Laptops with proper firmware updates

Privacy Questions
1

Which laptops receive longest and proper firmware updates?

1 Like
2

Macbook, Dell Latitude/Precision, Lenovo ThinkPads, Microsoft Surface, NovaCustom laptops

6 Likes
3

Okay, but how many years do they receive proper firmware updates?

1 Like
4

Among mainstream manufacturers? I guess Dell and HP.
But I don’t know what “proper” means.
There are some niche linux-oriented laptop manufacturers, with coreboot and lvfs support, which is way more proper, if you use Linux.
If not, then it’s obviously MacBooks.

1 Like
6

Do you know how long does Apple support their M-series MacBooks from the release date?

8

  • Macbook: Guaranteed hardware and software support for 5 years but in practice they usually update for more than that. Excited to see how long the M1 mac stays supported.

  • Dell Latitude/Precision and Thinkpads: I believe they don’t officially publish minimum support periods but expect around 5 years.

Dell commits to monthly firmware updates and Lenovo commits to bimonthly firmware updates for Thinkpads.

5 Likes
9

Apple supports their own hardware for an equal amount of time as their own software. In the case of phones this is guaranteed 5 years, and I think it is a safe assumption that their laptops will also receive that length of support given the similarities with the chips these days. That’s all though.

Historically, it has been more than 5 years, and I’d personally expect 7-8 on average, but that’s an educated assumption and never a guarantee, and I’d also generally recommend only making purchase decisions based on what’s in writing.

3 Likes
10

starlabs.systems advertise “5-years of updates. Backed by secure updates delivered via the LVFS” and “Firmware updates for the BIOS, Embedded Controller and SSD are just a click away with the power of the LVFS (Linux Vendor Firmware Service)”.
This looks proper to me.

13

I don’t really want to mention Starlabs as they don’t have Intel BootGuard and are not working on it afaik. Granted, NovaCustom doesn’t have it either but they plan on shipping it with their next firmware update, which should be before the end of the year iirc.

1 Like
14

Maybe the title should be changed to “Secure laptops with proper firmware updates” because even if a laptop is supported for a long time, it doesn’t mean anything if the laptop’s hardware is insecure.

1 Like
15

Pretty nice resource imo

16

It’s just “https://starlabs.systems”. But I never used them, so I have nothing more to say.

They advertise “Measured Boot/Secured boot” and some of their laptops built with Ryzens, but I’m not informed enough in all this, maybe Intel BootGuard is paramount these days.

1 Like
17

My early 2015 MacBook Air received its last security update in July 2024. The last OS version it got was macOS Monterey (2021).

The content of last update: About the security content of macOS Monterey 12.7.6 - Apple Support

18

I know you said laptops, but how about samsung phones 7 years w dex or when google pulls their socks up with desktop mode on pixel devices for 7 years.

Also if google pixel laptop becomes a thing :person_shrugging:
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-Pixel-Laptop-New-leaks-spark-rumours-about-high-end-laptop-with-Android-not-ChromeOS.920559.0.html

Oh and chromeos devices 10 years

2 Likes
19

Also coreboot laptops maybe, “endless” updates. As long as coreboot exists.
Eg.
System 76
https://system76.com/laptops

Starlabs laptops

1 Like
20

Apologies if this is too off-topic but my partner has this device. Would you advise updating with OpenCore Legacy Patcher or just leave it as is? Neither is ideal of course.

21

That is a good list. Not sure if we can add Framework, their Laptop 13’ is receiving updates.

22

Framework devices actually meet HSI:3 and HSI:4 so the hardware in fact, is pretty secure.

However, their track record with firmware updates has not been the greatest which is very problematic.

I’d wait and see how consistent they are with the firmware updates across all their devices and how long they will commit to supporting them.

1 Like
23

I am not sure what OpenCore Legacy Patcher is. Last I checked, Apple hadn’t made this model obsolete yet, so I am guessing we can still get some security updates for a few months if something is critical.

About when it gets obsolete, I personally don’t mind using it still for a couple of years more. My laptop usage is limited to watching YouTube or other websites, doing on-the-fly code correction, taking video calls, and writing reports on Overleaf. As long as I get updates for firefox and Proton, I think I’ll keep using macOS.

Edit: It seems I was wrong; macOS Monteray is no longer supported, so we will not be getting any updates from Apple.

1 Like
25

I wouldn’t use those unofficial Apple patchers like OpenCore because you can’t be certain that it’s secure since it doesn’t come from Apple and you’ll probably run into problems with compatibility in the future…

EDIT:
Apple is amazing with providing security updates for their iOS and iPadOS devices.

A few months ago I received a security update for an iPad Mini I bought in 2015!!!