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Android 14’s arrival alongside the new Pixel 8 series phones has been one of the most-anticipated Google launches of the year, and it brings some much-needed improvements and handy new features which add to the overall Pixel user experience. Pixel devices are the very first Android phones to get the yearly OS update, although not every single model will get the Android 14 update this year.
With that in mind, you might be curious as to whether or not your Google Pixel phone will receive this year’s Android 14 update. As such, we’ve prepared this quick and handy guide which lists some features that you can expect from Android 14, if and when it arrives on your phone.
Android 14’s New Features
Android 14 builds on some of the design elements and guidelines that google introduced way back in Android 12 and 13 with Material UI, as well as some new additions to device personalization and customizability. Also present are improvements to accessibility features, which make using your Pixel phone a lot easier and more helpful.
- Customizing your homescreen and lock screen is a lot easier now – using the Style and Wallpapers menu from the home screen, users can now access new color themes and accents, additional wallpapers, new clock styles and fonts for the lock screen, alongside a new way to change your lock screen shortcuts.
- The camera app now comes with some new changes, including a small toggle placed beneath the shutter button, which lets you switch instantly between photo and video mode. The different camera and video recording modes are now separated under this new menu, making them a bit easier to find.
- With Pixel Tablet, Google Kids Space now comes with new features including a more streamlined navigation bar for easier multi-tasking and search functions, Google Assistant commands that allow users to play podcasts and news when their Tablet is docked in Hub Mode.
- For the Pixel Fold, Google has included a new Dual Screen Interpreter Mode, so users can easily converse with people in different languages with real-time translation functionality.
- As for accessibility, Google has added Flash Notifications which can be displayed via a phone’s screen or camera LED flash, which will light up whenever a new notification is received.
Of course, there are a ton more refinements and improvements inside Android 14, but these are some of the major highlights you can expect once you update your Pixel.
It should also be noted that the Android 14 update for Google Pixel phones initially came with a rather distressing storage error bug, although this has since been addressed in the latest November 2023 patch.
Google’s Official Android Update Policy
While Android has had a history of inconsistent software support across different manufacturers and devices, Google has always remained consistent with providing long-term support for its Pixel smartphones, which now includes its new foldable and tablet.
If you own a Google Pixel device, you’re probably curious about if and when your Pixel will be upgraded to Android 14. While Google has always provided around three years of major platform upgrades and up to five years of security updates for its devices, it announced that the Pixel 8 series phones will get up to seven years of platform upgrades and security patches.
You can find out more about Google’s official update policy here.
When will my Pixel device be updated to Android 14?
At the moment, only Pixel phones from the 5 series up until the current 8 series phones (with the exception of the 4a 5G) will get Android 14. In the case of the “regular” 4a model and 4 series phones, Google has unfortunately ended platform upgrade support as these are older devices.
Unlike other smartphone brands which usually launch the newest Android version for their flagships first and later on for more affordable devices, Google releases the Android 14 update for all compatible devices at the same time. Of course, there might be some differences with regards to roll-out schedules, as regional variants and carrier models might either get Android 14 early or later.
Will your Pixel Device be Updated to Android 14?
Based on Google’s official Android update policy, we can expect the following devices to receive the Android 14 update:
- Pixel 8 series: Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro
- Pixel 7 series: Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a
- Pixel 6 series: Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
- Pixel 5 series: Pixel 5, Pixel 5a
- Other devices: Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold
You can check for the Android 14 update by going to your Settings App > System > System Update.
Google Pixel Devices that Won’t Receive Android 14
As we mentioned earlier, there are some Pixel devices that will not receive the Android 14 update. These smartphones have officially reached the end of their update cycle when it comes to new versions of Android, but some of them may still receive Android security updates every now and then. If you own one of these devices, it may be time to consider upgrading to a newer Google smartphone.
- Pixel 4 series: Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a
- Pixel 3 series: Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a
- Pixel 2 series: Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL
- Pixel, Pixel XL
Source: Google
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