Which manufacturer updates its phones the fastest? (Android 11 edition)
Timely Android updates are just as important as the number of years a manufacturer promises to support a product. After all, it’s no good receiving September’s security patch next April. Update speed should definitely be a factor when deciding on your next smartphone purchase. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve ranked the top 10 major brands by the time taken to bring Android 11 their last-gen flagship smartphones.
Our verdict: Android 11 review: The devil is in the details
Before we get into the numbers, there are some important notes:
- This article is based on information found in our Android 11 update tracker.
- We’ve ranked the OEMs purely by the time to first update (excluding betas). However, some models and carrier variants may be left with a longer wait.
- Updates roll out at different times in different regions for different people, so view the dates below as estimates.
- We haven’t included Google’s Pixel phones as they’re the starting point for Android updates; making it the fastest OEM by default. If you want a phone that’s guaranteed to be updated quickly, a Google Pixel is the best place to start!
1. OnePlus
- First device(s) with stable Android 11: OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro
- Date of first stable rollout: October 10, 2020
- Days passed since official OS launch: 32
OnePlus was quick out of the gate with a beta version and started rolling out the stable version of Android 11 via OxygenOS 11 to the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro virtually a month after Google’s announcement. While not quite as fast as the 18 days it took OnePlus to roll out Android 10 last year, the company remains one of the fastest in the business when it comes to speedy updates.
Speed isn’t everything though, OxygenOS 11 has proven to be a controversial update, sporting a change in direction from the company’s previously minimalistic take on additional OS features. The OnePlus 8 series is currently on its sixth Android 11 update, with a number of fixes continuing to come in to patch up another less than smooth launch.
OnePlus has also rolled out Android 11 beta updates to its On.
2. Oppo
- First device(s) with stable Android 11: Oppo Find X2, Oppo Find X2 Pro
- Date of first stable rollout: November 3, 2020
- Days passed since official OS launch: 56
Just like sibling company OnePlus, Oppo has quickly issued its updates to Android 11 over the past few months. The company took a very reasonable 56 days to begin rolling out the stable update to the Oppo Find X2 family of smartphones, delivering on its promise to provide an update before the end of 2020.
Based on Android 11, Color OS 11 is already rolling out to the F17 Pro and a selection of handsets in the company’s Reno series. A wider range of Oppo Reno handsets are scheduled to receive the same update in the first half of 2021, along with a selection of its A series phones. Well done this year, Oppo.
3. Xiaomi
- First device(s) with stable Android 11: Xiaomi Mi 10, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
- Date of first stable rollout: November 9, 2020
- Days passed since official OS launch: 62
Xiaomi is another Chinese manufacturer pushing out updates much faster this generation. 62 days to bring Android 11 to its Mi 10 flagship range is a record for the company, almost halving Android 10’s 122 days and a substantial improvement from the 200 days it took to roll out Android 7 Nougat.
It’s taken a little longer, but Xiaomi has also brought its MIUI 12 skin to its Redmi K30 phones and the affordable Poco F2 Pro in early 2021. The company’s Android 11 rollout hasn’t been all smooth sailing though. Reports of bricked Mi A3 smartphones brought its rollout to a halt, requiring users to send their phones into service centers for repairs. Speed isn’t everything.
4. Realme
- First device(s) with stable Android 11: Realme X50 Pro
- Date of first stable rollout: December 4, 2020
- Days passed since official OS launch: 87
Realme was quick out of the gate with Android 11 beta updates for a rather large selection of its handsets in September 2020. However, it took until December for the first stable update to begin rolling out to the Realme X50 Pro in India. Still, this makes Realme one of the faster brands to roll out the latest version of Android.
Realme’s Android 11 beta roadmap points to a wide range of updates for various handsets throughout the end of 2020, continuing into the first and second quarters of 2021. However, it looks like the brand will be slower at bringing stable updates to its wider product portfolio.
5. SamsungSamsung’s Android 11 / One UI 3.0 update appeared just a week or so behind the company’s upgrade to Android 10. Although many customers have been stuck in the frustrating situation where some regions and carriers have had to wait longer than others. Fortunately, most Galaxy S20 and Note 20 customers should have seen an update before the end of 2020, with updates to the Galaxy S10, Z Flip, and Fold, heading out in early 2021.
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