Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro could be supported until 2026 with 4 major OS updates
Another day, another Pixel 6 leak. However, instead of giving us more renders and detailed spec-sheets, the latest leak is all about software. We have been asking Google for years to clean up its update schedule, providing something that at least comes close to what Apple offers with the iPhone. Over the course of the past year, other smartphone makers have been committing to longer update schedules for select devices, often leaving budget devices in the dust.
But it appears as though Google is finally going to be doing something about the problem when it announces the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. According to @_snoopytech_ on Twitter, Google is preparing to announce that the latest devices will receive a whopping total of FOUR OS updates, along with five years of security patches.
Pixel 6 gets 4 OS Upgrades and 5 Years of Security Patches
— Snoopy (@_snoopytech_) October 13, 2021
Thanks to the leak provided by Evan Blass over the weekend, the five years of security updates was included in the leaked materials. But there was no clear indication as to whether this would also apply to major Android updates. If this comes to fruition, it means that the Pixel 6 would continue receiving updates until Android 16 is released in 2025. Plus, it will continue to be supported through security updates until 2026. This would absolutely change the game across the board, and hopefully would put pressure on other smartphone makers to continue to push the “limits” of Android updates.
While we see the likes of Samsung offering up to three major updates for certain devices, there’s a bit of a catch. Usually, there’s a delay of a couple of months between when Pixel owners can get the update and when it actually arrives on Galaxy devices. If Google puts the right foot forward with marketing this, it could potentially give Google the leg-up it needs to make a meaningful impact in the smartphone market.
The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are slated to be formally introduced on October 19th, so we don’t have too much longer to wait.