If you were a smartphone enthusiast around the 2010s, Mediatek-powered Android smartphones had garnered a reputation back then for not having extended software support compared to Snapdragon-powered Android phones due to the more open access nature of Snapdragon chipsets for developers on Android at the time. In turn, you will see Snapdragon devices getting supported for up to 2 or 3 years compared to only 1 or 2 years on MediaTek devices back in the 2010s.
However, in 2023, it seems that Mediatek-powered Android flagships can match or even have longer software support than Snapdragon-powered flagships as one smartphone manufacturer demonstrated with their 2 flagship smartphones launched last month. That manufacturer is Xiaomi, with their Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro.
The Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro were launched on 26 September 2023 and Xiaomi has promised both models will receive 4 years of major Android OS updates and 5 years of Android security updates from the company. However, what’s interesting about the promise of updates are that it only applies to the Xiaomi 13T series and does not apply to the Xiaomi 13 series released earlier this year with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
| Xiaomi 13T Series | Xiaomi 13 Series | |
| Devices | Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi 13T Pro | Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Ultra |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultra, MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Promised Android OS Updates | 4 years | 3 years |
| Promised Security Updates | 5 years | 5 years |
For context, the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro are powered with MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 8200 Ultra and Dimensity 9200+ smartphones processors respectively. These two Dimensity processors are manufactured on TSMC’s industry-leading 4nm process which has a reputation of excellent power efficiency and high yields, the same process used in Apple’s A16 Bionic processor on the iPhone 15.
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 13 Pro and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile processor, which is Qualcomm’s flagship offering this year. However, all three flagship models mentioned above are only promised to 3 years of major Android updates and 5 years of Android security updates.
In short, this means that the earlier launched Xiaomi 13 series powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will receive one year less of major Android OS updates than the MediaTek-powered Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro, debunking the myth of MediaTek devices receiving shorter years of software support than Snapdragon devices.
Do you think the move of promising and providing longer software support to MediaTek devices is a great move by Xiaomi in the current smartphone industry? Let us know in the comments below!
THIS IS GEEKWILLS SPONSOR PROMOTION >>>>>>>>>>
Geekwills is an online shop that caters to the latest mobiles, laptops, smart home gadgets, and all electronics in this genre. They deliver to customers in 190 countries. The Lenovo TWS earbuds have the best price for Gizmochina’s readers. Here is an exclusive coupon code: GCGK, 5% off for all products.
RELATED:
- Xiaomi 13T series is more feature-packed than most flagship killers
- Xiaomi 13T With Dimensity 8200 Ultra, IP68 Rating Launched Globally
- Xiaomi 13T Pro With Dimensity 9200+, 120W Fast Charging Debuts In The Global Markets
- Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers several premium features at mid-range price
- Xiaomi’s first car to be launched in battery electric and extended-range versions
