The Black Friday 2026, which will be held next Friday, November 27, brings promotions on mobile phones that can achieve significant discounts compared to their original prices. However, buying a new smartphone does not necessarily mean also starting its security update period. Many manufacturers calculate the years of support from the date when the model went on sale, not from the moment each consumer purchases it, so a discounted phone may have already consumed a large part of its software lifespan.
This difference is especially relevant when stores offer models launched three or four years ago. Even if the devices are sealed, with all their accessories and without having been used, the support calendar may be advancing from their first commercial release. This means that a buyer could acquire in November 2026 a phone that stops receiving security updates in 2027 or 2028, while another, newer model maintains that protection for several additional years.
The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has been warning for some time about the importance of valuing the duration of computer support before buying technology. The organization points out that the lack of updates can cause compatibility problems with certain applications and increase exposure to security vulnerabilities, even when the device continues to work correctly.
The issue takes on special importance during Black Friday, when the discount percentage can hide other relevant factors to consider when making a purchase. The release date, the battery status, and how easy it is to repair a malfunction can be as important as the price, especially for those who plan to use the same phone for four or five years.
Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy: which models have fewer updates ahead
The differences between models can be checked in the official policies of the manufacturers themselves. Google establishes a period of five years of operating system and security updates for certain older Pixels, while starting with the Pixel 8 it expanded its commitment to seven years, counted from its first availability on Google Store in the United States.
For example, the Google Pixel 6a, marketed since July 2022, has guaranteed updates until approximately July 2027. Therefore, anyone who purchases a new unit during the Black Friday of November 2026 will have about eight months remaining within the commitment announced by the manufacturer.
The situation improves with the Google Pixel 7a, launched in May 2023, whose five-year support period extends until approximately May 2028. In contrast, the Google Pixel 8a, available since May 2024, has seven years of updates and keeps its commitment until May 2031.
The difference between the two models is significant: although the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8a may appear discounted in the same commercial campaign, the second has about three additional years of guaranteed support.
Samsung also presents differences between generations. The Galaxy S23, available in Spain since February 17, 2023, was announced with four generations of Android updates and five years of security updates, which places the expected security support horizon at around February 2028.
By contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S24, marketed since January 31, 2024, has a commitment of seven generations of operating system updates and seven years of security, with an approximate horizon of January 2031.
These timelines correspond to the commitments published by Google and Samsung, not to a check of the offers available this Black Friday. Manufacturers may also extend support for certain models later on, so it is worth consulting the current information before buying them.
Why a new mobile phone can end up without security patches
Security updates have a different function from the addition of new features. Their main objective is to fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited to access personal information, compromise applications, or attack the device.
When a manufacturer stops providing these patches, the phone does not automatically stop working. The user can continue making calls, using applications, and browsing the Internet, but the risk increases that certain security flaws remain uncorrected. Over time, incompatibilities may also appear with services that require more recent versions of the operating system.
It is also convenient to distinguish, in addition, between updates that incorporate new versions of Android and those intended exclusively to correct security problems. A mobile may stop receiving major system updates and continue to receive protection patches for an additional period, depending on the conditions offered by its manufacturer.
OCU recommends taking these deadlines into account before deciding to buy, since software obsolescence can end up forcing the consumer to replace a device that is still in good physical condition.
The battery and repairs: the other hidden costs of the discounted mobile
The update schedule is not the only element that can condition the useful life of a smartphone. The battery and the availability of spare parts also determine how long it is reasonable to keep a phone, especially when a model is purchased that has been on the market for several years.
A new, sealed unit does not necessarily have a deteriorated battery, but lithium-ion batteries also age over time, even when they are not used. Storage conditions, temperature, and charge level can influence their condition, so it is advisable to pay attention to real battery life and warranty conditions.
Repairability can also become a significant expense. In a report published on October 14, 2026, OCU warned that only the 39% of broken mobiles are repaired, according to a survey conducted among Spanish consumers. The organization also found that users rarely accept repairs costing more than 90 euros during the first two years, an amount that drops to 72 euros when the device is over three years old.
The cost of replacing a screen, changing the battery, or repairing the charging connector can make an offer that initially seems attractive lose economic appeal. Therefore, OCU advises checking the availability of parts and the ease of repair, especially when dealing with older models or refurbished phones.
New European regulations require improving the lifespan of mobile phones
Since June 20, 2025, the European Union is applying new ecodesign and energy labeling rules for the smartphones and tablets included within its scope. The objective is to extend the useful life of these devices and make it easier for consumers to be able to learn about their durability, battery life, and repairability.
Among the measures introduced, the requirement that batteries must withstand at least 800 charge and discharge cycles while maintaining 80% of their initial capacity stands out, as well as requirements regarding the availability of essential spare parts for a minimum of seven years after the model’s end of marketing in the European market.
The regulation also sets obligations related to system operating updates for at least five years from when the last unit of the model is no longer marketed. This European mechanism is different from the commercial timelines that some manufacturers calculate from the launch.
However, these provisions should not be automatically applied to any old phone that is still on sale. Its time scope is linked to products introduced on the European market since the new rules entered into force, so it is necessary to check the corresponding legal and commercial conditions for each device.
In addition, consumers who buy a new mobile from a professional in Spain generally have three years of legal warranty from its delivery. This protection against lack of conformity is different from the manufacturer’s announced commercial support commitment and does not, by itself, mean that the update calendar established for that model is restarted.
What to check before buying a mobile during Black Friday
Before deciding on an offer, the consumer should identify the exact model of the device, its release date, and the update period that it still has guaranteed. It is not enough to know the brand or to check that the phone has a recent version of Android, since different generations can have very different support commitments.
It is also advisable to check whether it is a new, used or refurbished product, to verify the battery conditions and to consult the approximate cost of the most common repairs. In refurbished models, it is especially important to know whether components have been replaced and what warranty the seller offers.
Finally, it must be verified that the advertised discount is real. In its recommendations published this November, OCU recalled that during the Black Friday of 2025 only 35% of the more than 14,000 electronics and household appliances products analyzed were lowered in price, taking as reference the minimums recorded during the previous months.
So, a phone with a 40% discount does not have to be a bad purchase, but the price cut should be assessed together with the years of support it has left, its battery life and the possibility of keeping it running through repairs. A device that is somewhat more expensive but that retains four or five years of updates can offer a longer useful life than another cheaper one whose protection period is about to end.