this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
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The software support hinges on SoC vendor support. You can only support it as long as the SoC vendor supports the SoC. Afterwards you can provide quasi support, for the upper OS layer only. Critical modem vulnerability past that point? SOL. I'm not aware of the current vendor support across brands but the last time I checked QC offered ~3 years and I think that's from introduction of the SoC, not when it shipped in devices. I don't know if anyone who sells their SoC offers longer support. It's sad stuff.
I think this is why Fairphone chose an SoC that is usually used in industrial/IoT hardware for the FP5. They'll apparently get software support from Qualcomm until 2028.
Due to choosing a chip intended for IoT use, the FP5 should even get updates for eight years, until 2031.
Even if official support isn't possible past a certain point (Google and Samsung are pushing 7+ years, fwiw), all phones need to have a bootloader unlock mechanism for unofficial support past that point. LineageOS or mobile Linux with some broken functionality is still better than nothing.
No question. All I'm saying is it's not feasible or truthful for the device OEM to claim they can support longer than the SoC vendor supports the proprietary SoC bits.
Or they have to clearly specify that the support is not all-inclusive and/or that it's best-effort.
i imagine thats why they are pushing for vendors to mainline all that soc driver code.
sadly we are still SOL when it comes to modem firmware. thats probably why stingrays can work so well.