The benefits of using an Android device are numerous. For instance, the Google Play Store offers a vast array of applications and games that cater to diverse interests and needs. Additionally, the operating system’s open nature allows for customization options that can be tailored to individual preferences. Furthermore, Google’s commitment to regular software updates ensures that devices remain secure and receive new features promptly.
How do you feel about using an Android device?
The Pixel 6 initially shipped with Android 12, and Google committed to providing three years of operating system updates – a timeline that could result in just one major update outside of security patches within its 12-month lifespan. Similarly, the Pixel 7 was set to complete its OS upgrade cycle after 12 months; however, these models will now receive Android 17 and 18 in succession instead. That’s a significant boon for customers who may have been considering a brand-new model soon, even though these phones still boast hardware that will remain capable for another few years.
Google’s influence on the broader smartphone landscape is undeniable, having surprisingly prolonged the lifespan of older flagship devices, a gesture that was neither expected nor obligated given its market dynamics. It’s embarrassingly long that a three-year-old Pixel will receive OS updates, outshining even the ROG Cellphone 9 Pro from ASUS? Android rivals will struggle to match Google’s might, largely due to the significance of Tensor in their efforts.
Starting this year, Google’s Pixel 6 will receive operating system updates for as long as certain flagship phones released in 2022.
What’s a neural network to do with all these inputs and outputs? While OS updates may seem straightforward, they’re actually heavily reliant on chipset hardware assistance, regrettably lacking the simplicity of merely deploying new software to existing devices? While the intricacies of this process can be complex, the key takeaway is that chipset manufacturers must adopt Google’s low-level HAL and Linux kernel requirements to receive Android update licenses, thereby introducing added complexity and costs associated with supporting multiple operating system variants. In a move to facilitate development, Google’s 2020 Necessities Freeze program relaxed its guidelines, allowing sellers to achieve certification if their software meets HAL and kernel requirements from the past four years. A chipset designed for Android 12 could potentially support subsequent versions, including Android 13, 14, and 15, without requiring a hardware code update, thereby reducing engineering costs for longer-term compatibility. The primary drawback is that these software updates will not necessarily introduce novel Android hardware features.
While you may be aware that this device lacks a crucial feature, its competitors often come equipped with standard four-to-seven year warranties, a glaring disparity that underscores its relatively short shelf life. MediaTek and Qualcomm appear to dedicate engineering resources to upgrading their chip firmware for extended support, although this ultimately depends on the specific processor. Flagship silicon chips boast significantly longer lifecycles compared to their more affordable counterparts.
If you’re an OEM like ASUS, OnePlus, or Xiaomi that relies on processors from MediaTek or Qualcomm, your lifespan is effectively capped at around four years due to the limitations imposed by the chip vendors. Unless you’re willing to fork over a substantial fee to upgrade assistance or opt for the pricey path of manually maintaining software updates like Samsung does with its Exynos processors, Notwithstanding producer reticence to release all available operating system upgrades due to value concerns, a lack of updates is not always indicative of a chipset issue, as some producers may withhold updates for reasons other than the hardware itself.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
By developing its own Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in-house, Google aimed to enhance its chip capabilities, recognizing a strategic alignment. That’s been a hallmark of Google’s approach, enabling its devices to offer longer-term support than most Android competitors, whether flagships or budget handsets, and consistently surprising users by providing significant updates for even older models seemingly without warning.
As a rare privilege reserved for those leading the processor enhancement journey, overseeing the entire process can be luxurious, yet it comes at a cost, both in designing silicon and persistently updating low-level software. Additionally, they need to grow the most recent operating system updates for each mobile device.
Google’s decision to utilize its custom Tensor and Tensor G2 processors in the Pixel 6 and 7 series has likely enabled significant upgrades to the underlying software infrastructure, thereby ensuring that these devices will receive support for several more years. As a consequence of Google’s widespread adoption of the same chips across various price points, affordable smartphones have also reaped significant benefits. In theory, it could sustain itself indefinitely, provided it required sufficient resources or until its operating costs outweighed the benefits, whichever came first. While we’ve come to rely on Google’s annual updates for its Pixel phones, it may not always be the case in the future? Since the Pixel 8 series and beyond offer comprehensive, seven-year replacement warranties that are likely to outlast their hardware lifespan?
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that competitors will replicate Google’s achievement in extending the lifespan of older flagship devices.
Google’s Tensor processor is poised to receive significant scrutiny for its lackluster performance, trailing far behind industry leaders as new generations emerge, potentially cementing its position at the back of the pack. While it’s challenging to dispute the value proposition offered by the Pixel series’ industry-leading software updates, a significant factor contributing to this is the Tensor processor.
Google is simplifying the process for all Android devices to receive seven years of updates with its latest ‘update’, enabling phone manufacturers to reuse up to seven-year-old chipset software (an increase from four) when applying Android updates, with a kernel update required every three years. Qualcomm’s inclusion in the Longevity GRF program suggests it will be among the first chipsets to benefit from enhanced longevity, implying future flagships will boast significantly longer lifespans compared to their predecessors, a notion that holds promise. Despite their advancements, many smartphones remain stuck on outdated operating systems, hindering their functionality and security. Until chipmakers like MediaTek and Qualcomm commit substantial resources to upgrading support for legacy devices, it’s unlikely Android manufacturers will keep pace with Google’s surprise decision to extend the lifespan of its older flagship models.
