Do carrier unlocked Android smartphones get updates?

October 17, 2022 4:33 PM

If an Android phone was originally locked to a carrier. Then it was unlocked and moved to a different carrier, will that phone continue to get updates?

I want to buy a used cellphone that is locked to a Canadian carrier, Telus.

When I buy the phone, and the seller (private owner of phone) has paid off the phone, Telus will unlock it. (Carrier unlock, so it can be used with other cellphone carriers)

If I use that unlocked phone on a different carrier, say Rogers, will the phone continue to get updates?

(EVERY web search only yielded the answer -- yes -- for phones that are factory unlocked; that is, phones that have never been locked to a carrier.)

I need to know if I'll get updates on the phone that are promised by the manufacturer (Samsung) of the phone.

posted by mbarryf to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

I believe the answer is yes. The unlock is just removal of a restriction but has nothing to do with preventing software updates.
posted by Alensin at 5:11 PM on October 17, 2022

The updates are sent by Samsung, so I would believe so.
posted by dobbs at 5:35 PM on October 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

Yes.

Source: Have been a user of unlocked Android phones for the past several years.
posted by Taro at 7:18 PM on October 17, 2022

It depends on the phone and the carrier, if it's running carrier firmware. I've got a Galaxy S8+ that was originally on T-Mobile and is currently on AT&T that won't update for love or money.
posted by wierdo at 4:58 PM on October 18, 2022