Opinion: Large Android updates are typically less streamlined than those coming down from the Apple tree, with highly fragmented deployments that depend on manufacturers as well as carriers and other factors, and are inherently It slows down the process of getting the latest and greatest Android. Update information.
Google develops Android, so it’s no surprise that Pixel phones are usually the first to get a big update, in this case Android 15.
This big update rolled out to Pixel phones earlier this week, but what about other manufacturers?
It’s safe to say that third-party Android OEMs have a bit of a chaotic history with Android updates. Let’s take Samsung as an example. Despite Google releasing OneUI 6 (based on Android 14) on its then-flagship Galaxy S23 series just weeks after it was released last year, this year’s OneUI 7 update will likely coincide with the announcement of the rumored Galaxy S25 collection. It was postponed to 2025.
There are many delays
Samsung is not alone in this struggle. A well-known Android brand like Honor didn’t roll out the Android 14 update to its 2023 flagship Honor Magic 5 Pro until April 2024, six months after the software debuted.
Indeed, the idea of an OEM promising years of OS upgrades feels hollow when you might not receive updates for months after release.
OnePlus was in a similar position with its OxygenOS 14 update, which was based on Android 14. While the OnePlus 11 received an update in December 2023, the top-end OnePlus Open did not receive an update until May 2024, four months after the release of OnePlus 12 with OxygenOS 14.
However, OnePlus seems to be trying to rectify the situation this year by rolling out the OxygenOS 15 update based on Android 15 in a timely and timely manner. Even though the latest Pixel series just got the big Android 15 update earlier this week, OnePlus has confirmed that OxygenOS 15 will debut next week, on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
OnePlus ranks first
The company has been quite cagey about what to expect so far, so we’re told it will coincide with a livestream scheduled to start at 3:30pm (BST), outlining the software’s new features. I’m looking forward to it.
Hinting that the update offers “the perfect combination of speed, performance, and intelligence,” OxygenOS 15 not only offers new AI features focused on productivity and creativity, but also includes updated algorithms and animations. This is said to result in an overall faster and smoother experience. The software is also expected to be redesigned, but details of the new features have not yet been disclosed.
However, the most important information that has not yet been revealed is the list of devices that will receive the update next Thursday.
It’s almost certainly going to arrive first on this year’s top-end OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R, but we expect it to appear on other 2024 releases like the OnePlus Nord 4 and perhaps the OnePlus Pad 2. However, the tablet-optimized version may take a little longer to roll out. After all, there are far more OnePlus smartphones out there than OnePlus tablets.
What I’m more interested in is the rollout to slightly older devices, such as the OnePlus 11 and the top-of-the-line foldable device, the OnePlus Open.
If OnePlus is able to roll out the update widely on Thursday, it would set a new benchmark for Android OEMs rolling out major Android updates. This is rivaled only by Google and Apple, the companies behind Android and iOS, respectively.
The fact that OnePlus is in the same conversation is a credit to OnePlus’ commitment to its fanbase. Let’s hope the OxygenOS 15 update is as exciting as OnePlus is announcing it. However, thankfully we don’t have to wait too long to find out.
