Google Pixel 7 is the latest phone from the tech giant and it comes with a number of features that set it apart from its predecessors. However, one of the most notable changes is that Google Pixel 7 will only receive three years of OS updates, compared to the five years offered on other Google phones. This change was first announced by Android Police and it has raised some eyebrows among users who are used to receiving updates for their devices for longer periods of time. While there are a number of reasons why Google might have made this decision, one possibility is that they want to focus more on developing new features for the Pixel line rather than continuing to support older models. This move could have some negative consequences for users who rely on OS updates to keep their devices up-to-date and secure. It’s possible that they won’t be able to install security patches or new features until their phone reaches its end-of-life date, which could lead to them being vulnerable to attacks. Additionally, if Google discontinues support for a particular model after three years, there’s no guarantee that someone will be able to find a replacement phone that still receives updates. While this change may be unpopular among some users, it’s important to remember that it’s just one aspect of the Pixel line - which is already considered one of the best Android phones available. ..
Even though both phones have 5 years of security updates, Google is only committing to three years of major OS updates for the just-released Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. In a statement to How-To Geek, Google told us the following:
The Google Pixel 7 lineup comes with Android 13, so three years of updates would mean that Google is committing to updating the new phones all the way up to Android 16. Security updates will keep coming for two more years after that. Three years of updates is standard for phone makers like OnePlus, and it’s not uncommon to see other companies (namely Motorola) offering just two years, or in some cheaper phones, even just one year.
This is the exact same policy as the Pixel 6 series, and it’s pretty much what Google has provided for its phones ever since the first Pixel was released in 2016. But it’s not cutting it anymore. Samsung, for one, is offering its Galaxy S22 phones four years of major updates and five years of security patches, outdoing Google by an extra year. And of course, Apple gives its iPhones at least five years of iOS updates, and often, they even get more than that — some iPhones have been supported for up to seven years.
Not only did Google not mention this during the event, but it also seemingly went the extra mile to hide it and mislead users. Google touted that both phones would get “5 years of updates” while it was talking about Pixel feature drops during the event, not mentioning or acknowledging that two of those five years would be for security patches only. The company also avoided mentioning it in the spec sheet of the Pixel 7 lineup.
If Google wants to position the Pixel lineup as Android’s equivalent to the iPhone, it really needs to go the extra mile on this, especially seeing how the phones are using Google’s own silicon. There are no excuses.
