The Motorola Moto G06 is a great phone, but it’s only supposed to get two years of updates. Is the EU going along with that?
According to EU regulations, every smartphone is supposed to receive software updates for many years. That makes sense so users don’t have to throw away a working device. But Motorola is trying to get around this with some legal fine print.
It’s understandable to some extent. When you sell a smartphone like the Motorola Moto G06 for just under €100 at retailers like Amazon Germany, it’s difficult to squeeze long-term update support into such a tight budget. After all, the updates have to be adapted for each device to develop individual drivers and tailor the software to the specific hardware.
Motorola could run into legal trouble
However, EU regulation introduced in June 2025 requires that all smartphones sold on the European market receive software updates for a long time. The directive does not specify a minimum price for this rule to take effect. The EU explicitly states that software updates must be available for five years after a device is no longer sold.
Motorola’s lawyers have apparently studied that legal text closely, and now the company appears to be ready to confront the EU Commission. Their interpretation is that the EU does not actually require updates to be provided at all, but only requires that if updates are offered, they must be free of charge. However, we are not aware of any case in which a smartphone manufacturer has ever charged money for security patches.
A caveat of otherwise solid devices
Maybe Motorola just wants to buy time for its internal processes. Other manufacturers like Samsung and Google are already offering seven years of updates for their devices. So it’s certainly not impossible, and short update support can also put Motorola at a competitive disadvantage. That said, Samsung may have also found a loophole when it comes to its budget handsets.
Overall, it’s unfortunate that Motorola resorts to this kind of trick. The Motorola Moto G06 shows that the company can make very good phones in the low-end segment. We were especially impressed by the chassis and the bright display, as you can read in our detailed review.
Editor of the original article: Florian Schmitt – Managing Editor Mobile – 1360 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2009
I initially wrote about gaming laptops when I joined Notebookcheck in 2009. I was then involved with the setup of the comparison portal Notebookinfo and worked with social media concepts for large companies like BMW and Adidas, while also returning to work for Notebookcheck in 2012. Nowadays, I focus on smartphones, tablets, and future technologies. Since 2018 I have been Managing Editor for mobile device reviews, working alongside my colleague Daniel Schmidt.
Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 5767 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.