OnePlus will match Google's update record with three years of updates on the OnePlus 5 and 5T

Most Android OEMs have a garbage policy on major updates. The majority commit to two major OS updates and have to be praised for even delivering at all. Others usually just do one and leave unfortunate owners out in the cold. OnePlus, however, is pushing the envelope.

The Chinese company, starting with the OnePlus 3 and 3T, has taken to sending three major updates to its devices. That’s a record that’s currently only matched by Google itself with the Pixel line. OnePlus sent out the Android Q update to the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro yesterday and has also confirmed that the OnePlus 5 and 5T will get the update.

The OnePlus 5, for example, was launched back in 2017 with Android Nougat and has since gotten two major updates: Oreo and Pie. Q will be the last major update it gets. Comparatively, the Samsung Galaxy S8 was launched around the same time but will almost definitely not receive Android Q.

While OnePlus can be said to be matching Google with the number of major updates, some context is required. The OnePlus 5T, for example, was launched after the release of Android Oreo but ran Nougat. The Pixel 2 was released right around then too but with Oreo. While both devices will see three major updates, the Pixel 2 will get Android R, while the 5T’s journey stops with Q. 

Of course, OnePlus’s performance in this regards is still better than just about every other OEM’s, so we’re not going to whinge about that. Essential has also managed to match Google at every step but the company has just the one device to cater to, so it's not quite the same thing, is it?