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I just bought my Nexus 4 not long ago. I am really impressed by how this phone is designed and how it functions despite of the flaws it has. It came shipping with the latest Android 4.2.2(maybe not anymore).
Then i recalled Google's policy about phones only having 18 months of Android Support(something like that). Anything more than that, either rely on this forum for newer versions of Android or get a new phone.
Then with Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One releasing their own Google Edition types. I was just wondering did Google ditch their Nexus fans for these alternatives.
I mean....Nexus 4 is nearly an 8 months old device. Only 10 more months to go and who knows whether this device can live till the next Google I/O for its next major upgrade of Android. Maybe Google foresaw this coming and hence decided to release Galaxy S4 and One's Google Edition?
What do you guys think?
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
They're Google editions not nexus and they're what people have been requesting for years.
Just sick that Samsung leak 4.3 before we have it, that stinks
Critical thoughts
How I feel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2340879
CalamitySir said:
I just bought my Nexus 4 not long ago. I am really impressed by how this phone is designed and how it functions despite of the flaws it has. It came shipping with the latest Android 4.2.2(maybe not anymore).
Then i recalled Google's policy about phones only having 18 months of Android Support(something like that). Anything more than that, either rely on this forum for newer versions of Android or get a new phone.
Then with Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One releasing their own Google Edition types. I was just wondering did Google ditch their Nexus fans for these alternatives.
I mean....Nexus 4 is nearly an 8 months old device. Only 10 more months to go and who knows whether this device can live till the next Google I/O for its next major upgrade of Android. Maybe Google foresaw this coming and hence decided to release Galaxy S4 and One's Google Edition?
What do you guys think?
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google has said they won't stop Nexus program. This GE program is still OEM dependent. The upgrades will come from OEM and not Google.
Also these devices won't be part of AOSP like Nexus devices are.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
ngr.hd said:
How I feel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2340879
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
OMG! I am so sorry I didn't see your thread and I opened a new one. But we have the same idea/thinking. And you are really right they are junks. I am just wondering how Google is going to repay us Nexus fans looking at how badly timed their I/O as it usually happens around the middle of the year. And this device is going to be so called "expired" by next year April.
Is Nexus 4 going to only have 4.3(upcoming) as its latest version looking at how it is only a minor upgrade compared to the previous nexus devices.
What I really hope is that Google can launch 5.0(maybe) before Nexus 4 go into retirement although I know that we still have this community to count on for future Android upgrades. If they don't release it by then, I am really going to be having doubts about their treatment to us Nexus fans.
atulalvenkar said:
Google has said they won't stop Nexus program. This GE program is still OEM dependent. The upgrades will come from OEM and not Google.
Also these devices won't be part of AOSP like Nexus devices are.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK I didn't read up on that part. Let's just hope those OEM continue to support their own skinned Android while leaving these behind.
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
CalamitySir said:
And you are really right they are junks. I am just wondering how Google is going to repay us Nexus fans looking at how badly timed their I/O as it usually happens around the middle of the year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Repay you for what? How was Google I/O badly timed? It is around the same time every year.
My GSM Galaxy Nexus is beyond its 18-month update window so if it gets 4.3, then Google may continue support beyond that window.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
The devices will be buildable in aosp for a good while, so don't be worried. A quad core phone with 2gb ram isn't losing support any time soon. Especially a nexus. My crespo has 4.2, and it shipped with GB..... Think of it like that.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
rubiconjp said:
My GSM Galaxy Nexus is beyond its 18-month update window so if it gets 4.3, then Google may continue support beyond that window.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From a technical point of view it will get 4.3 and KLP, the hardware is powerful enough if it can handle 4.2.2.
On the other side there is of course the $$$ for support of such old devices...
bozzykid said:
Repay you for what? How was Google I/O badly timed? It is around the same time every year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know its around the same time every year but Nexus 4 had a bad release date looking that this year I/O didn't release any new Android and the next one we are getting is only 4.3.
If we traced it forward, the next I/O should be around June next year which is already over the date of Google Support. Which means we won't be getting the next version after 4.3 officially but ofc we can still rely on our Devs here for their future builds(big thanks to them!!)
Unless, they are going to have their next major upgrade officially before next year I/O. If not they are just betraying us by telling us to get a new Nexus Device and only upgrading it once and its a minor one too(mainly under the hood stuffs).
Which leads me to think they are using better phones with better sales(fact) to continue their line of Android upgrades because it was badly timed. OK maybe partially due to the hurricane last year and they had to pull it back.
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
CalamitySir said:
I know its around the same time every year but Nexus 4 had a bad release date looking that this year I/O didn't release any new Android and the next one we are getting is only 4.3.
If we traced it forward, the next I/O should be around June next year which is already over the date of Google Support. Which means we won't be getting the next version after 4.3 officially but ofc we can still rely on our Devs here for their future builds(big thanks to them!!)
Unless, they are going to have their next major upgrade officially before next year I/O. If not they are just betraying us by telling us to get a new Nexus Device and only upgrading it once and its a minor one too(mainly under the hood stuffs).
Which leads me to think they are using better phones with better sales(fact) to continue their line of Android upgrades because it was badly timed. OK maybe partially due to the hurricane last year and they had to pull it back.
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense mate, but this is just a pile of bullsh*t.
Literally nothing of the above makes any sense.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
No idea what the OP means by "over the date of Google Support"...
There was some time ago a move by Google to convince OEMs (!) to support their phones 18months after release, this was of course nothing binding, but more like a "recommendation" by Google.
Google never said there is a time-frame for Nexus support, until the phones hardware can support a new Release, there will be AOSP support for it.
Testraindrop said:
No idea what the OP means by "over the date of Google Support"...
There was some time ago a move by Google to convince OEMs (!) to support their phones 18months after release, this was of course nothing binding, but more like a "recommendation" by Google.
Google never said there is a time-frame for Nexus support, until the phones hardware can support a new Release, there will be AOSP support for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I'm not quite sure where the OP is getting his/ her info from either..
Google will continue to support the Nexus line so long as the hardware is compatible with the software..
Google did I/0 right this year as its a developer conference and shouldn't be used for new products IMHO..
Testraindrop said:
No idea what the OP means by "over the date of Google Support"...
There was some time ago a move by Google to convince OEMs (!) to support their phones 18months after release, this was of course nothing binding, but more like a "recommendation" by Google.
Google never said there is a time-frame for Nexus support, until the phones hardware can support a new Release, there will be AOSP support for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. The op is confused.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
CalamitySir said:
I know its around the same time every year but Nexus 4 had a bad release date looking that this year I/O didn't release any new Android and the next one we are getting is only 4.3.
If we traced it forward, the next I/O should be around June next year which is already over the date of Google Support. Which means we won't be getting the next version after 4.3 officially but ofc we can still rely on our Devs here for their future builds(big thanks to them!!)
Unless, they are going to have their next major upgrade officially before next year I/O. If not they are just betraying us by telling us to get a new Nexus Device and only upgrading it once and its a minor one too(mainly under the hood stuffs).
Which leads me to think they are using better phones with better sales(fact) to continue their line of Android upgrades because it was badly timed. OK maybe partially due to the hurricane last year and they had to pull it back.
Sent from My Nexus 4 with Vanilla Android! Not those *****y phones who called themselves Google Editions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and you ideas are based on your imagination/creativity?
i/o is not when they release new nexus phones, nor is it a set date for android releases.
Is it my imagination, or has the Nexus 7 gone the way of most Android devices? The development cycle is so tight that anything over a few months old gets cut loose and never sees another update. This seems like a rampant issue. My Galaxy Tab 10.1 will probably never see another update either, and definitely will never see JB. Tablets seem worse than phones too. Someone correct me if I'm way off base here. I completely understand how this has happened, but I don't have to like it. And I wonder how consumers can influence this situation. What is worse, the Nexus 7 has not been superseded by another product yet, and still the updates seem to have completely stopped. I must say that Apple is somewhat better about supporting it's hardware longer too.
What updates are you expecting? There have been no newer versions of Android yet. Not really sure what updates there could be when nothing as been added to Android...
I mean come on, this is a damn Nexus device....it will get the next update...
Pirateghost said:
What updates are you expecting? There have been no newer versions of Android yet. Not really sure what updates there could be when nothing as been added to Android...
I mean come on, this is a damn Nexus device....it will get the next update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure I believe we will ever see another OTA update on N7. And I would be disappointed to think that no bug fixes have been found since the last OTA. Then again I doubt anyone will ever push another update to a N7. It's now like my Galaxy Tab 10.1, it "works" so why fix it. By the time a new version worth pushing arrives, the N7 will be incapable of running it. Just my opinion based on past history.
mntbighker said:
Not sure I believe we will ever see another OTA update on N7. And I would be disappointed to think that no bug fixes have been found since the last OTA. Then again I doubt anyone will ever push another update to a N7. It's now like my Galaxy Tab 10.1, it "works" so why fix it. By the time a new version worth pushing arrives, the N7 will be incapable of running it. Just my opinion based on past history.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Past history with non-nexus devices!! LOL
What are you going on about? Nexus devices get updates faster than any other devices....and longer support than other devices.
What color are the clouds in your world?
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda app-developers app
mntbighker said:
Not sure I believe we will ever see another OTA update on N7. And I would be disappointed to think that no bug fixes have been found since the last OTA. Then again I doubt anyone will ever push another update to a N7. It's now like my Galaxy Tab 10.1, it "works" so why fix it. By the time a new version worth pushing arrives, the N7 will be incapable of running it. Just my opinion based on past history.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus 7 is marketed and monitored directly by Google. As soon as Google releases another version of Android publicly (i.e., a stable release with less bugs), then you will be guaranteed to get it before any other device. This is one of the major benefits to owning a Nexus device.
In addition, just because bugs are identified and there may be a rumored fix with it, many good devs will continue to monitor their fix, test it, and see how it does; ensuring that the fix does not create a more bugs (in quantity and severity) than there were in a previous build.
Patience is a virtue. There's a reason why this saying is an aphorism.
Pirateghost said:
What updates are you expecting? There have been no newer versions of Android yet. Not really sure what updates there could be when nothing as been added to Android...
I mean come on, this is a damn Nexus device....it will get the next update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kj2112 said:
What color are the clouds in your world?
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently pretty dark :crying:
mntbighker said:
Apparently pretty dark :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just....wow! Lol
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda app-developers app
TheAltruistic said:
The Nexus 7 is marketed and monitored directly by Google. As soon as Google releases another version of Android publicly (i.e., a stable release with less bugs), then you will be guaranteed to get it before any other device. This is one of the major benefits to owning a Nexus device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the Nexus "8" will be out by then and the 7 will be deemed too anemic to run the newer software. As I said, it was just an observation of a phenomenon with the hardware development cycle we have with Android. And yes, the situation is way worse with non-Nexus devices. My Sprint HTC One is pretty buggy and the phones generally seem to all have bugs that may eventually get fixed. But more often than not they just move on to the next big thing and you just have to live with the bugs until you replace the phone and get a whole new list of bugs. You can ROM the phone and sacrifice features along with different bugs of course. Consumer demand has shaped things such that there are never resources to really get existing devices locked down and bug free. There is no incentive for developers to work on existing devices, but always to develop for the next thing going out the door. Apparently there is a known bug in my HTC One that has to do with an incorrectly located file directory causing horrible battery issues. Weeks or months go by with no OTA to fix it.
Google wants every OEM to support devices for at least 18 months, so you can bet that nexus devices will get at least that and probably longer. I'm about 99% sure that the Nexus 7 will get key lime pie at least.
Sent from XDA app
awesome....so you base all your knowledge of android on touchwiz and sense tainted devices....cool....but it doesnt work that way in nexus land.
I definitely think you should sell your n7 and get one of those awesome no name tabs everyone loves!! I'm sure they will be updated frequently and quickly!! I think some already have key lime pie!!
Just my advice.
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda app-developers app
:facepalm: :banghead:
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
On top of there being nothing new in the world of android for the N7 to be updated to, I'm also curious on what "bugs" the op thinks need fixed?
I'm running latest rasbean on my phone and stock 4.2.2 on the 7 and have literally no bugs on either. Completely functional and stable (neither device has even been rebooted in almost 3 weeks).
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
There are bugs, fixes and new features in almost every release: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history
Look at the release dates to determine if releases are frequent enough.
Sometimes preventing an OTA update to a Nexus 7 device can be the challenge. Lol!
(still running 4.1.2 on my N7)
I got a Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8 RT Surface so I can experience obsolescence instead of updates. LOL
My two Nexus 7, one Grouper and one Tilapia, will be merrily updated to every new version of Android. I can't wait for more *fragmentation* with the next Android release.
Sorry gotta go run with the low information crowd, there is a protest nearby. ...
Thread is silly. Sorry OP.
Nexus One - Released with 2.1, EOL with 2.3.6 (2010 - 2011)
Nexus S - Released with 2.3, EOL with 4.1 (2010 - 2012)
Galaxy Nexus - Released with 4.0, still supported
Nexus 4 - Released with 4.2, still supported
Nexus 7 - Released with 4.1, still supported
Nexus 10 - Released with 4.2, still supported
Every device has made it through a year's worth at the very least, and that's starting with the Nexus One. At the time when the Nexus One was released, phone hardware was changing almost faster than it is now, and it still got quite a run of updates.
Please do some research before whining. The Nexus 7 hasn't seen an update as of now because there's no update to see.
Pirateghost said:
awesome....so you base all your knowledge of android on touchwiz and sense tainted devices....cool....but it doesnt work that way in nexus land.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Galaxy Nexus as well. Actually, the phone I had with the least bugs by the time I traded "up" was probably the Droid X. The Droid X2 was god awful by comparison.
Do you count the Google HTC One and Google Galaxy S4 as "Nexus Land"?
mntbighker said:
I had a Galaxy Nexus as well. Actually, the phone I had with the least bugs by the time I traded "up" was probably the Droid X. The Droid X2 was god awful by comparison.
Do you count the Google HTC One and Google Galaxy S4 as "Nexus Land"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bad idea if current information is anything to go by. Google doesn't really seem to be doing altogether much more to support these two devices than it does for most-- it'll send the builds of Android as appropriate to the OEMs but it'll be up to them to actually tune everything.
mntbighker said:
I had a Galaxy Nexus as well. Actually, the phone I had with the least bugs by the time I traded "up" was probably the Droid X. The Droid X2 was god awful by comparison.
Do you count the Google HTC One and Google Galaxy S4 as "Nexus Land"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your problem there is. Verizon.
No. The Google edition phones are not nexus devices.. At all.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Pirateghost said:
Your problem there is. Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, now I have done a complete 180. I have a Sprint HTC One from Ting.com. My bill is a fourth what it was with Verizon or AT&T and I rely mostly on WiFi/VOIP service. Too bad the HTC One is so terrible at holding onto a WiFi signal. I may have to switch back to a Samsung device if Sprint can't resolve this. Ting does support the Galaxy Nexus, among other Samsung phones.
Around here Verizon does have the best coverage BY FAR though.
Dear All,
The Nexus 6 is coming but the hardware will not be that different from the Nexus 5. It will still be quad core with a 1080p display, 2-3 gigs of ram, and gesture functions. As rumoured, if the 2015 is the last Nexus, what will Google come out with for its grand finale. The octa core would most likely show itself, but what special feature(s) will Google come out with that would WOW us? Lets realistically think about what will appear in 2014-2015 that could actually make it into moblie phones. I'll start it off with what we know...the Smartwatch, Google Glass and the final Nexus phone to have special features that communicate with each other to make our communication with the world even more simpler and allow us to see and do more with our devices. Your turn. :victory:
Hi,
Google Nexus 6 - What do you think?...
Hammer_Of_The_Gods said:
Hi,
Google Nexus 6 - What do you think?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread is not about N6 but the speculated last Nexus.
Thanks.
I wouldn't worry about it. Check back in a year!
This thread would be far too speculative and would have nothing to do with the Nexus 5 anyway.
Closed
Will Google ends support for 2 year old nexus 7..??
Can we see next major android version (4.5/5.0) for our grouper..??
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Official will probably stop when the last revision of KitKat is released. However no one really knows but Google. Worst case in a week after 4.5 or 5.0 is released (if those are to be believed) source will be pushed to AOSP and everyone here will be building ROMs.
I mean even my old Kindle Fire (otter) runs Pac-Man 4.4.2...
While my Nexus 5 and 7 (2012 grouper) are both running 4.4.3
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Bit dubious about post-Google updates myself. NVidia has no track record of being friendly to supporting the development community when they aren't forced to. Once Google stops providing binary blob updates, you can bet NVidia will forget that this tablet ever existed and developers will have nothing to work with to support future hardware upgrades.
Either that, or I'm still just a bit bitter over the Tegra 2 G2X.
lotherius said:
Bit dubious about post-Google updates myself. NVidia has no track record of being friendly to supporting the development community when they aren't forced to. Once Google stops providing binary blob updates, you can bet NVidia will forget that this tablet ever existed and developers will have nothing to work with to support future hardware upgrades.
Either that, or I'm still just a bit bitter over the Tegra 2 G2X.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear you there
But I have hope
Our Nexus 7 will prevail through it all!
Maybe then we will have some brave soul working on Nvidia 3.4.35 kernel for tegra3
This can be a good starting point
this is the last update.....
Very likely the last update, though people don't have the same upgrade path for tablets that they do for phones, you won't necessarily change it as regularly.
It's not like your contract is up after 2 years and you get another one.
I'm not planning on getting another tablet any time soon, so longer support would be great, though I doubt it'll happen.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Nexus 7 never received a useful update anyway.
Every single update made the tablet slower and more buggy.
So it is a good thing not to have updates anymore. Nothing to worry about there.
calyxim said:
Nexus 7 never received a useful update anyway.
Every single update made the tablet slower and more buggy.
So it is a good thing not to have updates anymore. Nothing to worry about there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd disagree as the 4.3 update was good adding TRIM which sped things up for my Nexus
JoshR8 said:
I'd disagree as the 4.3 update was good adding TRIM which sped things up for my Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:highfive: 4.3 was a very solid version. When I put my Nexus 4 back in daily driver service for a short while, 4.4 had been out for some time, but I went to 4.3 due to the reliability and smooth feel...
The Nexus 7 is still in production. How can they stop supporting a device still in production?
pharpe said:
The Nexus 7 is still in production. How can they stop supporting a device still in production?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ 1
pharpe said:
The Nexus 7 is still in production. How can they stop supporting a device still in production?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nexus 7 2013 is in production, not the 2012.
lotherius said:
nexus 7 2013 is in production, not the 2012.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct me if I'm wrong but you can still buy it in the Google Play Store
The Nexus 7 2012
USBhost said:
correct me if I'm wrong but you can still buy it in the Google Play Store
The Nexus 7 2012
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're wrong.
You can still find Nexus 7 2012 for sale... not at Google Play, however.
IMHO - the last KitKat update will be the end of service life for Nexus 7 2012. N7 2013 will get through the L named release.
Looking very much like 4.4.3 will be the last 'official' update, based on the below news...
4.4.3 is running well on my N7, so can't complain too much, plus there are plenty of custom ROMs and mods to play with. Just wonder how this will affect future custom ROMs/ports as they will be created to run with ART and so possibly a no-go... :crying:
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/breaking-next-major-version-of-android-to-finally-remove-dalvik-and-set-art-as-default/
I think we may get the 4.4.4
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
USBhost said:
I think we may get the 4.4.4
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We already got 4.4.4, the update is in that link . OTA is just a method to update, and it will come eventually
RusherDude said:
We already got 4.4.4, the update is in that link . OTA is just a method to update, and it will come eventually
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We only had the 4.4.3 only for a few weeks
Hi,
I have just bought the Samsung Tab S2 (2016 ed) for internet and comics and are a bit concern about how long the device will be suported. I know that most phones do only get 1 or 2 android versions from the manufacturer, custom roms is the only way to get new versions of Android on to a outdated(according to manufacturer) device. If the manufacturer do not release the software("drivers") the custom rom could be tricky to get stable. How is it looking for the Samsung Tab S2(2016 ed/SMT813BK)? Is it likely that there will be custom roms that takes newer version of Android to the tablet then the manufacturer supports without any problems?
If you want a supported tablet get a nexus... Only real option... Tabs2 from 2015 git update to marshmallow ... I have had 2 updates... But genuinely don't think I will see any more ... As their focus is on phones. My 2013 nexus 7 still getting monthly security updates and whilst won't get official nougat will definitely get CyanogenMod or others ... And being a nexus it is easy to do this... Just one of the thing you accept when buying a tablet that is not a nexus.
2016 tabs2 will prob get nougat but not for a while and likely. Ot much after that
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
lu99ke said:
If you want a supported tablet get a nexus... Only real option... Tabs2 from 2015 git update to marshmallow ... I have had 2 updates... But genuinely don't think I will see any more ... As their focus is on phones. My 2013 nexus 7 still getting monthly security updates and whilst won't get official nougat will definitely get CyanogenMod or others ... And being a nexus it is easy to do this... Just one of the thing you accept when buying a tablet that is not a nexus.
2016 tabs2 will prob get nougat but not for a while and likely. Ot much after that
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that Nexus 9 is not for sale anymore.
So there is no CyanogenMod or anything lika that for Samsung Tab S2?
lu99ke said:
If you want a supported tablet get a nexus... Only real option... Tabs2 from 2015 git update to marshmallow ... I have had 2 updates... But genuinely don't think I will see any more ... As their focus is on phones. My 2013 nexus 7 still getting monthly security updates and whilst won't get official nougat will definitely get CyanogenMod or others ... And being a nexus it is easy to do this... Just one of the thing you accept when buying a tablet that is not a nexus.
2016 tabs2 will prob get nougat but not for a while and likely. Ot much after that
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that Nexus 9 is not for sale anymore.
So there is no CyanogenMod or anything lika that for Samsung Tab S2?
There is a non official beta only version for the 2015 tabs2 built by some very intrepid and awesome developers ... But the challenge is that there are relatively few devs that get these types of devices so they are pioneers but without a big support network it is slow going for them when they hit hurdles.
Part if that is that the 2015 was exynos powered ... Always harder for devs to work with that Qualcomm.... That may help for the 2016 version.... But again it is only going to be a small group.
If a device do not ge system updates, how fast will it be outdated? How fast will you notice that apps is not working or that it is not possible to install apps becouse of the system?
I know that Apple is great in supporting there devices, even our old IPad 2 gets updates as long as the hardware can handle it. Maybe its better to stay on the IPad for a while until Google Nexus realeases a good tablet, Nexus are better in keeping the devices updated.
For me as a light user the hardware take a long time to get outdated. I Just use internet, read comics and play simple boardgames so no real hardware requirements.