Xiaomi commits to extended Android updates, but there’s a catch
Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Xiaomi has announced a new, longer Android update policy.
- The new directive only applies to the Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro, at least for the time being.
- Xiaomi’s new range of smartphones will debut on September 15th.
Xiaomi will introduce a new Android update policy together with the upcoming 11T series. The company confirmed that the Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro will receive three Android system upgrades and four years of security patches when they officially arrive later this month.
Xiaomi believes this change will better serve the longer lifecycle of smartphones while improving the long-term security of those who are attached to them.
The move also puts Xiaomi on a par with Samsung’s Android upgrade commitment, which allows its newer devices to have four years of security updates with three major Android upgrades. Companies like OnePlus, and more recently Oppo and Vivo, also commit to three-year upgrade periods for certain models.
Read more: Dear OEMs, your Android update policy should have nothing to do with PR
What about older Xiaomi phones?
There is a caveat, however. The new policy does not apply to current Xiaomi smartphones. At least not now. Xiaomi specifically states that only the 11T and 11T Pro will benefit from the move. However, it confirmed that it would “look into” the possibility of extending the directive to more devices in the future. With Xiaomi’s extensive range of smartphones, this could be a difficult task. However, data from a recent survey suggests that our readers are demanding that a three-year upgrade commitment be the standard for all devices across the industry.
What else can we expect from the Xiaomi 11T series? Thanks to multiple leaks and early confirmations, we have a pretty good idea of what the phones will bring. Xiaomi recently confirmed that the Pro model would support 120W charging. Rumors also speak of a 120 Hz display, a 5,000 mAh battery and the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
But we don’t have to wait long for specific details. Xiaomi will launch the 11T series on September 15th.
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