Curious about update behavior on two different laptops

[Joel64]

Not really a support issue, just something I've been curious about since moving to Linux.

I have a Lenovo Ideapad that's almost 8 years old.
I have an HP laptop that's almost 4 years old.

They each have 24.04.1, and I install every new update that comes in.

Here's what I'm curious about:

Lenovo
It rarely asks to restart after it installs updates.
It always asks for my password to install updates.

HP
It almost always asks to restart after it installs updates.
It never asks for my password to install the updates.

What would be the reason for two different behaviors for the same OS? Is it because of the difference in hardware and/or age of the laptop?

Like I said, not worried about it, just curious.

[claydoh]

The Lenovo has the Offline Updates feature turned off, is my guess.

On the HP this default setting would cause all apt based updates to be installed during a special low level boot session. This is also why a password isn't needed.

For native apt packaging if offline updates has been turned off , some things may need a reboot to take effect, such as a new kernel. This should prompt for it via a tray icon.

Snap and Flatpaks are not involved with the offline Updates festure, so don't ask for a reboot.

Snaps need a password iirc, Flatpaks don't.

So overall it depends on what is being updated, in terms of package type and setiings