Honor recently unveiled a bold promise at MWC 2025: seven years of Android OS and security updates for its Magic series smartphones, starting with the Honor Magic 7 Pro in EU markets. This step puts the brand in league with titans such as Samsung and Google, which also provide long-term support for their flagship phones.
Codenamed "Alpha Plan," the plan itself is intended to facilitate device longevity, reduce e-waste, and offer AI features at some future point. Does it really deliver value to consumers, however, or is it a glittering marketing catchphrase? Let's get to the facts.
The Honor Magic series now joins an elite club. Seven years of updates, covering major Android releases and security patches, surpasses the industry norm of three to five years. To give some context, Samsung's Galaxy S25 series and Google's Pixel 9 series both last seven years, while others, such as Asus, trail behind at two. With so much time, a Magic 7 Pro bought in 2025 would last until 2032 on Android 22 or later, assuming annual OS updates keep arriving at their present pace. Security patches will keep protecting phones against new dangers, too, an important factor as phones contain more personal information.
This shift aligns with Qualcomm’s recent pledge to support Snapdragon 8 and 7 series chips for eight years, suggesting hardware longevity won’t bottleneck Honor’s plan. However, implementation concerns are voiced. Timely updates are just as crucial as the duration; Samsung updates within weeks, while Honor's history shows slow rollouts, even lagging behind months. A seven-year guarantee is meaningless if delays make devices obsolete halfway through the cycle.
Honor touts this policy as a gateway to “cutting-edge AI features” for years to come. MagicOS 9, built on Android 15, already includes tools like Magic Portal and real-time AI translation, hinting at what’s possible. Over seven years, these could evolve dramatically, keeping the Magic series competitive in a fast-moving tech landscape. Picture eye-gaze controls evolving into elegant hands-free navigation or AI assistants becoming smarter with every new update. For tech fans, this is a promise; new tricks on old hardware are a good thing.
But that's hardware compatibility-dependent. Snapdragon 8 Elite and 12GB RAM on the Magic 7 Pro are great today, but will they be enough to handle Android 20 demands in 2030? Slower, older phones are the product of software ballooning, which happened to early Samsung Galaxy phones despite extended support. Honor must make MagicOS such that it does not suffer from this, or users will feel the pinch of performance lag long before seven years have passed. Planned obsolescence, a cynical but real strategy, may also kick in; new features may skew towards newer models, compelling owners to upgrade begrudgingly.
The Alpha Plan offers seven years as a green initiative, saving e-waste by prolonging device life. In Europe, where five yearly refreshes are required by the EU's Ecodesign Directive, Honor's commitment is above regulation, leading the way. Fewer phones thrown away seems virtuous, however, and the effect is up to the customers. If they keep upgrading every two years for new designs, the green benefit is nullified. Data suggests many keep phones for three to four years; seven years might stretch that, but only if the experience remains top-notch.
The value for buyers looks promising on paper. A Magic 7 Pro, priced around $1,100 globally, could depreciate to $157 per year over seven years, cheaper than a $600 mid-range phone replaced every three. Security updates alone justify sticking with it, especially as cyber risks grow. Yet, repairability matters, too. Batteries degrade, screens crack, and without affordable parts and service, a software-supported phone might still end up shelved.
Skepticism warrants a mention. Honor’s history shows decent but not stellar update speed; Magic V2 owners waited months for Android 14. Seven years sounds grand, but if updates lag, frustration could overshadow benefits. The policy’s scope also raises eyebrows, starting with the Magic 7 Pro in the EU; it’s unclear if older Magic models or non-EU markets will follow. Ambiguity here risks alienating existing fans. Competitors like Google deliver updates day-and-date with announcements; Honor must match that pace to prove its mettle.
The Honor Magic series’ seven-year update promise dazzles at first glance. Extended support, AI evolution, and a nod to sustainability make a compelling case for buyers seeking longevity. But success rests on execution, timely updates, optimized software, and durable hardware. If Honor stumbles, this could feel like a hollow vow, leaving the Magic series as just another phone with a big number attached. For now, it’s a gamble worth watching, potentially transformative, but not without risks.