My Android phone, which was released less than two years ago, came with Android 5.1. While the phone still regularly gets OTA updates and even gets new versions of the manufacturers customized version of Android, it will sadly never be updated to a newer version of Android.
I'm well aware of that. But while I'd rather have the latest version of Android, I can live with an old version if I have to.
That's why I've been using CyanogenMod and now LineageOS for several years. They implement the newest security patches very fast.
True. But not everyone would want to root for security reasons and not all phone can be rooted. Although lineage is available for almost all devices
as summer mentioned you can always root and go for lineage to be on latest android and security updates
If you install LineageOS you don't have root by default. You only have it if you also install the appropriate su package.
Oh yeah right you need an unlocked bootloader now . Then a custom recovery and then a rom . Its been a long time since I rooted so forgot
Thanks for suggestion, but for now I'll stick with the included OS. There are several custom ROMs available for my phone, but they all seem to have some bugs and don't have OTA updates.
One of the reasons why users do not immediately update to the latest version of Android is because updates can often cause a device to malfunction. If said device is a (pure) Google product, then Google must take responsibility for fixing the problem(s). But if the device is a Samsung or a Sony or a LG, then it gets more complicated - from the User's perspective, it is difficult to know who is to blame. From my point of view, I now delay system updates having virtually bricked a Nexus 7 a couple of years ago following one such update.
Completely understand your predicament. One of mine is also pretty much Lollipop (on a Mate 2) and while it's long since rooted I chose to keep that OS although it's agreed the other ROMS are available with more features all the way around. Frankly there's simply not enough time in my busy life to be switching in and out of ROMS to test them but if i did and something went south I keep TWRP backups and also stock factory if need be resort backward and work up again. Mine originally came with JellyBean. What you can do is use a reputable AV and also read up on only qualified sites that are best to learn all you can for your current device OS. These handsets can be quite expensive and the constant barrage to upgrade for the common person isn't always an option whether they recommend it or not. You just have to made do the best you can with what you have sometimes
I only update Android when the manufacturer offers an update (I always buy retail, unlocked, no-contract). And to avoid disappointments, when I buy an Android, I assume it will not be updated. Manufacturers are not interested, they just want to sell you a new phone (possibly with a version of Android) next year.
That's about the size of it. Wish I could set aside more time to delve deeper into the Android O/S because there's plenty enough to it to chew on for sure. What little time spent was even more intriguing for me than Windows in coming across various tweaks, security etc. Maybe on some of those cold winter days when the clock seems to stop. But you're right Robin A., handset vendors are in a race to simply push out the devices. Like anything else it's almost always up to the consumer to try to make the most of it and sometimes you get lucky.