What it’s good to know
- Qualcomm introduced that it is going to be extending help to gadgets with its newest chipset for as much as eight years.
- Smartphones that characteristic the Snapdragon 8 and seven collection will likely be eligible to obtain this help.
- By collaborating with Google, this transfer is alleged to extend each gadget longevity and sustainability whereas ensuring that these telephones get the newest OS for eight years.
Qualcomm introduced this week that it is going to be teaming up with Google to deliver 8 years of updates to new and upcoming Android gadgets which have the brand new Snapdragon 8 collection chipset or the Snapdragon 7 collection chips coming later this 12 months.
In a press launch, the corporate acknowledged that this can roll out to gadgets which can be working on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Cellular Platform. This implies telephones just like the OnePlus 13, the Samsung Galaxy S25 collection, Xiaomi 15, Honor Magic 7 Professional, and the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 are all among the many gadgets included to doubtlessly obtain as much as eight consecutive years of Android software program and safety updates.
This primarily signifies that the corporate guarantees to offer not simply Android system updates but additionally underlying “kernel” updates (the core of the software program, seemingly making it cheaper for producers to offer these yearly upgrades.
“By way of this collaboration, OEMs can extra seamlessly replace the software program and safety on their gadgets, making certain a safer and long-lasting Android expertise for our customers,” stated Seang Chau, VP and GM of Android Platform.
Qualcomm is alleged to supply gadget producers like those talked about above the flexibility to deliver Android software program and safety updates. Google has already finished this because the Pixel 8 collection, providing 7 years of updates with its newer Tensor chipsets, and Samsung gives the identical software program replace promise with its newest telephones, together with the Galaxy S25 collection. Now, it appears to be like like Google is attempting to deliver that very same degree of help to different telephones in the marketplace.
Nevertheless, Qualcomm provides that the OEM decides whether or not or not a selected gadget will include the prolonged updates. Which means that it is going to be as much as Samsung, OnePlus, or every other producer to resolve the extent of help these telephones will obtain.
“We’re elevating the bar, offering extra flexibility for our OEMs and in the end enhancing consumer experiences,” stated Chris Patrick, Qualcomm senior vp and basic supervisor of cell handsets.
This collab comes with a respite, as clients will doubtlessly get to maintain their gadgets for longer as an alternative of upgrading to new telephones each couple of years. That is significantly good for telephones with the 7-series chips coming later this 12 months, that means cheaper gadgets may additionally obtain prolonged help often reserved for premium telephones.
That stated, it is a bummer that telephones that older telephones, those that do not have the newest chipsets, won’t get any of those advantages, which implies customers might should improve to recent-generation telephones quickly.
“Legacy platforms can not reap the benefits of the prolonged help. Qualcomm Applied sciences will proceed to work with OEMs on their software program help wants for legacy platforms throughout our product traces,” the presser added.
