Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2026 keynote presentation was very AI-focused, but amongst it all, there was an announcement that was very consumer focused.
When the newly announced iOS 27 software is released later this year, it will be available on every iPhone model made since the iPhone 11, which was first available to buy at the end of 2019.
No fuss, no confusion, just a confidence-inspiring commitment to buyers old and new.
Apple’s approach to software updates has always been better than any Android manufacturer, but it has never been more obvious than now.
Google loves iPhone users a little too much, and as an Android fan, I feel betrayed
Google is rolling out the red carpet for iPhone users while Android loyalists wait
A lot of updates
On a lot of phones
People are very concerned about Android software updates. They want to know how many software updates are coming to their phone, or the one they’re interested in buying, to the point that it’s often seen as a reason to buy one model over another.
People worry that the hardware won’t keep up with the new software, and fret about battery life when update number six eventually turns up.
Manufacturers are less concerned. It’s never a guaranteed talking point during briefings or launch events for new Android devices, and often needs to be addressed during a Q&A session.
If it’s missing from the resulting device coverage, it’s almost certain to be a question asked in the comments section.
The number of updates, either to the operating system or security-based, a phone gets differs between manufacturers.
There’s also never a single release date. It’s always staggered, and owners of old phones are often near the bottom of the list.
There are many reasons why this is the case, ranging from financial issues to Android’s age-old fragmentation problems, but none are the concern of the device owner.
It couldn’t be any more different from Apple’s approach to software updates.
The language around software updates
Valued customers
Yes, Apple is different from Android, and because it’s in full control of devices and software, it can manage software updates more effectively.
However, this is only part of the story, and doesn’t excuse the average Android device maker from not prioritizing updates more, or making them easier for device owners to understand.
During the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple didn’t say the next iPhone would get seven years of software updates.
Instead, it said iOS 27 would come to all devices released since the iPhone 11 from 2019.
The use of language is fascinating and hugely important.
The way Apple presents its updates doesn’t suggest that only people who buy new phones will benefit from the software as saying, “You get seven years of software updates with our phones,” does.
Instead, it makes existing owners feel safe and valued.
It doesn’t penalize those not interested in upgrading their phone right now, it doesn’t force owners to go and search to see if their phone will get iOS 27, and it doesn’t pressure anyone into thinking they need to upgrade to remain up-to-date.
Buyers know the situation
A secure future
By not committing to a future timeframe, Apple is also helping itself avoid any kickback if things suddenly change down the line, but there’s still security for the buyer.
You can buy an iPhone and look at Apple’s update commitment to its older phones, and feel pretty safe that your new phone will get updates for at least another five to seven years.
This doesn’t only apply to iPhone models either, but covers iPad tablets, Apple Watch smartwatches, and Mac computers too.
People also know the major updates arrive around September or October each year, in line with the new iPhone model release, and dot releases come throughout the year.
It’s very different from the world of Android.
If you buy a Samsung phone, for example, anything regarding software updates is far less clear.
It depends on everything from which model it is, where it’s located in the world, and the network it’s connected to, to even whether you manually check to see if an update is available on the phone or not.
Google is better, but it has only offered seven years of OS updates on its phones since the Pixel 8 in 2023.
The official word on when its Pixel Drops updates will arrive is also entirely noncommittal:
Updates roll out gradually, and are dependent on the operator and device. It may take a few weeks for the update to arrive on your device.
Taking care of existing owners
Less fuss, more confidence
Android owners and device makers can make all the excuses they like about why Android updates are still inconsistent, messy, difficult to predict, and vary from device to device, country to country, and carrier to carrier.
Apple continues to show us how software updates should be handled, with clear, concise information, comprehensive device coverage, and a schedule that’s easy to predict, that treats owners old and new in the same way.
It’s now at the point where anyone who gets worked up about Android updates, or complains about when or even if one will arrive on their phone, should just switch to an iPhone and remove what seems to be an obvious stress from their lives.
You could go out tomorrow and buy a used iPhone 11, a refurbished iPhone 16e, or a brand-new iPhone 17 Pro Max, and know right from the start exactly what software updates will arrive and when.
Try doing that with a Motorola phone.
