Samsung was the first Android brand to take software update support seriously. With the launch of the Galaxy S21, it announced four major Android OS updates for high-end phones, surpassing even Google. However, Google came back strongly to announce seven major Android OS updates, and Samsung matched that. However, more Android smartphone brands could follow Google and Samsung.
Google improved Android to make it easier for brands to offer seven Android OS updates
Similar to Samsung, Google wants other Android smartphone brands to offer seven major Android OS updates. The GRF (Google Requirements Freeze) program that started in 2020 allows chipset makers like MediaTek and Qualcomm to support brands with up to three major Android OS updates. According to Android Authority's report, if a brand wants to offer more Android OS updates, it has to pay the chipset vendor for additional updates.
With the new Longevity GRF (Google Requirements Freeze) program allows for a chipset’s vendor software to be reused for seven Android version updates instead of three Android versions. It means that a phone brand that launched a phone with Android 15 can offer seven Android OS updates until Android 22.
The recently announced Snapdragon 8 Elite is the first chipset under the Longevity GRF, making it easier for brands to offer seven major Android OS updates. Hence, brands other than Google and Samsung can also offer seven major Android version updates without spending a lot of money or engineering resources. However, whether those brands will offer more updates remains to be seen.
The Galaxy S25 will be the first Samsung phone to launch with Android 15 (One UI 7) and the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. You can watch One UI 7.0 running in our video below.
There is a catch with Longevity GRF as well. Smartphone brands will have to update the Linux kernel version once every three years. It has to be a major kernel update if the brand wants to receive certification for the update. This disincentivizes Android smartphone brands from supporting new hardware features added in newer versions of Android.
