Google is reportedly improving on its Pixel update promise to match Apple and Samsung. The company is expected to push the timeline for guaranteed updates to five years, starting with the Google Pixel 8. The current range of Pixel phones will be supported with software updates for up to 3 years, and all Tensor-powered Pixels will have a promise of a maximum of 5 years. years of security updates.
The report of 9to5Googleclaims, based on unnamed sources, that Google is making this move first with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
According to the report, the Pixel 8’s update promise should exceed Samsung’s current flagship policy and meaningfully match the iPhone. Apple’s iPhones are supported for up to 6 years, making them among the smartphones with the longest lifespan.
Keeping the Pixel Promise
Google’s Pixels once offered best-in-class Android updates, delivering updates the same day they launched and longer than other Android phone manufacturers. Little by little, the company’s products have fallen behind as manufacturers from Samsung to OnePlus to Xiaomi have caught up or surpassed Google. While the company is behind Android (and now makes its own chips, so Qualcomm can’t be blamed), it no longer offers the best Android phone money can buy if you want the longest meaningful support.
Google, in turn, has a legitimate reason to stop releasing Pixel updates. Operating system updates on iOS are important as they are related to new app features. For example, the Music app sees an overhaul in iOS 17. A new Diary app debuts, and so on. Google, on the other hand, has moved on to steadily trickling Android features and app updates to users, without the need for a full system update. Many of these have been delivered through the Play Store as app and framework updates.
I’ve been using Android 14 for a while now, and other than a new lock screen, I couldn’t tell you off the top of my head what’s new if I held a gun to it. This is a conscious choice by Googlethat aims to get new software features into users’ hands more quickly, rather than holding them all back for a completely new version of Android.
For example, a Pixel 7 can get 95% of what’s new in Android over the last two years of its support cycle, without the need for another system update.
By extending full software update support to five years, Google can ensure Android users get the best of both worlds, from feature drops to full OS updates, even on older Pixel phones.