My android phone is over three years old. Many updates have been applied and it's working fine. I don't get the mindset of people that have to pay $1000+ once a year to get the latest and greatest phone.
I got the latest, with the greatest updates yesterday.
pixel 4a 5g for $190 including tax. unlocked. I did trade in my broken down 2 year old pixel 3.. that I paid 800$ for and received $820 in fi credit for purchasing.
ie I didnt have phone bill for 1.5 years.
The pixel 3 was still doing fine except battery life went from poor when it was new to abysmal. and the charging port was getting flaky.
normal trade is was 90-110 but deal yesterday 275$ trade in.
I too would have a hard time dropping $1000 on a phone.. but maybe $500.
and I dont mean one of those carrier subsidized ones where you get locked in for 2 years of big bills for a "free phone".
Phone bill is 3 phones on total wireless for 90$ with 60GB data.
My one coworker who I have worked with since 2008, was using some LG trash 29.99 phone for 3 years because she dropped her S7 and shattered it.
It didnt support VoLTE either.. which is mandatory for straighttalk in jan 2021.
Picked up a 20$ moto e6 for her which was unbelievably better than the trash she had. It got me homecooked leftover lunches for a week at work.
she can cook
.
so summary: beyond security updates.. most carriers will be turning off 3G and requiring VoLTE soon.. so if your parents or grandparents have an ancient flip phone or cheapo smartphone from 3+ years ago. you might need to help them migrate to something supported.