Pixel 2 End of Support... Do You Care?

[PoorInRichfield]

If you own a Pixel 2 or 2 XL, you're probably aware that your phone will no longer be receiving security or OS updates as the Pixel 2 has reached the end of it's support cycle

My wife and I both have the Pixel 2 and are not in a financial position right now to be able to go out and buy Pixel 5's. Not only that, there isn't anything wrong with our current phones other than the battery life isn't what it used to be. That's making me wonder... how long will it be before we actually care that the phones aren't receiving updates? Are the original Pixel owners who's support ran out last year still doing just fine?

Since our phones have little resale value these days, I'm trying to figure-out when or if I'll ever "need to upgrade" to a newer phone. Primarily, my wife and I love the Pixel camera and beyond that, just use them for talking and texting but not much else is all that important.

Anyway, now that your Pixel 2 is no longer being supported, are you going to keep it or upgrade? In either case, why did you make the decision that you did?

 

[mustang7757]

Hi welcome to AC!

If security updates are not important wait another year, but they do have the pixel 4a 5g at a good price maybe look into that .

 

[gebco]

I had planned on keeping my 2XL a while longer but the Black Friday sale on the 5 got me to take a chance on it. If I don't like it I will return it and continue using my 2XL. Security updates are important to me so going beyond December is a bit out of my comfort zone.

 

[PoorInRichfield]

I had planned on keeping my 2XL a while longer but the Black Friday sale on the 5 got me to take a chance on it. If I don't like it I will return it and continue using my 2XL. Security updates are important to me so going beyond December is a bit out of my comfort zone.

By "Black Friday Sale", I'm assuming you mean $50 off on the Pixel 5 through the Google store?

I'm having a really hard time trying to figure-out why one would choose the Pixel 5 over the Pixel 4a 5G. Both go out of support at the end of 2023 and both have nearly identical specs. The only advantage the 5 seems to have is wireless charging which I've learned to live w/o even though I like wireless charging. As a Google Fi subscriber, the 4a 5G is only $349 right now.

 

[mustang7757]

By "Black Friday Sale", I'm assuming you mean $50 off on the Pixel 5 through the Google store?

I'm having a really hard time trying to figure-out why one would choose the Pixel 5 over the Pixel 4a 5G. Both go out of support at the end of 2023 and both have nearly identical specs. The only advantage the 5 seems to have is wireless charging which I've learned to live w/o even though I like wireless charging. As a Google Fi subscriber, the 4a 5G is only $349 right now.

The pixel 5 over the 4a 5g
Has 4000mah battery can get 2 days with
8gb ram
Gorilla glass 6 , pix 4a I hear Gorilla glass 3
Reverse and wireless charging
Water resistant

 

[gebco]

I'm in Canada. We actually ordered a 4a 5G for my wife ($679).

The 5 is $799 here in Canada. Through my carrier I got it for $435.00 over 24 months so it's worth ordering and trying it out. It is actually cheaper than the 4a 5G.

By "Black Friday Sale", I'm assuming you mean $50 off on the Pixel 5 through the Google store?

I'm having a really hard time trying to figure-out why one would choose the Pixel 5 over the Pixel 4a 5G. Both go out of support at the end of 2023 and both have nearly identical specs. The only advantage the 5 seems to have is wireless charging which I've learned to live w/o even though I like wireless charging. As a Google Fi subscriber, the 4a 5G is only $349 right now.

 

[NMCynthia]

My P2 is still working perfectly, except for a little hit on the battery, but not bad. I'm trying to figure out of I want to buy a P5 on a hopeful Christmas sale, or wait for the P6. I've been extremely happy with the regular security updates, and don't know if it's "dangerous" to now be without them. I have no idea if cell phones can be "hacked" without the security updates ... does anyone know??

 

[PoorInRichfield]

My P2 is still working perfectly, except for a little hit on the battery, but not bad. I'm trying to figure out of I want to buy a P5 on a hopeful Christmas sale, or wait for the P6. I've been extremely happy with the regular security updates, and don't know if it's "dangerous" to now be without them. I have no idea if cell phones can be "hacked" without the security updates ... does anyone know??

If it weren't for my Pixel 2's battery being at 1/2 capacity, I wouldn't even be entertaining the idea of a new phone right now. The whole 5G thing hasn't really been the magic that's been promised and the Google seems to be falling behind on camera technology, so I don't see much reason to upgrade. That, and the just announced 4a 5G phone was $150 off through Google Fi for about a month, so clearly buying a new phone at full price makes no sense. Patience is a virtue...

As for security... I'm a software developer and not a security expert, but it's my nearly worthless opinion that security threats will most likely come from shady apps.

 

[Morty2264]

Welcome to Android Central! I had a Pixel 2 up until last November and then gave it to my brother this fall. It still worked well, minus the battery life being a little sluggish, like you suggested.

My brother doesn't care about things like updates and having the newest software and hardware, so he was okay to use it and even liked it until it died on him a few weeks ago.

To me, I do like having timely security updates and such to keep my phone protected. However, one can use a phone well past the "end of update" cycle and it can run just fine.

I don't blame you or your wife for wanting to stick with your Pixel 2's - it was a phenomenological line of Pixel phones! Do you two have the regular Pixel 2 or the XL? My brother and I used the smaller Pixel 2.

 

[TheGoodNamesAreGone]

Nah not really. It runs fine still and ss far as security updates go, I'm ready not concerned since I don't do anything dumb. It was just a little confusing when they said the last update would bring it to December, but it still says october 5 on mine. Again, not a big deal to me though.

 

[Morty2264]

Nah not really. It runs fine still and ss far as security updates go, I'm ready not concerned since I don't do anything dumb. It was just a little confusing when they said the last update would bring it to December, but it still says october 5 on mine. Again, not a big deal to me though.

Which carrier are you with?

 

[cbreze]

My battery is still holding up, so I would prefer another year of monthly support. Also, the 5 is hard to warm up to for me to shell out the cash for a device I’m not all in on. Hoping the 6 really trips my trigger in a big way otherwise I don’t know what I’ll do.

 

[TheGoodNamesAreGone]

Which carrier are you with?

Verizon, but my SIM is in my S20. My P2 XL is unlocked

 

[Morty2264]

Verizon, but my SIM is in my S20. My P2 XL is unlocked

Is Verizon known for timely updates? I'm in Canada so I can't remember what I've read about Verizon.

 

[TheGoodNamesAreGone]

Is Verizon known for timely updates? I'm in Canada so I can't remember what I've read about Verizon.

They seem to have been on the ball about issuing the Android 11 update this year. They were the first major US carrier to roll it out. Years past, they were typically quite slow, which was one reason why I chose to buy my s20 unlocked. That decision seems to have backfired now with VZW rolling updates faster now.

 

[Morty2264]

They seem to have been on the ball about issuing the Android 11 update this year. They were the first major US carrier to roll it out. Years past, they were typically quite slow, which was one reason why I chose to buy my s20 unlocked. That decision seems to have backfired now with VZW rolling updates faster now.

That's good to know what they are faster now than they used to be!