What simply occurred? When smartphones first got here on the scene, everybody needed the most recent and best yearly. Naturally, corporations initiated restricted help (deliberate obsolescence) for these hot-selling units. Now that annual updates are incremental and persons are conserving their telephones longer, will insurance policies change?
In a lately up to date help doc, Google famous that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 have 5 years of Android help from the time they have been first out there within the US. The brand new coverage additionally applies to the unique Pixel Fold. Curiously, the Pixel pill will nonetheless solely obtain three years of OS updates regardless of being a comparatively newer system launched final 12 months. Nonetheless, the Pill will obtain 5 years of safety patches.
The improved help coverage advantages a number of telephones, together with:
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6 Professional
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 7 Professional
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel Fold
The Pixel 6 telephones have been launched in 2022 with Android 12 and are assured full compatibility with the working system as much as Android 15. The brand new coverage means that it’s going to obtain updates till 2027, taking the mannequin as much as Android 17. Likewise, the Pixel 7 household, launched in October 2022 with Android 13, receives updates till 2028 (Android 18).
Google’s new software program help coverage for older Pixel units is a step in the fitting route. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless not as in depth as the corporate’s replace coverage for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 strains. Google guarantees seven years of Android updates for these units, which is among the many finest within the business.
Samsung is the one different firm to supply seven years of software program updates for its smartphones, though it solely applies to the Galaxy S flagship and foldable units. In contrast to Samsung, Google’s seven-year replace promise contains its smartphones. mid-range, just like the Pixel 8a.
Lack of updates was as soon as a giant concern for Android customers, however issues have modified in recent times, particularly on the premium finish of the market. Nonetheless, main manufacturers like OnePlus, Nothing and Xiaomi are nonetheless lagging behind of their replace insurance policies and it’s questionable if they may ever enhance their software program help.
