Google Ends Updates for Three Iconic Smartphones

I think it's safe to say that if you're still holding on to an old Android phone, you put yourself in harms way - one way or another. Google has ended support via updates for 3 iconic smartphones and this means that the time has come for you to... think about it, if you're still a pproud owner of a Google Pixel 3a, Samsung Galaxy S10, or a OnePlus 7 model. No more patches, no more fixes—just a growing list of vulnerabilities and no safety net.

These devices, all stuck on Android 12 or Android 12L, have officially stopped receiving monthly security updates from Google. That means no protection against new exploits or malware threats. If you’re still using one of them, you're now on your own.

Google didn’t issue a big announcement. In fact, the move was so low-key that most people didn’t notice until Android 12 vanished from the April security bulletin. Android Authority picked up on the omission, confirming what many had suspected: support ended quietly, without fanfare, sometime in late March.

What does that mean in practice? These phones are now easy targets. Without patches, they're vulnerable to zero-day exploits, data breaches, and all the other digital threats that evolve month by month.

Unless manufacturers step in with their own updates—which is unlikely—these phones won't get any further protection.

Samsung’s newer phones now get up to seven years of security updates, but that policy doesn’t extend to the Galaxy S10. That device is well beyond its support window. OnePlus, on the other hand, has always capped software support at three years. The OnePlus 7 crossed that mark a while ago.

In other words: these phones are effectively abandoned with no more updates from Google.

And it couldn’t come at a worse time. Google's latest security bulletin highlights two high-risk vulnerabilities that are already being exploited in the wild. Devices stuck on Android 12 won’t receive the patches needed to protect against them—leaving users open to data theft, hacked apps, and even compromised banking details.

Security experts aren’t sugarcoating it: if you’re using one of these phones, it’s time to upgrade. Updating isn’t just about getting shiny new features—it’s about protecting your personal information, your money, and your peace of mind.

This isn’t just the end of updates for a few old phones. It’s a wake-up call. Software support is a ticking clock, and once it stops, so does your device’s defense against a rapidly evolving digital threat landscape.