Source: Google Pixel 8 will get more OS updates with longer lifespan than Samsung

While the Pixel 6 ushered in three years of main Android OS model updates and an extra two for safety patches, that’s nonetheless nowhere close to the longevity of the iPhone. Google hopes to alter that on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro with noticeably more OS updates.

Looking on the cell Android panorama, three years of OS updates – which was additionally the case on Qualcomm-powered Pixel telephones from 2017-2021 – is much less than Samsung’s promise of 4, which began final yr with the Galaxy S21, S22, Flip 3, and Fold 3 and continued by units launched this yr, together with among the firm’s more inexpensive releases.

Other Android-powered units just like the Nvidia Shield are as much as eight years of updates largely as a result of Nvidia wholly controls the (growing older) Tegra X1 and X1+ chips. Google is shifting in that path with Tensor, although the primary three generations of Tensor are closely primarily based on Samsung Exynos.

Google touts “5 years of Pixel updates” on present Tensor-powered units as, after Android 13, 14, and 15 (for instance), the Pixel 6 will get two more years (24 month-to-month safety patches) that ought to allow you to comfortably maintain utilizing your telephone albeit with out main working system updates throughout these final two years. Of course, many new options on Android are delivered by way of app updates and Google Play providers, so your telephone will not be left too far behind.

Then there’s Apple, with the iPhone XS launched in September 2018 with iOS 12 that will get iOS 17 this fall. The iPhone 6S (and seven) from 2015 continues to be getting safety releases on iOS 15 and presently stands at simply shy of 8 years of updates.

Android’s replace story paling compared to the iPhone has been a straightforward knock, and Google is working to handle that with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. We’re listening to that Google plans to competitively increase what number of years of OS updates the Pixel 8 collection and presumably future units will get. 

From what we’re listening to, Pixel 8’s replace promise ought to surpass Samsung’s present coverage on flagships and meaningfully match the iPhone. Of course, the satan is within the particulars, particularly in these later years. For instance, the Galaxy line has, prior to now, adopted a quarterly strategy in direction of the top. Even a bump to simply 5 years of OS updates for Pixel could be sufficient and let the Google telephone be on the high of the ecosystem, with something past that squarely going after the iPhone’s document.

Kyle Bradshaw and Ben Schoon contributed to this publish.