Google is reportedly planning to match Apple’s software support for its upcoming Pixel 8 series, which will feature the company’s own Tensor chip. According to 9to5Google, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive at least five years of major Android OS updates, starting from Android 14. This would be a significant improvement over the current three-year guarantee for Pixel phones, and would put Google on par with Apple, which offers five or more years of iOS updates for its iPhones.
Why Google wants to extend software support for Pixel phones
One of the main reasons why Google wants to extend software support for its Pixel phones is to compete with Apple, which has a reputation for providing long-term software updates and security patches for its iPhones. Apple’s latest iOS 17 update will be available for the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, which were released in 2018 with iOS 12 pre-installed. Some older models, like the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the original iPhone SE, received seven years of iOS updates before being dropped this year.
Google, on the other hand, has been lagging behind Apple in terms of software support for its Pixel phones. The current Pixel flagships, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, will only receive three years of Android OS updates, ending with Android 16 in 2025. This means that Pixel users will miss out on some of the latest features and security enhancements that Android has to offer. Moreover, Google’s inconsistent software support may deter some potential buyers from choosing Pixel phones over other Android devices that offer longer or more frequent updates.
How Google plans to achieve five years of Android updates for Pixel phones
Another reason why Google wants to extend software support for its Pixel phones is to showcase its own Tensor chip, which will power the Pixel 8 series. The Tensor chip is Google’s first custom-made system-on-chip (SoC) for smartphones, and it is designed to deliver better performance, battery life, and AI capabilities than previous Pixel phones. Google claims that the Tensor chip will enable some of the most innovative features of the Pixel 8 series, such as improved camera quality, speech recognition, and translation.
The Tensor chip also gives Google more control over the hardware and software integration of its Pixel phones, which could make it easier for the company to provide longer and more consistent software updates. Unlike other Android phone makers that rely on third-party chipmakers like Qualcomm or MediaTek, Google can optimize its own chip for its own software, and vice versa. This could reduce the dependency on external factors that may affect the software update process, such as driver compatibility or certification requirements.
What this means for Pixel users and Android fans
If Google does manage to offer five years of Android updates for its Pixel 8 series, this would be a great news for Pixel users and Android fans alike. For Pixel users, this would mean that they can enjoy their phones for longer without worrying about missing out on the latest Android features or security patches. For Android fans, this would mean that they have more options to choose from when looking for a phone that offers long-term software support. This could also pressure other Android phone makers to follow suit and improve their software update policies.
The Pixel 8 series is expected to launch later this year, along with Android 14. The Pixel 8 series will likely be the first phones to run on Android 14 out of the box, and will receive at least four more major OS updates until Android 18 in 2027. This would make the Pixel 8 series one of the longest-lasting Android phones in terms of software support, rivaling the iPhone’s longevity.
