There is an Android smartphone out there that has been receiving updates since 2015, and it will stop receiving them in March 2023, after 7 years. Well, technically, even a bit over 7 years at this point.
This Android smartphone is set to stop receiving update after 7 years
The phone in question is called the Fairphone 2. You may have heard of Fairphone products, as they’re well-known for being sustainability-focused. They usually ship with a small screwdriver, and Fairphone made it extremely easy to repair them, and to change components.
In any case, the Fairphone 2 launched in 2015 with Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. Fairphone said the following in a statement: “In March 2023, we will share a final Fairphone 2 software update for Android 10. After this is installed, users can continue to use their devices as normal. However, in terms of software support, that will be the final update. If there is a bug that users hope will be fixed, that won’t happen anymore.”
Fairphone does warn that the phone will become less secure to use once the updates stop. It also warns users that banking apps may stop working down the line.
The Fairphone 2 got updated to Android 10 in March last year
Just to be clear, the Fairphone 2 got the Android 10 update last year, in March. Some of you may scoff at that, as Android 13 has been out for a while now, and at the time the Fairphone 2 got the update, Android 12 was widely available.
You have to keep in mind that the Fairphone 2 is a phone from 2015, and that it’s fueled by the Snapdragon 801 SoC. This phone launched with Android 5.1 Lollipop way back in the day. So the fact it got Android 10 is… excellent. Fairphone really put a lot of companies to shame.
To put some icing on the cake, Fairphone is offering a €50 voucher if you recycle your Fairphone 2 before March 31. You can get yourself a newer product from the company, if you want.