Whereas iOS and Android are each cellular working techniques that purpose to carry out the identical duties, additionally they are the proverbial “apples and oranges”, particularly in the case of software program updates.
Apple followers have at all times made enjoyable of Android customers for his or her short-term system assist and updates in comparison with what iPhones get. And I shamelessly agree with them.
As an Android consumer, you’ll be fortunate to get assist previous 3 years, which is why it was an enormous deal when Google introduced 5 years of software program updates for the Pixel 6. This has continued with the newest Pixel 7 sequence.
Little doubt it was an enormous step from the earlier providing, however that is nonetheless not adequate. And it’s very true on condition that a few of Google’s rivals are doing a significantly better job with software program updates and assist.
Google’s coverage of three Android OS updates and three years of safety updates had been a category chief for fairly a while till Samsung turned the tables with a shift to 4 years of OS updates and as much as 5 years of safety updates.
Successfully, this implies Google is enjoying catch-up regardless of the transfer to step up safety updates to five years. Sadly, nothing has modified with respect to main Android updates.
Whereas it’s spectacular to see Samsung making such boss strikes, it’s an absolute embarrassment for Android’s custodian, particularly since Samsung depends on Qualcomm chipsets whereas Google now has an in-house Tensor SoC.
Certain, Google and Qualcomm already laid the groundwork wanted to assist the latter’s chipsets for as much as 4 OS variations, however Samsung is even taking it a notch increased with an additional yr of safety updates.
If Samsung can present Third-party chipsets with as much as 4 Android OS updates, it shouldn’t be an issue for Google to supply even longer assist for an in-house chipset.
The likes of Apple and NVIDIA have demonstrated that counting on in-house chipsets is the very best recipe for longer software program replace assist, one thing Google must study from going ahead.
Heck, even firms which have historically been poor with software program assist are actually forward of Google. In case you simply got here again from a cave, Oppo is the corporate in query, which now offers 4 Android OS updates.
This follows within the footsteps of OnePlus, which additionally announced that software program assist will now embody 4 Android OS updates and as much as 5 years of safety updates for its flagships.
In contrast to latest Google Pixels that use an in-house chipset, OnePlus and Oppo smartphones depend on third-party gamers for his or her chipsets. Once more, this might indicate Google could intentionally be limiting Pixel software program assist.
These strikes by Samsung, OnePlus and Oppo have positively dragged Google additional down the pecking order with respect to period of software program assist.
Certain, some could also be okay with Google’s coverage by claiming that Pixels arrive with an OS that different telephones require an replace for, which is why they get one much less replace.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter which model got here pre-installed — the depend of updates it obtained thereafter is what actually issues. And that is the place Google is lagging behind Samsung, Oppo and OnePlus.
Except this adjustments, Google could shortly discover itself behind a bunch of different gamers. An effective way to remain on high of this queue can be to offer the Google Pixel 8 as much as 5 Android OS updates to match the 5 years of safety updates.
If impartial customized ROM builders can assist older gadgets with newer Android variations for years albeit with minor hiccups, Google shouldn’t have an excuse to not seed 5 Android OS updates for its Pixel telephones.
Moreover, if Samsung can provide 4 OS updates to its mid-range fashions, 5 OS updates for a flagship smartphone shouldn’t be that huge of a stretch, particularly for an organization with Google’s software program experience and monetary muscle.
Google’s software program replace coverage is more and more making it tougher to suggest a Pixel cellphone primarily based on software program expertise.
Whereas the Pixel has some distinctive options equivalent to Now Enjoying and Name Screening, they’re nowhere close to the variety of options present in rivals’ telephones — telephones that are actually receiving quick updates and for an extended period.
It’ll be fascinating to see how Google responds, however for positive, the Pixel 8 standing out on this crowded market would require one thing distinctive — and what higher than 5 Android OS updates?
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