It is not uncommon for mobile phone manufacturers to stop updating the system of old models in the mobile phone industry, whether it is iOS or Android manufacturers, there is such a tradition. This practice may disappoint some users, especially those who are still using older models. For those who don't play games, they may feel that their iPhone X still performs well enough that they only need to change the battery to continue using it for three years. However, the iPhone X stopped updating iOS 17, which means that it will miss the new features and fixed vulnerabilities of the subsequent system, which makes some old users regret.
A similar situation has also occurred on the side of Android manufacturers, who have gradually slowed down the update of the mobile phone system, resulting in some "nail household" models cannot get the new version of the update. This has forced many users to abandon their old devices and buy new phones in order to experience the new system. However, mobile phone manufacturers do not always keep their promises, and sometimes stop updating the system of certain models, which has become a traditional practice.
For the system update of Android old mobile phones, some manufacturers will carry out partial maintenance, only fix system bugs, and will not update the kernel and new features. This leads to the embarrassing situation that although the system has been updated, it has not been completely updated. The reason for this is that in addition to selling mobile phone hardware, mobile phone manufacturers also obtain important revenue from advertising, traffic and financial services in mobile phone systems. Considering these factors, mobile phone manufacturers will not completely give up the maintenance of mobile phone systems. They will adhere to the principle of being able to do a little bit and will not easily give up the maintenance of the mobile phone system. Therefore, pulling out the "nail household" and letting users buy a new phone is a good thing for manufacturers. If these "nail households" cannot be removed, then old users still have a certain "surplus value", and mobile phone manufacturers can profit from them.
For example, Xiaomi announced that it will stop supporting MIUI development version updates for 11 models from August 4, 2023, including Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold, Xiaomi Mi MIX 4, Xiaomi Mi 12X, Xiaomi Civi, Xiaomi Cici 1S, Mi Tablet 5, Mi Tablet 5 Pro, Mi Pad 5 Pro 5G, Redmi Note11 Pro, Redmi Note11 Pro+. In addition, Xiaomi Mi 10S, Xiaomi 11 Youth Edition, Redmi K40, Redmi K40 Pro, Redmi K40 Pro+, Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition, and Redmi Note10 Pro have also stopped updating the MIUI development version system on April 21. Similarly, Samsung announced in early April that it would stop supporting Galaxy S10e, Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A30 phones, and no longer push updates.
If not sanctioned, after Huawei mobile phones turn on the Harmony system, many old mobile phones may also stop updating EMUI. Nevertheless, in order to maintain the satisfaction of old users, some manufacturers will still provide updates to some old phones. For example, Huawei launched its own Hongmeng operating system, and plans to provide updates to the Hongmeng system to some old mobile phones within a certain period of time to extend their service life.
In general, the practice of mobile phone manufacturers stopping system updates for old models is a traditional practice in the industry. While this may cause dissatisfaction among some users, from the manufacturer's point of view, doing so can help reduce after-sales pressure and push users to buy new phones. The trade-off between balancing profits and user demand is a complex consideration.
In recent years, mobile phone manufacturers have generally adopted the strategy of stopping updating the system to encourage old users to replace with new mobile phones. Although this approach is unfortunate for some users, it has some manufacturers' pains and considerations behind it.
First of all, an important factor is technical limitations. Over time, mobile phone hardware and software evolve rapidly, and new systems often require higher processing power and more memory. For some older phone models, their hardware specifications may not meet the requirements of the new system and therefore cannot provide updates. Attempting to install updates on older devices can lead to issues such as slow performance, stuttering, and instability, which can create a bad experience for users and affect brand image.
Second, mobile phone manufacturers need to consider resource allocation and maintenance costs. Rolling out a new system requires significant development and testing efforts, including adapting hardware, resolving compatibility issues, and providing maintenance and technical support. It is not cost-effective for older phones that have been discontinued or sold less expensively to continue to invest resources in developing and maintaining new systems. Vendors need to allocate resources and focus more on the latest products and services to provide better user experience and technical support.
In addition, commercial considerations are also a factor in the fact that vendors are stopping updating their systems. In addition to selling hardware, mobile phone manufacturers also generate revenue through advertising, traffic and financial services within the system. By guiding users to a new phone, they can encourage users to experience the latest features and services, thereby increasing the usage and revenue of these additional services. In the highly competitive mobile phone market, manufacturers need to constantly introduce new products to attract consumers, and stopping updating the system has become an effective strategy to stimulate users to buy new phones and increase sales.
Although mobile phone manufacturers have adopted a strategy of stopping updating the system, they usually provide a certain maintenance period to ensure that old users can still get system bug fixes and security updates for a certain period of time. For some of the more popular models, there will even be a relatively long support period. This approach takes into account both the needs of users and the interests of manufacturers. However, as technology continues to advance and consumer demand for longer-term system support increases, some handset manufacturers are also rethinking their strategies. They are gradually realizing that providing users with longer system update support can increase user satisfaction, strengthen brand loyalty, and establish a good image of the manufacturer.
In short, it is not uncommon for mobile phone manufacturers to stop updating the system of old models. While this may cause dissatisfaction among some users, from the manufacturer's point of view, doing so can help reduce after-sales pressure and push users to buy new phones. However, as consumer demand for longer-term system support increases, some vendors are also beginning to re-evaluate their strategies and offer longer update support.