Can You Figure Out This Confusing OnePlus Update Policy?

Confusion has spread like wildfire recently around the update policy for OnePlus’ Android devices, but the company has set its policy in stone, and it’s mostly clear at this point.

As reported by Droid-Life last week, OnePlus told the outlet that the OnePlus 13 would get four years of Android updates, but that this would include Android 15 – which the device runs out of the box – as one of its four Android OS upgrades, leaving the device on Android 18 when it hits end-of-life.

In a further statement and a community post, OnePlus has since clarified that this is not the case, and the OnePlus 13 (and OnePlus 13R) will be updated through Android 19.

OnePlus says:

Let’s clear the confusion.
The OnePlus 13 and 13R will receive 4 major Android updates: Android 16, 17, 18, and 19, & 6 years of security updates. The pre-installed Android version at launch doesn’t count as the first update.

That’s as it should be.

But what’s still confusing is that, where OnePlus was very clear that the pre-installed version doesn’t count as the “first update” on its phones, the company stands by a policy for the OnePlus Watch series which does include the pre-installed version – Wear OS 4 for the Watch 2, and Wear OS 5 for Watch 3. Both of these watches should, by the “3 years” promise, have one additional year and one additional OS upgrade in the policy.

OnePlus says:

The OnePlus Watch 2 will receive 3 years of software updates (WearOS 4, 5 & 6). In addition, we are happy to confirm that it will also receive 3 years of quarterly security updates; from 2024 until 2026.
The OnePlus Watch 3 will receive 3 years of software updates (WearOS 5, 6 & 7), as well as 3 years of quarterly security updates; from 2025 until 2027.

As we pointed out when OnePlus initially sent this statement, the “3 years” mentioned is contrary to the 2024-2026 and 2025-2027 timelines mentioned. We asked OnePlus to clarify the matter, but we were told that this is the “confirmed” policy. OnePlus said the same to Droid-Life as well. We’ve again asked for clarification, citing the company’s own post about phone updates, but have not yet heard back.

This is all rather confusing at the end of the day, as OnePlus is adamant about not including that pre-installed version of Android on its phones, only to repeatedly say exactly the opposite on its watches.

We’ll update this post if OnePlus provides any further details. In the meantime, what do you think about it?