What it’s good to know
- Qualcomm introduced that it is going to be extending help to units with its newest chipset for as much as eight years.
- Smartphones that function the Snapdragon 8 and seven collection might be eligible to obtain this help.
- By collaborating with Google, this transfer is claimed to extend each machine 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 units 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 may roll out to units which are operating on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Cell Platform. This implies telephones just like the OnePlus 13, the Samsung Galaxy S25 collection, Xiaomi 15, Honor Magic 7 Professional, and the Asus ROG Telephone 9 are all among the many units included to doubtlessly obtain as much as eight consecutive years of Android software program and safety updates.
This primarily implies 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.
“Via this collaboration, OEMs can extra seamlessly replace the software program and safety on their units, making certain a safer and long-lasting Android expertise for our customers,” stated Seang Chau, VP and GM of Android Platform.
Qualcomm is claimed to supply machine producers like those talked about above the flexibility to deliver Android software program and safety updates. Google has already accomplished this for the reason that Pixel 8 collection, providing 7 years of updates with its newer Tensor chipsets, and Samsung presents the identical software program replace promise with its newest telephones, together with the Galaxy S25 collection. Now, it appears like Google is attempting to deliver that very same stage of help to different telephones available on the market.
Nevertheless, Qualcomm provides that the OEM decides whether or not or not a selected machine will include the prolonged updates. Which means that it is going to be as much as Samsung, OnePlus, or every other producer to determine the extent of help these telephones will obtain.
“We’re elevating the bar, offering extra flexibility for our OEMs and in the end enhancing person experiences,” stated Chris Patrick, Qualcomm senior vice chairman and basic supervisor of cell handsets.
This collab comes with a respite, as prospects will doubtlessly get to maintain their units for longer as a substitute of upgrading to new telephones each couple of years. That is notably good for telephones with the 7-series chips coming later this 12 months, which means cheaper units may additionally obtain prolonged help normally reserved for premium telephones.
That stated, it is a bummer that older telephones, which haven’t got the newest chipsets, is not going to get any of those advantages, which suggests customers could must improve to recent-generation telephones quickly.
“Legacy platforms can not make the most 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 strains,” the presser added.
