Can You Make Sense of OnePlus’s Complicated Update Policy?
Recently, there has been widespread uncertainty regarding the software update policy for OnePlus’ Android devices. The company has since streamlined its communication, and much of the confusion has been addressed.
According to a report from Droid-Life, OnePlus confirmed that the OnePlus 13 model would receive four major Android updates. Notably, this includes Android 15, which comes pre-installed, as one of those updates. Thus, the device is expected to support up to Android 18 when it reaches the end of its lifecycle.
However, in a subsequent community post and announcement, OnePlus clarified that the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R will indeed be updated up to Android 19. They stated:
Let’s clear the confusion. The OnePlus 13 and 13R will receive 4 major Android updates: Android 16, 17, 18, and 19, along with 6 years of security updates. The pre-installed Android version at launch doesn’t count as the first update.
While this clarification is welcomed, some inconsistencies remain. OnePlus has made it clear that the initial version of Android does not count as the first update for their smartphones. However, the same does not apply to their smartwatch series, which includes the OnePlus Watch series. For these devices, the pre-installed Wear OS version is counted within their update policy.
Specifically, OnePlus provided details for the software update plans for their smartwatches:
- The OnePlus Watch 2 will receive 3 years of software updates (WearOS 4, 5 & 6). Additionally, it will also benefit from 3 years of quarterly security updates from 2024 until 2026.
- The OnePlus Watch 3 will receive 3 years of software updates (WearOS 5, 6 & 7) and 3 years of quarterly security updates from 2025 until 2027.
This creates some confusion since the timeline mentioned for these updates appears inconsistent with the initial three-year promise. When approached for clarification, OnePlus stated that this is their confirmed policy. This situation raises questions, especially as it contradicts their stance on smartphone updates where the out-of-the-box version is not counted.
The mixed messaging regarding update policies for OnePlus devices continues to create uncertainty among consumers. While the approach towards Android updates is being clarified, the same level of transparency does not seem to apply to the smartwatch line, leading to potential frustrations among users who expect similar policies across product lines.
