Google Software support discussion

[shoaib shah]

Hi I hope you are all well and good

When I first learned about the launch of the pixel 6 series I thought Google would up their ante and give us 5 years of software updates and the same amount of duration for security patches. Turns out that they fell short and stuck to the unforgiving 3 year policy with 5 years of security patches.

With the ongoing competition of Samsung and now that they have significantly raised the bar by providing 4 years of software updates and 5 years of security patches. Who is hopeful that maybe just maybe Google before the end of the year at the next pixel launch might do a Samsung thing and match or outdo Samsung ( which means giving us pixel 6 owners more software support to our phones)

It seriously doesn't make sense that the ones who make Android can give that extra support to other OEMs like Samsung but not themselves.

Is the Tensor chip to blame. You would have thought not now that Google has control over its own smartphone architecture.

Give your 2 cents thanks

 

[PowrDroid]

I don't think limiting OS updates to three years is related to the Tensor chip. I think it's related to money.

Samsung sells millions more handsets than Pixel. They generate much more cash flow. They can afford to offer four years of OS updates. Up until the Pixel 6, Pixel phones weren't exactly popular sellers. Why support a phone beyond three years? However, with the (relative) sales success of the Pixel 6/6 Pro combined with Samsung's announcement of longer OS support, perhaps Google will extend their OS support to four years as well.

 

[StormnNJ]

Hi I hope you are all well and good

When I first learned about the launch of the pixel 6 series I thought Google would up their ante and give us 5 years of software updates and the same amount of duration for security patches. Turns out that they fell short and stuck to the unforgiving 3 year policy with 5 years of security patches.

With the ongoing competition of Samsung and now that they have significantly raised the bar by providing 4 years of software updates and 5 years of security patches. Who is hopeful that maybe just maybe Google before the end of the year at the next pixel launch might do a Samsung thing and match or outdo Samsung ( which means giving us pixel 6 owners more software support to our phones)

It seriously doesn't make sense that the ones who make Android can give that extra support to other OEMs like Samsung but not themselves.

Is the Tensor chip to blame. You would have thought not now that Google has control over its own smartphone architecture.

Give your 2 cents thanks ????????????

I don't believe Google is trying to outdo anyone with regards to updates since they are newcomers to hardware. They could extend it but perhaps they don't want to limit the user experience by allowing you to run Android 16 or 17 on hardware that isn't up to it. Five years of security patches is better than having a device that crashes or is slow.

 

[Scott337]

I don't think it's a big deal in my opinion. How many people keep a phone for more than 3 years? More than 2 years? Phone batteries don't last for years and years anymor. After numerous system updates people sometimes start to have issues with their phones. And the people I know that keep their phones for years are the ones that never "want it to change", they don't want the new OS version and all the new changes. So all in all I think the # of years the manufacturer will provide OS updates is irrelevant and just a sales gimmick to get people to buy more phones. Bigger numbers are always better, right?

 

[drvier8]

I don't think it's a big deal in my opinion. How many people keep a phone for more than 3 years? More than 2 years? Phone batteries don't last for years and years anymor. After numerous system updates people sometimes start to have issues with their phones. And the people I know that keep their phones for years are the ones that never "want it to change", they don't want the new OS version and all the new changes. So all in all I think the # of years the manufacturer will provide OS updates is irrelevant and just a sales gimmick to get people to buy more phones. Bigger numbers are always better, right?

I put a new battery in my Pixel 2 in summer of 2020 and if it still got updates, I would not have updated to the P6. I loved the size and feel. Best phone I ever had. Thinking about putting Graphene on it as an experiment/secure phone.

 

[Scott337]

I put a new battery in my Pixel 2 in summer of 2020 and if it still got updates, I would not have updated to the P6. I loved the size and feel. Best phone I ever had. Thinking about putting Graphene on it as an experiment/secure phone.

That's awesome. But also goes back to my point. It's amazing how many people don't know they can do that themselves, or take it to a local repair shop and have it replaced for a decent price. Batteries start to get bad around the 3 - 4 year mark. Many of us that post in forums like this are more tech savvy, want the newest update, can't wait for the new features, repair our own phones, etc. Many others walk into their carrier store in your situation and walk out with a new phone because that's what the salesperson said was the best option.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

That's awesome. But also goes back to my point. It's amazing how many people don't know they can do that themselves, or take it to a local repair shop and have it replaced for a decent price. Batteries start to get bad around the 3 - 4 year mark. Many of us that post in forums like this are more tech savvy, want the newest update, can't wait for the new features, repair our own phones, etc. Many others walk into their carrier store in your situation and walk out with a new phone because that's what the salesperson said was the best option.

But then you also have people with an iPhone 6 who only just now updated to an iPhone 13.

Longer software support is important for Google to build the ecosystem and customer trust. Not everyone will be upgrading phones every two or three years. Some people might hang on to them untill it literally dies, so the longer term support is definitely more beneficial to them.

I don't think Google did the right thing with only offering 3 years OS updates and now that Samsung offer 4 years, it looks bad for Google, who are the ones that make Android. Google should push out their software guarantee to 4 or more years. They control the hardware, there shouldn't a reason why they can't.

 

[pseudoware]

Even w/any hardware degradation, a used phone w/longer remaining mfg support has greater resale or trade-in value.

 

[mustang7757]

But then you also have people with an iPhone 6 who only just now updated to an iPhone 13.

Longer software support is important for Google to build the ecosystem and customer trust. Not everyone will be upgrading phones every two or three years. Some people might hang on to them untill it literally dies, so the longer term support is definitely more beneficial to them.

I don't think Google did the right thing with only offering 3 years OS updates and now that Samsung offer 4 years, it looks bad for Google, who are the ones that make Android. Google should push out their software guarantee to 4 or more years. They control the hardware, there shouldn't a reason why they can't.

I agree with you , who knows what they are thinking but their ecosystem on pretty much every Andriod phone except some exempt ones , so they already got that even u upgrade early or dont .

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm not getting all tied up about Samsung now offering up to 4 years of Android version upgrades (and as JR Raphael pointed out, the "up to" wording may end up being important). This shouldn't be a competition. To a large extent, we should be glad that major manufacturers are trying to match or exceed Google's standard, because that kind of oneupmanship can only benefit us.

3 years is a long time to use a phone as a daily driver anyway -- I'm usually looking at my next phone after 2 years.

 

[PowrDroid]

I'm not getting all tied up about Samsung now offering up to 4 years of Android version upgrades (and as JR Raphael pointed out, the "up to" wording may end up being important). This shouldn't be a competition. To a large extent, we should be glad that major manufacturers are trying to match or exceed Google's standard, because that kind of oneupmanship can only benefit us.

3 years is a long time to use a phone as a daily driver anyway -- I'm usually looking at my next phone after 2 years.

Isn't Google offering a specific number of OS upgrades? Whereas Samsung is offering a specific number of years of upgrades?

So, for example, Android 15 doesn't come out until late 2026 Pixel 6 would get it, whereas Samsung S21 would not?

 

[B. Diddy]

Isn't Google offering a specific number of OS upgrades? Whereas Samsung is offering a specific number of years of upgrades?

So, for example, Android 15 doesn't come out until late 2026 Pixel 6 would get it, whereas Samsung S21 would not?

I'm not sure about that. The official Google site says the Pixel 6 is guaranteed to get version upgrades until at least Oct 2024 (and the "at least" is much nicer to see than "up to"): https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705?hl=en#zippy=,pixel-pixel-pro-phones. I would estimate that Android 15 would come out in late 2024 (13 this year, 14 in 2023, and 15 in 2024), so I think they planned for the Pixel 6 to definitely get 15.