In reading say this weekly update Week 36, 2022 : Development and Testing Updates it is good to bear in mind that the approx monthly system updates or “/e/ version updates” that is from 1.2 → 1.3 are a full system replacement – other parts should be untouched. So the chance of a catastrophic loss are low.
It is expected that if you keep anything important backed up and you are happy with the content at eCloud and you are running a stable version (as found from esolution) the risk would be very low even in the event of the worst.
There is a convention that we try to use the word Upgrade when we are talking about the Android version Upgrades for instance
- Pie = Android 9 → Q = Android 10 → R = Android 11
You are not facing that dilemma right now as Install /e/ on a Teracube Teracube 2e (2020) - “2e” seems placed in Q = Android 10 for now.
When an Android version Upgrade does come, we expect an extra link to appear on the linked page, with instructions for the Upgrade which will be most likely to include data wipe and loss of data. Many users delay an Upgrade till they see any reports of trouble. Usually there is a period of several / many months between the Upgrade being offered and the old version going end of life.
Some devices are starting to be offered OTA Upgrades (more than OTA Update), here it is hoped that the data partition can be preserved. No word of this being launched for your device.
As a non-tech learner it is a good idea not to be scared of “a full backup”. Anyone writing an article on this subject has to cover all the bases, and the guide can become hard work. I approach it with a small backup of one app – once you are happy with one or two, say your contacts, then say your SMS messages and phone log, it might all get less scary.
Another angle to this is to install List My Apps – this is an old app containing a warning – however all it does is give you a written list of apps. Study of this often reminds you of apps that can be deleted anyway, and others which you have no worries about the need for a backup at all.