Xiaomi's Redmi 15C 5G will get security updates through 2031 and at least Android 17, bringing long-term support to a sub-$200 phone and raising expectations.
© A. Krivonosov
Xiaomi set out to prove that smartphone longevity doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. The company announced that its new Redmi 15C 5G will receive security updates for six years, through 2031. For a handset priced under $200, that’s a rare move that puts Xiaomi alongside Samsung in terms of support timelines.
Long-term updates are becoming more pressing—especially in Europe, where new EU rules are taking effect that require manufacturers to support devices for longer, even after they’re off the shelves. Most companies, however, run into practical hurdles: tailoring updates to each model takes time and resources, which often turns the process into a money-losing proposition for budget phones.
Even so, Xiaomi is trying to raise the bar for the entry-level segment. The company says the Redmi 15C 5G is guaranteed to receive Android 17, while further major OS versions remain an open question. It also hasn’t clarified how frequently security patches will arrive—whether quarterly or yearly.
Samsung previously promised a comparable support window even for its Galaxy A line, though experts note those pledges don’t always pan out in full. Xiaomi, for its part, says it won’t put limits on its commitments and that users can genuinely count on long-term support.
Taken together, this move signals a shift in the budget smartphone market: affordable devices no longer have to feel outdated a couple of years after purchase and can stay usable for longer. It’s a modest but meaningful recalibration of expectations at the low end.