Google is already delivering on its seven-year update promise

As seen with the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24 series, seven years of updates should be a prominent selling point for the latest and greatest smartphones. That’s true in theory; it used to be a shame to lose the latest Android features just two years after purchase, and now that we store nearly everything on our phones, up-to-date security is more important than ever. However, Google may have had enough to bear with such a long-term support commitment, especially when tied to the promise of regular feature removal.

As I’m sure you’ve read, Google’s Pixel 8 has been at the center of recent controversy after Google confirmed that the compact Gemini Nano, used to power on-device artificial intelligence, will not be included in the base model when it enters the market. . The Pixel 8 Pro is more expensive. That means without the cloud, there are no AI summaries or smart keyboard replies. Cause: Unspecified hardware limitation. That’s a double whammy, since video enhancement and other AI gizmos are already reserved for the Pro.

It’s clear that the Pixel 8 won’t get all the same features as the Pro for another seven years, despite having very similar hardware specs. While many consumers may not be too bothered by the limited use of AI today, they may be annoyed in a few years when their phone doesn’t offer the same functionality as a competitor (or a similar device from the same brand) . Especially if they believe they are being promised the same thing. Without a comprehensive update, the gap with future devices could quickly widen.

Equally damning, Google recently removed the Android 14 battery stats feature, which showed charge cycle counts and battery manufacturing dates, from the entire Pixel 8 lineup. The reason given is that the feature is only available on the upcoming Pixel 8a and above. This sounds like another example of current equipment being insufficient to support features planned in a few months. Regardless, this news reiterates that you shouldn’t expect to receive all the latest stuff on a recently purchased Pixel, even if it’s only a few months old.

The most advanced Pixel Fold, which promises five years of updates, also seems to be getting snubbed. There’s no word yet on if or when the $1,800 foldable device will come with Pixel 8-era features like video enhancement, time-lapse night vision, snippets in the recorder, or anything Gemini Nano-related Function. You might think an ultra-premium product would be high on the update priority list, but Google treats these as prototypes. We still have the odd complaint that multitasking is still a pain, and little has changed since the move to Android 14. It’s not a great look for an eye-catching product.

While it’s unreasonable to expect every new feature in seven years of updates (hardware is constantly evolving, after all), Google has failed to bring several flagship features to its phone less than a year after its launch. If seven years of updates means more than minimal support, what hope can we have? Comments in our poll on the subject were unanimous; fans are angry and their trust in the seven-year promised upgrade has been shaken. 37% of readers surveyed already regret buying the regular Pixel 8 model!

To be fair, Google introduced several new options on its devices in its December ’23 feature release. The call screen is now coming to the Pixel Watch, you can use your Pixel 6 or later as a USB webcam, and dual-screen previews are coming to the Fold. Still, fans are focusing on compelling features like artificial intelligence, and that’s where Google’s update policy disappoints.

All hope is not lost for long-term updates. Not to be outdone, Samsung has implemented the same Galaxy AI capabilities in all three products of the Galaxy S24 series. This is despite regional chipset differences. Google’s lack of commitment to the Pixel 8 seems weak by comparison. Additionally, Samsung plans to quickly roll out several of its latest One UI 6.1 features to the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9. The update should be released as early as summer ’24.

Of course, we’ll be watching to see how Samsung’s own seven-year update promise plays out in the coming months and years. Things can change, especially as phones age. Today, however, it appears to be far more invested in its latest products and the previous generation of Galaxy than Google is in its Pixel line. Hopefully Google will improve its update game soon.