Why do Android manufacturers suck at updates ?

[Savor]

I think updating can be overrated as it affects battery life and even RAM while throwing in the occasional random bugs and lag. I remember when I updated my Nokia N82 back in the day. This was Symbian S60. The camera quality got progressively worse as well as the battery which never indicated properly. It would say 5 bars and then red warning out of the blue. This is why I never updated my iPhone 4 to any new firmware until nearly years later since I was forced to. And iOS6 was a huge drag from my virgin iOS4 when it came to smoothness.

I FEEL the best firmware is the what usually comes with the phone right out of the box since that is the original on what it was built upon and OSes have matured. Still, I agree with the OP that Android OEM's are terrible at updates. Part reason is skin, part money, and part because of carriers. It is a shame that iOS7 was a huge revamp and the adoption rate was much faster while Lollipop is the biggest update since Ice Cream Sandwich and barely registering at the 1% mark for adoption after THREE MONTHS.

Watching The Verge review of Lollipop now makes me want to go for Nexus 6. I am very curious trying out Lollipop. I used to feel Nexus devices were overrated but the Nexus phones are the only devices that can kill my curiosity much faster than other OEM's when it comes to trying out the new Android firmware and at its purest form.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

And even Nexus don't get updates soon. Why oh why has my Nexus 7 LTE still not got the update. What is flipping problem...And then the battery life issues, heck I'm not using it until then, and I bet the battery will be empty again

 

[mrex]

Why do Android manufacturers suck at updates ?

1. have you paid extra to get any updates at all? if you didnt, why are you expecting to get any for free?
2. why do you need an update in the first place? gapps and apps are updated from playstore.

when you buy an android device, you get it all at once. if they offer updates, they are doing it for free but only google has the 18months policy to offer os updates. none of the other companies havent promised to build updates for the devices. you got what you bought. thats all. if you dont like it, buy googles devices...

and when samsung or any other android company makes an update, they cannot just released it. it has to be tested and approved also by carriers. it isnt only depending on google... and the main reason why you always have to wait updates (if you get any) is carriers and how they delay the releases...

 

[cyb3rdud3]

And no google nexus doesn't even do that either @mrex bitten once again by Androids fragmentation. Even when buying Google devices you aren't save, don't you read other posts before posting your own inaccuracies.

 

[mrex]

And no google nexus doesn't even do that either @mrex bitten once again by Androids fragmentation. Even when buying Google devices you aren't save, don't you read other posts before posting your own inaccuracies.

not my fault if you dont follow news...

 

[cyb3rdud3]

not my fault if you dont follow news...

??? Please elaborate ...

 

[bearboy]

Samsung support sucks, as does their quality control in my experience. 5 different Note 4's all with hardware issues. 2 weeks to get my phone back from one of their 2 service centers in the US saying there is nothing wrong with it when I can reproduce the issue at will. I have no plans on purchasing an iPhone as it's not the phone I prefer, but damn I'm jealous of just walking into any Apple store and having my phone replaced on the spot. THIS is one of the reasons IMO that Samsung is losing money so badly, you just can't compare to Apple's customer service.

You went through 5 Note 4 phones!? I have the same Note 4 I bought last Fall and have had no issues at all. One, maybe two I could see as lemons that needed to repaired.

But 5 units tells me it's the user who be should in question?

 

[deluxeshredder]

iOS6 was a huge drag from my virgin iOS4 when it came to smoothness.

iOS 6 on an iPhone 4 was buttery smooth in my experience.

I FEEL the best firmware is the what usually comes with the phone right out of the box since that is the original on what it was built upon and OSes have matured.

This is true for the iOS 6 to iOS 7 move, but definitely not for Android.

Still, I agree with the OP that Android OEM's are terrible at updates. Part reason is skin, part money, and part because of carriers.

Another reason is driver support.

It is a shame that iOS7 was a huge revamp and the adoption rate was much faster while Lollipop is the biggest update since Ice Cream Sandwich and barely registering at the 1% mark for adoption after THREE MONTHS.

Lollipop is a much bigger update than iOS 7.

 

[spinedoc77]

You went through 5 Note 4!? I have the same Note 4 I bought last Fall and have had no issues at all. One, maybe two I could see as lemons that needed to repaired.

But 5 units tells me it's the user who be should in question?

No it doesn't. Go on XDA and there are more users who have been thru 3+ units with bad GPS hardware. I'm not saying it's a widespread issue, I don't know, but there is a big thread over there on it. Why does anyone who have differing issues than you have to be a liar?

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Because the money is already in their pocket and they don't care.

 

[sunking101]

Because the money is already in their pocket and they don't care.

That's pretty much the same with Apple once a new iPhone drops. My dad's iPhone 4 was ruined by the iOS7 update (major lack of speed issues), my old iPhone 5 was ruined by the iOS7 update (major battery life issues), and my iPhone 6+ has been pretty crap straight out of the box. 4-5 months in and no updates have addressed the majority of bugs.
I would swap all of this 'update' BS for a phone which worked well out of the box and received one optional and well tested *performance increasing* o/s update during the nominal 24 month lifespan.

 

[gotluck]

I must say that the fact you can't downgrade iOS devices is infuriating

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I must say that the fact you can't downgrade iOS devices is infuriating

What has that to do with Android handset manufacturers not good at providing updates?

Anyway you can, it is just that Apple stops signing old code for devices that can run the new, so you have to find your way around it with associated risks

 

[Ulenspiegel]

That's pretty much the same with Apple once a new iPhone drops. My dad's iPhone 4 was ruined by the iOS7 update (major lack of speed issues), my old iPhone 5 was ruined by the iOS7 update (major battery life issues), and my iPhone 6+ has been pretty crap straight out of the box. 4-5 months in and no updates have addressed the majority of bugs.
I would swap all of this 'update' BS for a phone which worked well out of the box and received one optional and well tested *performance increasing* o/s update during the nominal 24 month lifespan.

While I agree that Apple tends to ruin older phones with new updates (my 3G became unusable 'cuz of lag after 4.2.1), here we are talking about lack of updates in case of most Android manufactures.
My Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (2011) still runs on original stock firmware as no official update was provided.

 

[mrex]

My Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (2011) still runs on original stock firmware as no official update was provided.

which version have you? didn they release tab10.1 with honeycomb (android 3.1) and it got ics (android 4.0)? (not the "v" version)

 

[Ulenspiegel]

which version have you? didn they release tab10.1 with honeycomb (android 3.1) and it got ics (android 4.0)? (not the "v" version)

Yes, exactly, it is still Honeycomb (3.1). Nope, it did not get it officially (where I reside atm), which well maybe T-Mobile's fault (provider), but that does not change the fact. (Samsung Kies, which is a crap does not work ofc, as for thousands in the world, so it is not an option for update either).

It goes w/o saying that I can flash the Tablet myself, but that is not the way it meant to be.

 

[gotluck]

What has that to do with Android handset manufacturers not good at providing updates?

Anyway you can, it is just that Apple stops signing old code for devices that can run the new, so you have to find your way around it with associated risks

There is no public way to downgrade A5 or higher devices

The point is grass isn't completely greener on apples side.

Yes I still have an iPhone 4 with blobs I can jump around in between versions, if only all iOS devices were like that.

 

[cdm283813]

I have come to the conclusion that if you want timely upgrades within Android Nexus is the top option. Even with Motorola it could take a few weeks.
I personally bought a 2013 Nexus 7 for $130 8 months ago just to experience stock/custom firmware. And even though my Note 4 makes a excellent gaming device I never game in public or at work. The Nexus 7 fills that role very nicely. So for me I'm satisfied with the setup.