What it means when your phone isn’t supported anymore

While plenty of the latest and greatest smartphones provide four or more years of software support, this is a relatively new development in the Android space. If you haven’t upgraded in the past couple of years, chances are you’re nearing the end of the two or three years of support your manufacturer promised, even if you plan to hold on to your phone for a few more years.

Those with more mid-range hardware are even more likely to have already stopped receiving updates. But even the new Google Pixel 8, which leads the field with seven years of software support, will eventually reach the end of its life (albeit in 2030). So, should you be concerned when your phone isn’t supported anymore? Here’s everything you need to know.