How long do Sharp phones get updates?

Roughly 2-3 Android OS upgrades + ~3-4 years of security, varying by model and carrierOur estimate

Sharp's AQUOS line is focused on Japan and parts of Asia and does not publish a single global update guarantee. Flagship R-series phones tend to get up to three OS updates while the cheaper sense models get fewer, with security patches typically running three to four years. Outside Japan, support depends on the importer or regional carrier.

Source: documented support history · verified 2026-06-18

A limited-market brand with limited support

Sharp's Aquos phones are sold almost entirely in Japan and a handful of Asian markets, and the brand publishes little in the way of international update commitments. Support in practice has run to roughly two Android upgrades and two to three years of security patches, varying by model and by market. For buyers outside those regions the phones are import purchases, which compounds the problem: update delivery, warranty service and parts availability are all harder to rely on when the device was never sold in your country.

Who these are actually for

Sharp has a real claim to technical distinction — it was early to high-refresh-rate IGZO displays and has shipped some genuinely unusual camera hardware. If you are in Japan, buying locally with local support, an Aquos can be a reasonable choice. As an import, it is difficult to recommend for a phone you intend to keep, because a short and unpublished support window combined with no local service route leaves you with very little recourse when something goes wrong.