It has been just over four years since LG Electronics made the significant decision to withdraw from the highly competitive smartphone market. While the company ceased manufacturing new devices, it offered a measure of reassurance to existing customers by promising continued software support. However, the final chapter for LG's Android phones is now approaching, as the company has confirmed the shutdown date for its dedicated update servers.When LG announced its departure in April 2021, citing substantial financial losses amounting to approximately $4.5 billion over six years, it didn't immediately abandon its user base. In a move that surprised some industry observers, LG pledged to provide ongoing Android operating system updates. Specifically, the commitment included up to three major Android version updates for its premium lines released from 2019 onwards, such as the Velvet, Wing, G-series, and V-series phones. Certain mid-range models from 2020, like the LG Stylo and K series, were promised two OS updates. This promise was notable, especially considering LG's update track record hadn't always been the fastest even while actively competing in the market.The decision to exit the phone business allowed LG to redirect its resources towards areas perceived as having greater growth potential, including electric vehicle components, connected smart home devices, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Manufacturing of phones continued only through the second quarter of 2021 primarily to fulfill existing contracts with carriers and partners. Despite the market exit, some users reported positive experiences with software updates that did arrive, occasionally finding the post-exit software refinements surprisingly polished. Many former users still hold LG phones in high regard, remembering unique designs like the LG Wing or praising the camera quality and overall reliability of devices like the V60 or G8X, often expressing difficulty in finding comparable replacements in today's market.Despite the initial commitment and the fond memories held by loyal users, the era of official support is definitively drawing to a close. LG has officially announced that its Android update servers will be shut down permanently on June 30, 2025. After this date, LG smartphone owners will no longer receive any software updates, including security patches or OS upgrades, directly from the company. This marks the true conclusion of LG's journey in the mobile phone industry, leaving users of devices that might still be functional without the safety net of ongoing software maintenance.
