LG will discontinue its mobile business in 2021 but will continue to support its existing devices. The LG Velvet is scheduled to receive Android 13 in early 2023, and several other devices will also receive additional updates.
The LG Velvet was one of the company’s final attempts to remain competitive in the Android market when it was released in mid-2020. The device’s new appearance and redesigned software were well received. We stated that it was LG’s best smartphone in years, primarily because of its reasonable price.
The LG Velvet is arguably the best smartphone LG has produced in years. Not only because it has an attractive appearance. This is not because it excels at a single function. It’s because LG nailed the pricing for once. Velvet costs just $599.
Sadly, it was not sufficient to keep the ship afloat.
However, an Android 13 update is imminent for those who purchased the LG Velvet. A roadmap published on LG’s website confirms the upcoming Android updates for the first quarter of 2023. Also included are security patches for the LG Wing, LG Q61, LG Q92 5G, and LG Q52 5G.
In all likelihood, however, this is one of LG’s final major update announcements. The LG Velvet was the company’s final flagship product before closing its mobile division. The only other device that could potentially receive an Android 13 update is the LG Wing, which was released several months later. However, if this update is to be released, it won’t be in Q1.
In both instances, Android 13 is likely the final major version of the platform that LG will release.
It is currently unknown how long LG will continue to provide security patches, but the company did make a “three-year pledge” in 2021, promising three major OS updates for 2019 and later flagships. If everything goes as planned, the LG V60 ThinQ will also be updated. However, the promise contained no mention of security patches.
