The latest news from Google can be found at this link: https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4457705?hl=en#nexus_devices and is explained by the AC staff here: Here's when your Nexus phone or tablet will stop receiving guaranteed updates | Android Central
And they saw this chart:
So a lot of blogs picked up on this update because it included data that said the 6P and 5X were not guaranteed updates after September 2017. But what? Only two years old and they're EOL? What the heck? No, it's more nuanced than that. Needless to say, Google did a terrible job of explaining this and people are confused. Here's how it breaks down.
Google actually states the following:
How long your Nexus will get updates
After a certain period, Google can no longer guarantee that a device will get version updates or security patches.
Nexus devices receive:
Example 1: The Nexus 5. It was released with KitKat in 2013 and on the chart above it says that it's EOL is 2015. That's two years, right? Simple enough. So that means it started on K 4.4, got the 5.0 update to L and got the 6.0 update to M. Two years. So the Nexus 5 isn't getting updated anymore? Wrong... what the chart doesn't tell you, is that Nexus devices are guaranteed security updates for three years, which means the 2015 date for major updates implies a 2016 date for security updates. And on Nexus devices, security updates often come with many of the same features and bug fixes, etc. that come with the same monthly patches on the more current devices.
As indicated in this quote, the Nexus 5 is still getting security updates each month and is on the latest and greatest software even though we're no longer in 2015
---
Wait, I typed too much. So the date says 2015 but it really means 2016? Yes. It means that if your device is EOL in 2015 on the chart, your device is going to be CURRENT until approximately a year later, or 2016.
Example 2: The Nexus 6. It was released with L in 2014 and on the chart above it says EOL is in 2016. So this means, it started on L, got M, will get N and will be CURRENT with both minor updates and security, until approximately the time that O releases in 2017. And it's not guaranteed that it WON'T get O, it just isn't guaranteed that it will. The Nexus 7 2012 went through 4 major updates and the Nexus 4 received 3 (5 and 4, respectively, if you count 5.1 as a major update - which if you beta'd 5.0, you do).
Example 3: The Nexus 6P and 5X. Released in 2015 with M and the chart says EOL 2017. Started on M, will get N, will get O and will be CURRENT with both minor updates and security until the time that P releases, in approximately Q4 of 2018.
Here's a chart that details the history of Nexus updates and projects all Nexus devices that currently exist (except the Player and Q because ... reasons) into the end of 2018.
So it's important to note, that during the full year allocated for Security updates, the device is still fully up to date with the most recent generation of devices. 2 OS upgrades + 1 year security & minor updates = 3 years of latest and greatest software guaranteed. And as you can see, historically they've gone above and beyond that - but there's nothing in writing stating that they're going to do so again - so bank on 3 years of current software (from the device launch) but don't bet everything on anything past that.
Make sense?
And they saw this chart:
| Device | No guaranteed Android version updates after |
|---|---|
| Nexus 6P | September 2017 |
| Nexus 5X | September 2017 |
| Nexus 9 | October 2016 |
| Nexus 6 | October 2016 |
| Nexus 5 | October 2015 |
| Nexus 7 (2013) | July 2015 |
| Nexus 10 | November 2014 |
So a lot of blogs picked up on this update because it included data that said the 6P and 5X were not guaranteed updates after September 2017. But what? Only two years old and they're EOL? What the heck? No, it's more nuanced than that. Needless to say, Google did a terrible job of explaining this and people are confused. Here's how it breaks down.
Google actually states the following:
How long your Nexus will get updates
After a certain period, Google can no longer guarantee that a device will get version updates or security patches.
Nexus devices receive:
- Android version updates
For at least two years from when the device became available on the Google Store. - Security patches
For the longer of 3 years from availability or 18 months from when the Google Store last sold the device.
Example 1: The Nexus 5. It was released with KitKat in 2013 and on the chart above it says that it's EOL is 2015. That's two years, right? Simple enough. So that means it started on K 4.4, got the 5.0 update to L and got the 6.0 update to M. Two years. So the Nexus 5 isn't getting updated anymore? Wrong... what the chart doesn't tell you, is that Nexus devices are guaranteed security updates for three years, which means the 2015 date for major updates implies a 2016 date for security updates. And on Nexus devices, security updates often come with many of the same features and bug fixes, etc. that come with the same monthly patches on the more current devices.
As indicated in this quote, the Nexus 5 is still getting security updates each month and is on the latest and greatest software even though we're no longer in 2015
---
Wait, I typed too much. So the date says 2015 but it really means 2016? Yes. It means that if your device is EOL in 2015 on the chart, your device is going to be CURRENT until approximately a year later, or 2016.
Example 2: The Nexus 6. It was released with L in 2014 and on the chart above it says EOL is in 2016. So this means, it started on L, got M, will get N and will be CURRENT with both minor updates and security, until approximately the time that O releases in 2017. And it's not guaranteed that it WON'T get O, it just isn't guaranteed that it will. The Nexus 7 2012 went through 4 major updates and the Nexus 4 received 3 (5 and 4, respectively, if you count 5.1 as a major update - which if you beta'd 5.0, you do).
Example 3: The Nexus 6P and 5X. Released in 2015 with M and the chart says EOL 2017. Started on M, will get N, will get O and will be CURRENT with both minor updates and security until the time that P releases, in approximately Q4 of 2018.
Here's a chart that details the history of Nexus updates and projects all Nexus devices that currently exist (except the Player and Q because ... reasons) into the end of 2018.
So it's important to note, that during the full year allocated for Security updates, the device is still fully up to date with the most recent generation of devices. 2 OS upgrades + 1 year security & minor updates = 3 years of latest and greatest software guaranteed. And as you can see, historically they've gone above and beyond that - but there's nothing in writing stating that they're going to do so again - so bank on 3 years of current software (from the device launch) but don't bet everything on anything past that.
Make sense?
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