Google is lastly seeing first rate gross sales momentum with its Pixel gadgets, and it is not laborious to see why — the Pixel 8a continues to be the most effective mid-range cellphone you should purchase right now, and the Pixel 9 sequence has the most effective AI utilities at present obtainable. Google’s software program efforts proceed to face out; Pixels have a clear interface with daring Materials You styling, they usually obtain updates forward of every other Android gadget.
What I like in regards to the software program on Pixel telephones is that it’s uncluttered, and you aren’t getting any bloatware in any respect. That in itself is a giant deal, and it is one of many most important the explanation why I often change again to a Pixel after I am performed reviewing the most recent telephones. One other factor Google modified not too long ago is long-term replace assure; beginning with the Pixel 8 sequence, all Pixel telephones will get seven years of Android OS updates, and that features the Pixel 8a as nicely.
Along with the yearly Android OS replace, Google rolls out month-to-month safety updates to all eligible Pixels, and also you get common Characteristic Drops that introduce thrilling new options. Eligible Pixels picked up the secure Android 15 replace as quickly because it grew to become obtainable in mid-October 2024, and with Android 16 coming sooner than ever earlier than in 2025, gadgets which might be slated to get the replace will decide it up as quickly because it goes reside in Q2 2025.
So here is a rundown of what number of Android OS and safety updates your Pixel cellphone will obtain, and once you would possibly need to contemplate upgrading.
Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold
The newest Pixels made their debut in August 2024, they usually got here with Android 14 out of the field. The Android 15 replace is now obtainable to those telephones, and all 4 gadgets will get seven years of assured Android OS updates and safety patches. What meaning is that the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold will get Android OS updates and safety patches at the very least till August 2031.
Though Google would not element how lengthy Characteristic Drops might be obtainable, it is a good wager that these updates will even possible proceed till 2031. It is one other matter as as to if these telephones are literally usable by then — the Tensor G4 is not significantly quick right now — however what you must know is that each one 4 telephones will get assured updates till August 2031, and that is a giant deal.
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional grew to become obtainable in October 2023, and each telephones ran Android 14 out of the field and have picked up the Android 15 replace. This launch was momentous from a software program standpoint as these gadgets grew to become the primary from Google to be eligible to get long-term software program updates. As such, each the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional will get seven years of Android OS updates and safety patches.
Each telephones will get assured platform and safety updates at the very least till October 2030, so you do not have something to fret about on this regard. The best way I see it, the Tensor G3 platform powering each telephones is the bottleneck; whereas these gadgets will get software program updates till the top of the last decade, Google has a sizeable activity optimizing the {hardware} in order that future Android variations run easily.
Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a is about as easy a suggestion as any on this checklist. The gadget has the identical Tensor G3 chip because the common Pixel 8, and it has a 120Hz panel and first rate battery life. One of the best half is that it’ll additionally get the identical seven-year replace assure as the remainder of the Pixel 8 sequence, and that is exceptional within the mid-range section.
Because the Pixel 8a was unveiled in Might 2031, it should get assured Android OS and safety updates at the very least till Might 2031. The cellphone got here with Android 14 out of the field, and the Android 15 replace is offered to the gadget.
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional debuted in October 2022 with Android 13 out of the field, they usually’ve picked up the Android 15 replace. The telephones maintain up extremely nicely two years after launch, however they will not get the identical variety of updates as newer Pixels; Google solely ensures Android OS updates till October 2025, and safety patches for a further two years past that, till October 2027.
Which means subsequent 12 months’s Android 16 replace would be the final platform replace going out to the Pixel 7 and seven Professional. Clearly, each telephones will nonetheless get safety updates past that, and Google is prone to proceed delivering Pixel drops with extra options. However the truth that they will not get platform updates after Android 16 is a letdown, and it stays to be seen if Google modifications tack.
Pixel 7a
Just like the Pixel 8a, the Pixel 7a is a superb mid-ranger, and whereas I did not like the truth that the cellphone got here with a 90Hz OLED panel, that is about the one shortcoming. The cellphone launched in Might 2023 with Android 13 out of the field, and it picked up the secure Android 15 replace. Just like the common Pixel 7, the Pixel 7a will get three platform updates and 5 years of safety patches.
So it should get assured Android OS updates till Might 2026, and safety updates till Might 2028. Curiously, the accelerated timeline of Android releases means it’s possible that the Pixel 7a could get the Android 17 replace ought to that turn into obtainable by Might 2026.
Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional
Google unveiled the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional again in October 2021, with each telephones coming with Android 12 out of the field. Just like the Pixel 7, each the Pixel 6 and 6 Professional are assured three Android OS updates together with 5 years of safety updates.
By the way, the Android 15 replace that rolled out to those gadgets in October 2024 is the final platform replace, they usually’ll solely get safety patches going ahead till October 2026. Google could roll out the occasional Pixel drop with new options, however that is not a given. For those who’re rocking both gadget, I would recommend looking at trade-in values to the Pixel 9 or 9 Professional XL — now’s the most effective time to make the change to Google’s newest telephones.
Pixel 6a
The Pixel 6a gained a variety of consideration when it debuted in July 2022, and that is as a result of it had the identical Tensor platform because the common Pixel 6 sequence. Whereas I loved utilizing the gadget, I did not like the truth that it got here with a 60Hz panel — that made it really feel gradual.
The Pixel 6a got here with Android 12 out of the field, and it made the change to Android 15. With Google providing the identical replace assure, the cellphone will get Android OS updates till July 2025 and safety updates till July 2027. That is the place issues get fascinating; Google mentioned the cellphone would get three Android OS updates, and it has picked these up already.
However Google ensures updates as much as three years from the month the cellphone went on sale, and with the Android 16 secure replace popping out nicely earlier than July 2025, there is a good likelihood that the Pixel 6a will get the replace. I requested Google to make clear its stance on this, and can replace as soon as I hear again.
Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a
The Pixel 5 debuted in October 2020 with Android 11 out of the field, and with Google guaranteeing three Android OS updates, the Android 14 replace that rolled out final 12 months was the final platform model obtainable to the gadget. It will not make the change to Android 15, nor will it get any new safety updates — Google solely assured three years of safety updates till the Pixel 5 sequence.
That mentioned, the Pixel 5 was the final Google gadget that got here with limitless Google Photographs storage — supplied you used the storage saver tier. This was a giant deal on the time, and it is annoying that Google would not provide the function any longer on its gadgets.
The Pixel 5a got here a lot later — it went on sale in August 2021 — and it ran Android 11 out of the field. Just like the common mannequin, the Android 14 replace was the platform replace, and it is not choosing up any new Android updates or safety patches.
Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G
The Pixel 4a was introduced in August 2020 with Android 10 out of the field, and it picked up the Android 13 replace two years in the past. Like different Pixel gadgets on the time, it was eligible to get three Android OS in addition to safety updates, and people have been delivered.
The Pixel 4a 5G debuted alongside the Pixel 5, and went on sale in November 2020. On account of later availability, it got here with Android 11 out of the field, and made the change to Android 14 final 12 months.
Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
Though the {hardware} wasn’t fairly the most effective, I’ve good reminiscences of utilizing the Pixel 4 XL. The cellphone’s distinctive radar-based face recognition tech — powered by a set of sensors dubbed Soli — relied on the 60Hz frequency, making it ineligible to be launched in international locations like India, the place the band is utilized by the federal government.
Each the Pixel 4 and 4 XL launched in October 2019 with Android 10, and got here with three years of assured OS and safety updates — the Android 13 replace that rolled out two years in the past is the final platform construct they acquired.
Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL
Whereas Google had been making telephones for over three years by this level, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL allowed the model to interrupt into the mainstream market. Their value-focused pricing made the gadgets stand out, and though the {hardware} was underwhelming, you continue to obtained nice cameras and clear software program.
The Pixel 3a and 3a XL debuted in Might 2019 with Android 9.0 Pie, they usually picked up their requisite three Android OS updates, bringing them each to Android 12.
Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
The Pixel 3 XL has the excellence of being the ugliest Pixel because of its twin entrance cameras, and whereas I obtained nice photographs out of the gadget, it was additionally fragile — a single tumble broke the again cowl. The gadgets have been unveiled in October 2018 with Android 9.0 Pie out of the field, and picked up Android 12 three years in the past.
Whereas they are not receiving updates, they’re nonetheless fairly usable, and the Snapdragon 845 holds up nicely in day-to-day duties.
Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
I used all of the Pixels launched by Google, and the Panda Pixel 2 XL will go down as one of the vital memorable. The distinctive two-tone design and implausible cameras gave the cellphone a transparent edge towards its rivals, and whereas Google bungled the OLED panel — it had important points with shade stability — it did not matter.
The Pixel 2 and a pair of XL debuted in October 2017 with Android 8.0 Oreo, and like different gadgets on the time, they obtained three assured Android OS updates and safety patches, with Android 11 being the final one in 2020.
Pixel and Pixel XL
The Google telephones that began all of it nonetheless have a singular attribute: they embrace limitless Google Photographs storage in authentic high quality. Google did not set a time restrict on this function, so in case you have a Pixel mendacity round, you possibly can nonetheless again up photographs to Google Photographs and never have it rely towards your storage quota.
Each telephones debuted in October 2016 with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the field, and picked up their final platform replace in October 2019 (Android 10).
If you must improve and desire a new cellphone, my suggestion is the Pixel 9 Professional. It’s simpler to carry and use than the 9 Professional XL, and also you get the identical set of cameras on the again.
For those who’re after the most effective worth, the Pixel 8a continues to be the gadget to beat proper now. It delivers the most effective cameras on this class, and with seven assured Android OS updates, it should decide up extra software program updates than every other mid-range cellphone.
