How long do ZTE phones get updates?

Rarely publishes fixed commitments; budget Blade phones typically get ~1 OS upgrade + ~2 years of security, Axon flagships a little moreOur estimate

ZTE does not advertise a guaranteed update schedule the way Samsung or Google do, so software timelines are estimated from its track record rather than an official promise. Its phones also have limited and highly varied global availability, with many Blade and Axon models launching in China, parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America or Africa and never reaching the US officially. Buyers outside a model's home market often rely on imports with reduced warranty and update assurances.

Source: documented support history · verified 2026-06-17

Short windows and inconsistent delivery

ZTE, including its Nubia and Red Magic sub-brands, does not publish a clear general update commitment, and its delivery record is inconsistent across tiers. Flagship Red Magic gaming phones and the Nubia line tend to receive the most attention, typically around two Android upgrades and roughly three years of patches, while cheaper ZTE-badged handsets often get considerably less. Patch cadence is usually quarterly at best. As with other manufacturers that publish nothing, the dates recorded here are estimates from observed behaviour.

The buying advice for ZTE

ZTE's gaming phones are genuinely distinctive — high refresh rates, active cooling and shoulder triggers at prices below the mainstream gaming brands — and if that is what you want, the hardware delivers. Go in understanding that you are buying a two-to-three year phone. For anything you intend to keep longer, the same money spent on a Samsung A-series or Google Pixel a-series device buys roughly double the supported life, which for most buyers is the better trade.