Always good to see that more companies commit to more and more years of software updates. Phones (especially flagships) have gotten so powerful now that I'd expect them to easily be able to run...
Always good to see that more companies commit to more and more years of software updates.
Phones (especially flagships) have gotten so powerful now that I'd expect them to easily be able to run the next 6-7 versions of their OS just fine (with various limitations, of course).
Just like a laptop from 2013 can run Windows 11, so should a phone from 2023 be able to run Android 20 (when and if that comes out), right?
My Galaxy Fold 4 will only get 4 versions of Android, and 5 years of security updates. Barring the hinge or the foldable screen breaking (which I expect to happen long before that), I'd expect it to still be a capable phone even then. (And I could root and install a lightweight custom ROM to give it even more years of life.)
I actually think security updates are a bigger deal. I bought a Pixel 5 in May 2021, and this month is the last time it'll receive Android or security updates. No more Android updates is no big...
I actually think security updates are a bigger deal. I bought a Pixel 5 in May 2021, and this month is the last time it'll receive Android or security updates. No more Android updates is no big deal, the phone works great as it is so I don't care if I don't get new features, but no more security updates means it will gradually become less safe to use at all. I would support a legal requirement to provide security updates for some reasonable amount of time, feature updates are just nice to have and can be up to the manufacturer.
I agree that security updates are more important, but they were already offering security updates. They’ve extended the number of Android versions that the phone will support, making it more...
I agree that security updates are more important, but they were already offering security updates. They’ve extended the number of Android versions that the phone will support, making it more likely that apps will continue working.
This feels a bit hollow to me. If they want to prove that they will give 7 years of updates, why don’t they go back and update their old phones? The pixel 2 is 6 years old, and the latest android...
This feels a bit hollow to me. If they want to prove that they will give 7 years of updates, why don’t they go back and update their old phones? The pixel 2 is 6 years old, and the latest android version is from 2020. Update that phone to android 13 and maybe I’ll believe google’s claim.
This is the one thing that Apple absolutely does better than any other phone manufacturer. With how much the industry copies Apple, it is sad that it is taking so long for them to copy this.
They don’t have to prove it, they have always stuck by their EOLs. This is one of those promises that would result in a lawsuit if they did not stand by it, but again, they always have.
They don’t have to prove it, they have always stuck by their EOLs.
This is one of those promises that would result in a lawsuit if they did not stand by it, but again, they always have.
This is the company that cancels so many projects that the meme about them cancelling projects has become stale. They have plenty of lawyers, and class action lawsuits are famous for extremely...
This is the company that cancels so many projects that the meme about them cancelling projects has become stale. They have plenty of lawyers, and class action lawsuits are famous for extremely small payouts.
Anyway, let’s assume this is true and they keep up with their promises. Great, and that will save some ewaste in 4-5 years. But Google has the opportunity now to save a bunch of perfectly good phones from ewaste. Instead they just make future promises. So it is clear to me that this exists only to sell more phones now. To be clear, this is a win. It means that Google thinks customers want long support windows. That is a huge win. And this will save ewaste in the future. But Google could do so much more. Forgive me if I don’t sing their praises from the rooftops.
Sold. I just pre-ordered a Pixel 8 based on this, as I happen to be in the market for a new phone and was looking at OnePlus and Google. I'm tired of phones only getting three years of updates for...
Sold. I just pre-ordered a Pixel 8 based on this, as I happen to be in the market for a new phone and was looking at OnePlus and Google. I'm tired of phones only getting three years of updates for the same price, and $699 for a 7-year phone is great for me.
I admit I feel a bit miffed that I got a 7A with 3 years of OS updates, for this to drop with 7 years OS updates. Wish the 7A could've gotten in on that deal! Or at least OS updates for the full 5...
I admit I feel a bit miffed that I got a 7A with 3 years of OS updates, for this to drop with 7 years OS updates. Wish the 7A could've gotten in on that deal! Or at least OS updates for the full 5 year support life.
If it’s any consolation, you should be able to flash versions beyond that when the time comes. 7A users are the perfect market for good backported ROMs. Big user base and a focus on frugality.
If it’s any consolation, you should be able to flash versions beyond that when the time comes. 7A users are the perfect market for good backported ROMs. Big user base and a focus on frugality.
Do people do that now, backporting new Android OSes to unsupported devices (like getting Android 14 working on a Pixel 3 or something)? Never heard about that.
Do people do that now, backporting new Android OSes to unsupported devices (like getting Android 14 working on a Pixel 3 or something)? Never heard about that.
Since Android 8, all phones can be flashed with any version of Android, using something called a GSI (generic system image). You will need a PC and some command-line tools, but it's easy to do....
Since Android 8, all phones can be flashed with any version of Android, using something called a GSI (generic system image). You will need a PC and some command-line tools, but it's easy to do.
It'll obviously void your warranty though.
But yeah, you can absolutely put Android 14 on a Pixel 3.
And the 8 Pro has not just high refresh rate but also full-range variable refresh rate all the way down to 1Hz, as opposed to the 60Hz minimum on the 7.
And the 8 Pro has not just high refresh rate but also full-range variable refresh rate all the way down to 1Hz, as opposed to the 60Hz minimum on the 7.
Apple has also allegedly cut corners on the batteries in the latest model. The refresh rate, metal exterior and battery make the price tag seem even more ridiculous.
Apple has also allegedly cut corners on the batteries in the latest model. The refresh rate, metal exterior and battery make the price tag seem even more ridiculous.
Oof. Here I am a fool with a 15 Pro. Haven’t had issues with overheating though. And my battery life standards are low as I’m coming from an iPhone SE. Hopefully the battery doesn’t need...
Oof. Here I am a fool with a 15 Pro. Haven’t had issues with overheating though. And my battery life standards are low as I’m coming from an iPhone SE. Hopefully the battery doesn’t need replacement after a year.
"Alledgedly" being the key word here. I wouldn't use Dexerto.com as a source on anything, especially when they use a random under 4k follower Twitter "Tipster"as their source. This issue has been...
"Alledgedly" being the key word here. I wouldn't use Dexerto.com as a source on anything, especially when they use a random under 4k follower Twitter "Tipster"as their source.
This issue has been fixed with the latest OS update anyway.
All I really want to see at this point is what the actual battery life, and battery charge times are. The 7a looked like it took quite a while to top the battery up.
All I really want to see at this point is what the actual battery life, and battery charge times are. The 7a looked like it took quite a while to top the battery up.
If the 7a is known for having that issue, I've not noticed a problem actually using it. I think it had slow wireless charging or something, but with USB-C I just put it to charge and when I expect...
If the 7a is known for having that issue, I've not noticed a problem actually using it. I think it had slow wireless charging or something, but with USB-C I just put it to charge and when I expect it to be topped off, it is.
I still miss my ergonomic fingerprint sensor (the one on the back) I don't understand why they trashed it. The fingerprint sensor on the power button works too, but sucks for left-handed people.
I still miss my ergonomic fingerprint sensor (the one on the back) I don't understand why they trashed it. The fingerprint sensor on the power button works too, but sucks for left-handed people.
That's my biggest gripe, but my Pixel 5 is losing security updates this month and Google offering $300 for the trade-in was too good to pass up. 5 years of muscle memory down the drain, but I...
That's my biggest gripe, but my Pixel 5 is losing security updates this month and Google offering $300 for the trade-in was too good to pass up. 5 years of muscle memory down the drain, but I guess with 7 years of updates I'll have plenty of time to get used to it.
This should be a good thing and I hope it ripples out to other manufacturers as well. Especially now that they've been enforcing more app updates and version bumps. Sure it's more work on us...
This should be a good thing and I hope it ripples out to other manufacturers as well. Especially now that they've been enforcing more app updates and version bumps. Sure it's more work on us developers, but such is life in tech lol
Looking at Apple for comparison (I'm an Android user): iPhone 5s was released in September 2013 together with iOS 7. It received OS updates up through iOS 12, released September 2018. iOS 12.5.7,...
Looking at Apple for comparison (I'm an Android user):
iPhone 5s was released in September 2013 together with iOS 7. It received OS updates up through iOS 12, released September 2018. iOS 12.5.7, a security update, was released January 2023.
So about 5 years of OS updates, and 9 years of security updates.
So if Google follows through with a 7 year commitment, that's better than iOS in terms of major OS updates.
How they compare on security updates is less clear. Google have made efforts to decouple parts of the Android OS so that they can receive security updates even when the underlying OS is at a fixed version. This also helps when third-party manufacturers are slow to release updates.
One part of that initiative is called Project Treble, and their blog post makes it sound like they already finished that phase a couple years ago ("Project Treble was..."). It sounds like Project Treble and similar coordination efforts have so far helped support 4-year commitments of OS updates from Google and participating manufacturers.
Fairphone might be your pick then, they offer 8 years of security updates (nothing listed for OS version updates though) and a 5 year hardware warranty. It’s also designed to be user-serviceable.
Fairphone might be your pick then, they offer 8 years of security updates (nothing listed for OS version updates though) and a 5 year hardware warranty. It’s also designed to be user-serviceable.
I pre-ordered the standard 8. I’ll admit, the Bay color almost upsold me, but Rose looks alright. I am pretty disappointed that Google is locking software features behind the Pro moniker now. Many...
I pre-ordered the standard 8.
I’ll admit, the Bay color almost upsold me, but Rose looks alright.
I am pretty disappointed that Google is locking software features behind the Pro moniker now. Many of the camera features (including in the mutually shared lens) are only available on the Pro, though I’m sure the Android community will find a way to bring them over.
I’m glad they’re making improvements on the video recording as that’s an area that has always fallen behind.
I’m most excited about that screen brightness, 2000 peak nit on the standard and 2400 peak on the Pro. I never keep my screen on max brightness, but when the sun is coming straight down onto your screen, you bet it’s maxxed out.
I’m, of course, super happy to see them extending their software support, though I don’t ever see myself keeping a phone for seven years. I upgrade bi-annually, then hand down my previous phone to someone else. I suppose phone companies have been a lot less innovative lately, but I don’t see a point where nothing enticing enough is going to come out over seven years that I wouldn’t feel the desire to upgrade.
Always good to see that more companies commit to more and more years of software updates.
Phones (especially flagships) have gotten so powerful now that I'd expect them to easily be able to run the next 6-7 versions of their OS just fine (with various limitations, of course).
Just like a laptop from 2013 can run Windows 11, so should a phone from 2023 be able to run Android 20 (when and if that comes out), right?
My Galaxy Fold 4 will only get 4 versions of Android, and 5 years of security updates. Barring the hinge or the foldable screen breaking (which I expect to happen long before that), I'd expect it to still be a capable phone even then. (And I could root and install a lightweight custom ROM to give it even more years of life.)
Laptops from 2013 should not be supported for Windows 11. Only Intel Gen 8+ is supported (Aug 2017+).
You can bypass the requirements I believe.
Yeah easily. The TPM requirement was circumvented almost immediately.
The big deal here is that it’s not just security updates, but also updates to new versions of Android.
I actually think security updates are a bigger deal. I bought a Pixel 5 in May 2021, and this month is the last time it'll receive Android or security updates. No more Android updates is no big deal, the phone works great as it is so I don't care if I don't get new features, but no more security updates means it will gradually become less safe to use at all. I would support a legal requirement to provide security updates for some reasonable amount of time, feature updates are just nice to have and can be up to the manufacturer.
I agree that security updates are more important, but they were already offering security updates. They’ve extended the number of Android versions that the phone will support, making it more likely that apps will continue working.
This feels a bit hollow to me. If they want to prove that they will give 7 years of updates, why don’t they go back and update their old phones? The pixel 2 is 6 years old, and the latest android version is from 2020. Update that phone to android 13 and maybe I’ll believe google’s claim.
This is the one thing that Apple absolutely does better than any other phone manufacturer. With how much the industry copies Apple, it is sad that it is taking so long for them to copy this.
They don’t have to prove it, they have always stuck by their EOLs.
This is one of those promises that would result in a lawsuit if they did not stand by it, but again, they always have.
This is the company that cancels so many projects that the meme about them cancelling projects has become stale. They have plenty of lawyers, and class action lawsuits are famous for extremely small payouts.
Anyway, let’s assume this is true and they keep up with their promises. Great, and that will save some ewaste in 4-5 years. But Google has the opportunity now to save a bunch of perfectly good phones from ewaste. Instead they just make future promises. So it is clear to me that this exists only to sell more phones now. To be clear, this is a win. It means that Google thinks customers want long support windows. That is a huge win. And this will save ewaste in the future. But Google could do so much more. Forgive me if I don’t sing their praises from the rooftops.
Sold. I just pre-ordered a Pixel 8 based on this, as I happen to be in the market for a new phone and was looking at OnePlus and Google. I'm tired of phones only getting three years of updates for the same price, and $699 for a 7-year phone is great for me.
And you get a high refresh rate display. Even the 7A is 90 Hz. Apple selling a $800 60 Hz phone is ridiculous.
I admit I feel a bit miffed that I got a 7A with 3 years of OS updates, for this to drop with 7 years OS updates. Wish the 7A could've gotten in on that deal! Or at least OS updates for the full 5 year support life.
If it’s any consolation, you should be able to flash versions beyond that when the time comes. 7A users are the perfect market for good backported ROMs. Big user base and a focus on frugality.
You don't even need specific backported ROMs, any GSI ROM file will work.
Do people do that now, backporting new Android OSes to unsupported devices (like getting Android 14 working on a Pixel 3 or something)? Never heard about that.
Since Android 8, all phones can be flashed with any version of Android, using something called a GSI (generic system image). You will need a PC and some command-line tools, but it's easy to do.
It'll obviously void your warranty though.
But yeah, you can absolutely put Android 14 on a Pixel 3.
And the 8 Pro has not just high refresh rate but also full-range variable refresh rate all the way down to 1Hz, as opposed to the 60Hz minimum on the 7.
Apple has also allegedly cut corners on the batteries in the latest model. The refresh rate, metal exterior and battery make the price tag seem even more ridiculous.
Oof. Here I am a fool with a 15 Pro. Haven’t had issues with overheating though. And my battery life standards are low as I’m coming from an iPhone SE. Hopefully the battery doesn’t need replacement after a year.
It won't, it was a software issue - partially caused by Meta properties using APIs in weird ways.
"Alledgedly" being the key word here. I wouldn't use Dexerto.com as a source on anything, especially when they use a random under 4k follower Twitter "Tipster"as their source.
This issue has been fixed with the latest OS update anyway.
All I really want to see at this point is what the actual battery life, and battery charge times are. The 7a looked like it took quite a while to top the battery up.
If the 7a is known for having that issue, I've not noticed a problem actually using it. I think it had slow wireless charging or something, but with USB-C I just put it to charge and when I expect it to be topped off, it is.
I still miss my ergonomic fingerprint sensor (the one on the back) I don't understand why they trashed it. The fingerprint sensor on the power button works too, but sucks for left-handed people.
That's my biggest gripe, but my Pixel 5 is losing security updates this month and Google offering $300 for the trade-in was too good to pass up. 5 years of muscle memory down the drain, but I guess with 7 years of updates I'll have plenty of time to get used to it.
This should be a good thing and I hope it ripples out to other manufacturers as well. Especially now that they've been enforcing more app updates and version bumps. Sure it's more work on us developers, but such is life in tech lol
Looking at Apple for comparison (I'm an Android user):
iPhone 5s was released in September 2013 together with iOS 7. It received OS updates up through iOS 12, released September 2018. iOS 12.5.7, a security update, was released January 2023.
So about 5 years of OS updates, and 9 years of security updates.
So if Google follows through with a 7 year commitment, that's better than iOS in terms of major OS updates.
How they compare on security updates is less clear. Google have made efforts to decouple parts of the Android OS so that they can receive security updates even when the underlying OS is at a fixed version. This also helps when third-party manufacturers are slow to release updates.
One part of that initiative is called Project Treble, and their blog post makes it sound like they already finished that phase a couple years ago ("Project Treble was..."). It sounds like Project Treble and similar coordination efforts have so far helped support 4-year commitments of OS updates from Google and participating manufacturers.
Does this follow the incoming EU law for user-replaceable batteries? The first phone to offer both will be my next upgrade.
Fairphone might be your pick then, they offer 8 years of security updates (nothing listed for OS version updates though) and a 5 year hardware warranty. It’s also designed to be user-serviceable.
I pre-ordered the standard 8.
I’ll admit, the Bay color almost upsold me, but Rose looks alright.
I am pretty disappointed that Google is locking software features behind the Pro moniker now. Many of the camera features (including in the mutually shared lens) are only available on the Pro, though I’m sure the Android community will find a way to bring them over.
I’m glad they’re making improvements on the video recording as that’s an area that has always fallen behind.
I’m most excited about that screen brightness, 2000 peak nit on the standard and 2400 peak on the Pro. I never keep my screen on max brightness, but when the sun is coming straight down onto your screen, you bet it’s maxxed out.
I’m, of course, super happy to see them extending their software support, though I don’t ever see myself keeping a phone for seven years. I upgrade bi-annually, then hand down my previous phone to someone else. I suppose phone companies have been a lot less innovative lately, but I don’t see a point where nothing enticing enough is going to come out over seven years that I wouldn’t feel the desire to upgrade.