The iPhone has traditionally been the go-to advice for individuals who need to know their telephone might be supported for a very long time. That modified at present.
On Wednesday, Google hosted its annual Made by Google occasion. On the occasion, the corporate introduced the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel Watch 2. It additionally revealed an enormous software program replace in addition to two new colours for the Pixel Buds Professional and confirmed off a ton of latest AI options which can be coming to the telephone, watch, and different gadgets.
Along with exhibiting off the entire new options for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional — lots of which have been already leaked — Google additionally made one other announcement… which additionally leaked. The corporate revealed that it’s going to help the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional with seven years of software program updates, together with Android OS upgrades, safety updates, and common Characteristic Drops.
This can be a large enchancment over the three to 4 years of software program help that Google has beforehand provided for its Pixel telephones and a primary for any smartphone firm. If Google makes good on this promise, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional might be supported with updates all the best way till 2030. That’s loopy.
Right this moment we introduced our dedication to offering seven years of software program help for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional, together with Android OS upgrades, safety updates and common Characteristic Drops.1 Which means your Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional might be supported all the best way into 2030. No main smartphone model affords this dedicated degree of help and longevity. This makes these telephones a extra sustainable smartphone alternative, as a result of they’ll be safe and carry out nicely for seven years.
Seang Chau, Google VP of Engineering, and Shenaz Zack, Google Director of Product Administration, mentioned in a weblog submit that the corporate labored with accomplice groups with the intention to make 7 years of help doable. The corporate can be altering its software program replace cadence to get enhancements into the palms of shoppers quicker.
Extending our dedication with Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional was a pure development for us, particularly as we’re seeing individuals use their Pixel telephones longer and longer. To make this doable, we’ve been working to safe long-term commitments from accomplice groups, and put the mandatory testing infrastructure in place.
We additionally dug into how we will ship the very best high quality, finest examined updates to Pixel customers on a constant foundation. As a part of this effort, our safety updates, bug fixes and have updates gained’t roll out on a particular day every month. As an alternative, we’ll deploy updates as quickly as they’ve accomplished the mandatory exams to make sure they enhance the expertise for all Pixel clients.
As compared, Apple really doesn’t promise a particular variety of years of software program updates for the iPhone. That mentioned, the corporate has traditionally supplied help for a minimum of 5 to 6 years with main iOS updates in addition to safety updates for even longer. Whereas Apple has principally completed what Google is promising at present anyway, the corporate ought to contemplate making such a dedication publicly.
After all, there’s one large problem that Apple would want to beat with the intention to assure seven years of software program help for the iPhone like Google is now doing for the Pixel. The apparent downside is that older iPhone fashions might not have the {hardware} essential to help the most recent iOS options. That is one thing that Google appears to be assured in, which is curious. Know-how evolves, and 7 years is a very long time — particularly for Google, which is understood to kill off initiatives.
We’ll have to attend till 2030 to see if Google makes good on this promise, however for now, it definitely implies that the iPhone now not stands alone in the case of anticipated longevity to your smartphone.
