OK, let's be real – do Android updates matter that much to you?

Oh yes, i check for updates daily.

I am a OnePlus 3T user so I'm used to frequent updates.

The jump from Android 5 to 6 wasn't particularly great, but from 6 to 7 was quite significant and has certainly breathed new life into my S6 Edge. Security updates I'm less bothered about.

If the update has security patches, new features & big fixes, they matter very much.

Absolutely. Security alone makes them important.

aside from security patches, I use to really care about Android updates when I was using a Motorola or an HTC but using Samsung phones I really am not missing much. As the article states some of what Google is now adding are features that Samsung , LG . HTC etc.. had Pioneered way back ( Multi screen, split view, Camera features, Note taking apps etc..) I know people complained about the boat load of feature Sammy included on its devices but I don't think it was the features but the way they were organized and hidden in layers of menus and of course the performance hit it placed on the device. But since the S6 the way Samsung reorganized and simplified their menu structure and placing most of its extra features on the Play store for you to decide to install when you want has made a huge difference. The hardware, IMO, ( Exynos always the best for me) has really come inline with the new SX UI.

For me they usually don't. But its only because I usually buy the latest phone every year. Bill Gates has always stated, that the best way to enjoy the full benefits of an update to windows, was to buy hardware with it preinstalled. That hardware is designed to take full benefit of the software vs what you get when you upgrade. But Android updates are not like Windows updates. If you phone comes with for example, Android 6.01, then I expect you should get every single update that comes for version 6.xx. Version 7 is not an update, but a new firmware and their is no guarantee your device will or should get it. Same as I feel about Windows. Bith Windows Vista and 7 were based off the same version number of Windows NT. Yet Microsoft charged for Windows 7, when it was nothign more than an update. That's BS. Apple does not do this. Every version of OSX (Mac OS 10) has been free. But Apple limited who can use it, by makign it only work on certain hardware configs, which I feel is also wrong. If you PC has the power to run it, you should have some type of option to buy or get it as an upgrade. If I have hardware that is capable, then provide it to me as an upgrade at a reduced cost. If my S8 gets Android 7, then fine. If not fine. I don't expect it because my [phone came with Android 6.01 and it was design and tested to work with said software. The phone doesn't magically stop working just because a new version comes around. I dont sit looking for updates or want to be bother with updates unles sthey are really needed. Apple can update faster as its easy to update one frikkin phone. People who keep comparing apple to Android OEM's who make few phones or who make many phones is just dumb. But Samsung for example, does need to do better. But every phone comes with the software it was designed to work around. Many times updates cause more issues than they fix. Especially for iOS. I don't care that Android updates tale longer. They also tend to be far less problematic vs any other platform, especially IOS. When the Note 9 comes, the Note 8 or S8 will likely finally be getting Android 7.0 and 8.0 will already be around the corner. But do to testing and time schedules, OEM's are not gonna stop just to use a new version of Android. Those who complain can either move to another OEM or platform. Complaining about slow updates, that no one ever said you were goign to get or should get is just dumb. If my S8 gets updated before I get rid of it great. If not I;m equally OK with it. To each his/her own.

I get monthly security patches and I get a new phone every year so I'm good. Even get the patches on my tab s3. Only been with android since kit Kat but each iteration brings very little difference except to add features I already had with my samsung device.

This is why I try to stay with a Nexus or Pixel product.

I've always argued this with the "stock android" crowd whilst pointing out that in many cases new Android versions are actually about two iterations behind manufacturer skins. Personally I'm not bothered with the version I'm on. I currently use devices (phones, tablets and tv boxes) ranging from Kitkat to Marshmallow. My daily driver is a Xiaomi so updates will probably last longer than the phone.

Here's the main problem with (non-Pixel) Android updates, and it's not about major updates: Manufacturers like to release phones on the first iteration of a major release (i.e. 6.0 or 7.0) and then not update them incrementally. The problem is that those first iterations usually have quite a few bugs, sometimes including major bugs like battery drain and bluetooth connectivity. So the S8 may be released with 7.0 Nougat, but good luck getting incremental updates to 7.1.2. It's not going to happen. Maybe the S8 will see 7.1, but it won't be until after it's been on 7.0 for 6 months and after 8.0 is released. Another example: My Moto X Pure is still sitting on 6.0, which means I have bluetooth issues. I never got an incremental update to 6.0.1. I will more than likely get 7.0 soon, but that has it's own issues.

Only matters if new apps are configured to not work on my version.

No idc, I'm still running cm13 on my oneplus 3.

This is a hard question. I chose the last option. If I still get the same features (and my apps still work) I don't really care about them. As long as I'm not too far back, it's fine with me. I like the kind of updates that fixes bugs but sometimes bigger updates can change how a device operates for the worst. I don't like version changes that make battery life become worse, especially if it is noticeable.

Considering that every update since Kit-Kat has been for the worse we really shouldn't put so much importance on the version number written somewhere deep inside settings app. With every Stock Android update you are getting features you should've gotten 3-4 years ago so no big deal if you use OEM device (if stock, you are out of luck). Even security patches are complete BS. With all the Stagefrights and other "vulnerabilities" how many people do any of you know that had their Android phone compromised? I know 3-4 people with iOS devices, 2 W10M users and everyone else uses Android. None of then had ever been compromised beyond forgetting their PIN or unlock pattern.