Ex iPhone user wondering about the lack of security patches: how big a deal is that?

[Bob in NC]

I got the Moto G5 Plus at Costco for $219. The 32 meg version.

I love the phone and like it a lot better than my iPhone 6s due screen size, battery life, Google integration, ease of use, and 1/3 the price for an unlocked phone.

My only concern is the lack of operating system updates and security patches that I gather can be a problem with Android phones in general and the Moto phones in particular.

How big a "real world" problem is this? One thing Apple does well, IMHO, is keep all their phones --including models several years old -- updated.

Do Android users just have to buy a phone every year or two to get the latest operating system or critical updates? If so, the apparent savings of my Moto G5 Plus is more imagined than real: buying a new version every year basically equates to buying an iPhone 6s--which I have--and keeping it three years.

I have 90 days to return the Moto G5 Plus and need help assessing how big a problem the lack of timely updates is for the average user (vs. a power user, which I am not).

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Golfdriver97]

I think this is still a major issues for OEMs. One way to possibly counteract this is to flash a custom ROM that is well supported and updates after the base AOSP code is (Think Lineage, formerly Cyanogen). I think I would, at worst, be comfortable with a device that updated every other month for security patches. If a device company can keep that up, they would be doing quite well in my opinion.

 

[Bob in NC]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'd certainly be comfortable with a phone that updated every couple of months but it is my understanding the Moto G5 Plus hasn't updated since January (perhaps at the time of release).

As to the rest of your counsel, I'm afraid that's way above my paygrade given my newbie status, but thanks for trying.

 

[Goodspike]

There was just a new release for the May security updates. We still don't know how frequent they will be.

IMHO it's not that big of a deal if you limit yourself to apps from the Play Store and don't leave the setting to download other apps open.

 

[Hobson123]

Other than the updates how are you enjoying the phone?

 

[Hobson123]

There was just a new release for the May security updates. We still don't know how frequent they will be.

IMHO it's not that big of a deal if you limit yourself to apps from the Play Store and don't leave the setting to download other apps open.

Also mine hasn't updated and I check once a week any idea why?

 

[Goodspike]

No--I just checked a week or two ago and the update was there. Maybe they roll them out like the carriers do????

 

[anon(123856)]

I still haven't seen it yet.

 

[anon(123856)]

That's still way behind schedule. May patch in July? I suppose for Motorola it's better than nothing.

 

[bennor3814]

Also mine hasn't updated and I check once a week any idea why?

For some (including myself) you can get the update by powering the phone off. Pulling the sim card. Powering the phone back on without the sim card. Then the OTA update to NPNS25.137-35-5 (May 1, 2017) appeared and could be installed.

Based on my past exerience with Motorola (i've owned several of their phones over the years) they are slow on pushing updates to their phones. I just hope they don't abandon the G5 Plus as its a good phone with good features and with a few tweaks and fixes could be even better.

So far the phone has been very good for me. The only issue I've had so far is with an older Motorola H500 bluetooth headset not working properly with the phone yet the phone bluetooth function works appears to work with my Garmin Nuvi hands free feature. Other then that the phone (knock on wood) has worked great. Battery life is good (so far).

 

[Bob in NC]

Thx for this suggestion. I'll give it a try.

 

[anon(123856)]

Mine updated last night. I just did the usual check through settings.

 

[korab84]

Mine updated last night. I just did the usual check through settings.

May 1st security updates and still stuck on Android 7.0

 

[anon(123856)]

Yeah that's what mine is at too.