OnePlus President Kinder Liu has elaborated on the reasoning behind the decision to not offer seven years of software updates with the OnePlus 12. Liu believes that extended update promises by companies like Samsung and Google may not be practical if the hardware cannot match up, given concerns about battery degradation with long-term smartphone use. He emphasized the importance of a fast and smooth user experience, suggesting that longer software updates may not matter if a device’s hardware cannot perform at the same level. In response to this, OnePlus conducted tests with TÜV SUD for the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R to ensure a “fast and smooth” performance for four years.
Essentially, OnePlus’ President Kinder Liu explained that longer software updates do not necessarily translate to a better user experience if a device’s hardware cannot keep up. Comparing a smartphone to a sandwich, Liu highlighted the importance of ensuring that not only the “filling,” which represents the phone’s software, but also the “bread,” representing the user experience, remains top-notch over time. Additionally, he expressed concerns about the potential battery degradation that a phone might face after seven years of use, pointing out that when competitors promise seven years of software updates, it’s important to consider the potential impact on the phone’s battery life. Ultimately, OnePlus put significant emphasis on guaranteeing a “fast and smooth” performance for four years with the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R, based on tests conducted with TÜV SUD.