Good news, Google is improving software support for its older Pixel 6, 7 and Fold smartphones. Their users will therefore be able to use them for longer before they become obsolete!
The duration of software updates is a crucial element in choosing a smartphone. Indeed, after a while, the manufacturer no longer carries out operating system (OS) updates or security patches – certain applications become incompatible and security vulnerabilities are no longer corrected, which exposed to risks. Also, the longer the monitoring and the more responsive the deployment, the more the device will remain up to date and will therefore be protected from possible cyber threats. But the duration of updates depends entirely on the manufacturers’ policies, with some being more generous than others.
Unsurprisingly, Google is among the best with its Pixel devices, given that it develops the operating system. Since the launch of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, the digital giant has offered three years of Android updates and five years of security updates, and increases up to seven years of Android and security updates with the range Pixel 8 and 9. As you will have understood, it depends entirely on the model of the smartphone, which can lead to confusion. Also, Google has finally decided to extend Android and security updates to five years for the Pixel 6, 7 and Fold ranges. Excellent news!
Google Pixel: software updates longer
As it states in the update of uno help sheetthese models “will receive updates for five years from the date the device was first made available on the Google Store in the United States. They receive five years of security and OS updates, as well as only new features and improvements integrated via Pixel Drops.”
The Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel Fold smartphones are affected. The Pixel 6 should therefore finally see the color of Android 17. The exact nature of these updates has not, however, been defined. Given their limited power, it is possible that older devices do not accommodate artificial intelligence functions, which require heavy local algorithmic calculations. The flagship functions linked to Gemini could therefore be reserved for new devices, a bit like what Apple is doing – of the 28 iPhone models that can install iOS 18, only 6 are eligible for Apple Intelligence.
A phone kept up to date for longer is a phone that can be kept for a longer period of time, which avoids having to buy another one. However, the production of a device is the most polluting phase of its existence, because of the extraction of raw materials. Consequently, the longer a piece of equipment is used, the lower its environmental impact will be. So this is excellent news for the planet!