation doesn’t land well with many users. For someone who just paid €400 to €500 (about $430 to $540) for a phone, being told their security support may be dropped after three years can feel like a raw deal.
How to check your phone’s “expiration date”
If you use Android, the article’s advice is straightforward: check when your model launched. Go to Settings, then About phone, and note the official launch date of your device. Add three years. If you’re past that point, you’re in the danger zone.
Google does offer some Pixel devices an extra three years of updates, bringing the total to six years. But that extended support applies only to Google’s own Pixel lineup—not the millions of Samsung, Xiaomi, and other Android phones in circulation.
Meanwhile, Apple continues updating iPhones that are five or six years old, widening the real-world security gap between the two ecosystems. For owners of older Android phones, the choice is simple: keep using a device without ongoing security protection, or start budgeting for a replacement.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Android phone get security updates?
Most Android smartphones receive security patches for up to 36 months after launch—about three years. After that, no official updates are guaranteed.
How is iPhone support different?
iPhones receive updates for close to six years—roughly twice as long as many Android devices—giving Apple users a significant long-term security advantage.
What are the risks of using an Android phone that no longer gets updates?
Security flaws discovered after support ends won’t be fixed on your device. Hackers target these vulnerable phones, which is especially dangerous if you store sensitive data like banking credentials.
My Android phone is 4 years old—am I still getting updates?
Probably not. If your phone is more than three years old, it likely no longer receives official security updates from Google, leaving it exposed to newly discovered vulnerabilities.
