HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, leads the Counterpoint Research 2020 trust rankings based on the four pillars of software, security updates, build quality, and devices recommended for enterprises. These pillars comprise various weighted criteria with a comparative analysis done for the leading Android smartphone brands. The findings are a part of Counterpoint Research’s latest whitepaper titled “Nokia Phones Lead the Trust Rankings based on Software, Security Updates and Build Quality” Highlighting the whitepaper findings, VP & Research Director, Peter Richardson, noted, “The COVID-19 pandemic has made the world even more digitally connected than before. With smartphones being devices that are always-on and connected, they are more vulnerable to cyberattacks which are growing both in frequency and severity. This makes software and security updates for Android smartphones an critical aspect. Due to the pandemic, there have been changes in the work environment with many more people working remotely. This situation calls for an enterprise-grade security solution for data security, to block malware, and to prevent things like phishing attacks. For the second year in a row, Nokia phones have topped our rankings in providing the most comprehensive software and security updates and it has the highest share of portfolio recommended for enterprise use. The performance of Nokia phones continues to be a competitive advantage over the rest of the smartphone brands in the Android ecosystem. 98% of Android smartphone brands still offer inconsistent software and security updates or none at all. OnePlus also did well by providing faster software updates to all its devices currently selling in the market followed by Samsung and realme.”

Exhibit 1: Android OS Version Share within Key OEMs’ Portfolio

Source: Counterpoint Research White Paper: “Nokia Phones Lead the Trust Rankings based on Software, Security Updates and Build Quality” * Models older than three years not considered, Android Go variants not a part of the study In a crowded smartphone market, every manufacturer is trying hard to differentiate its offering from its competitors. From design and build quality, to screen size and the number of cameras, a lot goes into this effort to differentiate. The software that the smartphone runs on is also an important consideration. Consumers should expect it to be updated regularly to ensure that potential security vulnerabilities are kept at bay and new features are delivered as they become available. Commenting on the performance of smartphone brands, Global Content Manager, Ritesh Bendre, highlighted, “Some brands focus on keeping their products up-to-date, while others only issue software and security updates after a considerable delay. Regular software and security updates helps not just the overall device experience, but also helps devices retain their value over time. Surprisingly, there are top 10 smartphone manufacturers that don’t have any clear strategy to inform customers whether their devices are eligible for security and software updates. We think this issue will become increasingly important as consumers keep their smartphones for longer and rely on them more. Nokia and OnePlus devices have done well here.”

Exhibit 2: Security Patch Frequency Share for Top Manufacturers

Source: Counterpoint Research White Paper: “Nokia Phones Lead the Trust Rankings based on Software, Security Updates and Build Quality” * Models older than three years not considered, Android Go variants not a part of the study Commenting on build quality results, Associate Director, Tarun Pathak commented, “The build quality pillar was evaluated on several criteria including product robustness, force measurement, drop and impact, fatigue, wear and scratch, thermal tests, moisture and liquid tests, and others which included both qualitative and quantitative observations. We found that Nokia phones undergo tougher tests than the industry average. We therefore concluded that, when considered alongside the faster software and security updates the strong build quality means Nokia phones will last the test of time which is increasingly important at a time when global device replacement cycles are getting longer, now approaching 30 months.”

Exhibit 3: Nokia Phones Go Through Tougher Tests Than Industry Average

Source: Counterpoint Research White Paper: “Nokia Phones Lead the Trust Rankings based on Software, Security Updates and Build Quality” Background: Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in Technology products in the TMT industry. It services major technology firms and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analysis of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are experts in the industry with an average tenure of 13 years in the high-tech industry. For a free downloadable copy, click here: Analyst Contacts: Peter Richardson Tarun Pathak   Ritesh Bendre   Counterpoint Research press(at)counterpointresearch.com