Google’s Pixel 6 replace promise isn’t ok

Three years of Android OS updates, 5 years of safety updates: that’s Google’s replace pledge for the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Ranging from Android 12, Google’s newest flagships will obtain Android 15 in 2024, adopted by safety patches till 2026.

Technically, that is one of the best you’ll find from an Android smartphone in the meanwhile. It beats Samsung’s promise of three OS updates and 4 years of safety updates for its Galaxy S21 and older handsets, however not by very a lot. These following the rumors of 4 or 5 years of OS updates will little doubt be disenchanted.

If Google had gone additional, with 4, not to mention 5 years of OS updates, it will have seemingly pushed different producers to aim to match its pledge. Or, on the very least, it will have inspired them to supply barely longer assist than they do now. Because it stands, it appears unlikely that Android rivals, notably these working in funds markets, can be too anxious about prospects complaining their replace roadmaps are falling too far behind.

After all, any enchancment to a telephone’s replace schedule is welcome — that is one other step in the correct path. However for all of the discuss of Android 12 making it simpler for producers to deliver OS updates, the work achieved with Project Mainline, and the criticisms leveled at silicon vendors over the previous few years, Google’s newest pledge is simply fractionally higher than what’s come earlier than. Disappointingly so, on condition that Google is now within the silicon driving seat with its Tensor SoC contained in the Pixel 6 and 6 Professional, a key bottleneck within the chain of long-term assist.

Keep in mind, all of Google’s different comparatively latest Pixel smartphones will obtain three years of assured Android OS updates. Google has merely prolonged safety updates by two years. Nonetheless, that’s much better than the litany of producers providing a pitiful two years of OS updates and three years of safety, if you happen to’re fortunate. However Android’s greatest stays woeful in comparison with the extent of assist Apple gives its prolonged iPhone portfolio.

Working example, 2015’s iPhone 6S has obtained an replace to the newest iOS 15, full with all the newest options and never simply safety patches, after beginning on iOS 9. That’s a full six years after the telephone’s launch. Even Apple’s funds iPhone SE (2016), which value simply $349 at launch, has already obtained iOS 15. A premium-tier Pixel ought to on the very least match what Apple can present with its funds iPhone.

So right here we’re, as soon as once more scratching our heads. Regardless of all of the OS discuss and initiatives over the previous few years, Google has not managed to meaningfully enhance on the Android replace scenario. Whereas restricted updates could have been extra comprehensible throughout Google’s experimentation with reasonably priced Pixels, there’s little excuse for such a marginal enchancment with the return to flagship {hardware} and pricing.

Finally, Google’s Pixel 6 replace pledge, whereas one of the best you’ll find within the Android house, remains to be a good distance off one of the best within the enterprise. It’s actually not ok.