Whether under the Nexus brand or the newer Pixels, Google’s phones have been the gold standard for receiving regular software updates for years. On the other hand, other manufacturers have recently woken up and stepped up their game by improving their software update commitments. Samsung made the biggest splash last year when it outdid Google with its three-year Android update guarantee. Unsurprisingly, Google is reportedly fighting back by regaining the lead with the Pixel 6, which will be released next week.
After all, it was a little embarrassing for a phone company that was once known for having the worst Android updates to outshine the company that created Android. Of course, Samsung has years of experience, whereas Google only began designing and manufacturing its phones in 2016. It was only a matter of time before the tech behemoth attempted to reclaim its honour, and that could happen as soon as next week.
Thankfully, tipster @ snoopytech_ filled in the big gap left by the massive Pixel 6 leak that surfaced a few days ago. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are guaranteed five years of security patches, but there were no Android version upgrades in that leak. According to the usual pattern, the upcoming Google phones will be promised four years of major upgrades, which usually translates to four Android versions, especially when it comes to Google.
Pixel 6 gets 4 OS Upgrades and 5 Years of Security Patches
— Snoopy (@_snoopytech_) October 13, 2021
Although this is only one year longer than Samsung had promised, it still means another year of critical security updates and significant feature changes. It means Pixel 6 owners will be able to keep their phones for much longer before feeling compelled to upgrade to a new phone to take advantage of newer Android features. That is, assuming the hardware lasts that long.
While this is a significant improvement for Pixel phones, some argue that even four years is nothing compared to Apple’s track record. Even the iPhone 6s, which was released in 2015, is supported by iOS 15. In contrast, the first Google Pixel, released in 2016, reached the end of its life cycle in 2019, having received only three major upgrades and security patches.
Source: slashgear
