I love Pixel phones — I regularly consider them to be among the best Android phones — even with their yearly issues. Part of that is down to the software. Google, which makes Android, has created a bunch of useful features and additions to the platform that make devices like the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6a really useful.
But as much as I love the Pixels and their software, Google is lacking in one key area, and it’s one that doesn’t make much sense to me. The company promises only three years of Android updates, even though it writes the code for the operating system And the Controls devices from Pixel 6 onwards.
I find this unacceptable given Samsung’s update policy. And even OnePlus has joined in, also offering platform updates for four years. Google should lead the pack, not fall behind its competitors.
Pixels should be equivalent to the Android iPhone
Pixel devices and Nexus devices before them have always promised the Android equivalent of the iPhone. They get updates as soon as they are released by Google (in most cases) and have the basic functionality that Google thinks is best for the operating system.
But this promise has not yet been fully realized. One area where Apple completely dominates its Android competition is in how long they support their iPhones. These phones can last for years, five years, or more, even if they can’t use the latest software features. (The iPhone 7, released in 2016, hit iOS 15 before it reached the end of life.)
Pixels last, relatively speaking, three years worth of Android updates. So the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, which were released not too long ago in 2019, will not get updates after Android 13. The iPhone 11, which was launched the same year, just got iOS 16 and will likely see iOS 17 and behind.
Now that Google is using its own Tensor chipset in its Pixels, I see no excuse while the Pixel 6 and later can’t get five years of platform updates. Or even longer!
With inflation rising rapidly and people’s disposable income decreasing, it would make sense to make sure your appliances last longer for the sake of goodwill and brand loyalty. I’ve seen and heard many people raving about both Samsung since they announced their new update policy.
Lagging behind Samsung and even OnePlus
Which brings us back to the Android field. In February, Samsung announced that it would provide four years of platform updates and five years of security patches to its portfolio, including the more budget-friendly Galaxy A series. In this space, it was unprecedented, making Samsung devices some of the best values in terms of support.
And OnePlus followed suit a few days ago, promising the same four-year/five-year commitment to “select” phones going forward. (You can read my thoughts on this sneaky policy if you’d like.) OnePlus, which hasn’t been great about updates for long, now beats Google in long-term support.
At this rate, Motorola would catch up, and it would only be embarrassing.
Google has been mysteriously silent since Samsung’s announcement, and completely ignored it when it announced the Pixel 7 series. In fact, the company highlighted only five years of security patches, not the number of years of Android updates. It immediately made me suspicious, and the news afterward proved me right.
There must be an answer coming. At this rate, Motorola would catch up, and it would only be embarrassing.
Pixel updates forecasts
I find the pixels left in an awkward place. Google may lead the Android pack in things like cameras and useful software features like Call Suite, but two of its biggest competitors in the US and abroad trump it in their update policies.
Like I said, I love pixels. The Pixel 7 Pro is one of my all-time favorite phones, even if I use the iPhone 14 Pro as my daily driver.
But when I had to tell my sister-in-law and her husband that their Pixel 4 phones wouldn’t receive Android updates after just another year of security patches, I saw their disappointment. I told them their options were, if they wanted the latest device for the longest period of time, flash GrapheneOS to their existing phones or use Samsung.
Google can – and should! – Definitely do better than this. pixels should Leading a new path of Android update support. I want to see at least a four-year promise, but five years or more will really help Pixels stand out.
Will this ever happen? I don’t know. The ball is in Google’s court now. We’ll see how they throw it.
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