How long and in what manner should software updates be provided for devices released 5-6 years ago? When should support be discontinued if serious performance drops occur due to hardware limitations? What could be the dimensions of an approach that prioritizes user experience?
How should long-term software support be handled for older models?
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Thank you, you've opened a great topic. I think this is a good opportunity to emphasize the importance of long-term hardware support policies.
I’ve been working on Arduino projects for years, so I know this topic inside out. The issue of long-term support for older devices is especially critical when it comes to hardware we use in education—like a 2017 Arduino Uno that starts showing performance drops after just five installations, which really frustrates the students.
It wouldn’t be fair to set a support timeline based solely on hardware limitations, because the user experience depends entirely on that. For example, in my students’ sensor projects, error rates increase after 4-5 years due to lag. In those cases, I either recommend upgrading the hardware or try to salvage performance by using lighter libraries. Ultimately, support duration shouldn’t be dictated by the hardware’s physical limits but by real-world usage data and innovative software solutions.
I think the issue of long-term software support is really critical. I also had a Samsung Galaxy S7 from 2017, and I was able to get official support up to Android 9. Three years of support didn't seem enough to me, especially during a time when the hardware was still performing very well. While it was possible to stay up to date with third-party ROMs up to the Galaxy S9, when I compared the stability and performance to the factory settings, I saw that there were limits to the device's second life.
While it makes sense to cut off support when performance loss occurs due to hardware limitations, there should be a transition plan that doesn't disrupt the user experience. For example, on my S7, after switching to Android 8, the frequency of app crashes started to increase. At this point, manufacturers could offer at least one more year of support under the name of "cautious support," possibly with performance improvements tied to the hardware. Wouldn't it be a significant contribution to e-waste reduction if users could use their devices for one more year instead of throwing them away?