Google Pixel 8 could be the first phone with 5 major OS updates

According to a new rumor, Google intends to be the champion in the Android world when it comes to major OS updates.

If someone had told me 5 years ago that Samsung would be the first company to provide 4 years of major OS updates and they would be fast, I would have sent him to go and beat his scythe.

But it happened – and they are not the only ones that offer 4 years of major OS updates – OnePlus also joined the bandwagon.

Officially, Pixel phones launched by Google benefit from 3 years of major OS updates and 5 years of security updates.

The launch of Pixel 8 could change the landscape a bit, and Google could extend support for the eighth generation of Pixel to 5 years – 5 major OS updates. It’s currently just a rumor, but if it turns out to be true, Google will become the company that provides the longest software support for the phones in the portfolio.

Software support has been a hot topic between the iOS and Android camps in the past. While Android offered an average of 2 major OS updates per phone even if it was a flagship, Apple offered extended support for 5 years.

If Google moves to 5 years of major OS updates, this minus seen by many on Android phones will be minimized. The speed with which these updates will be offered and their stability will play important roles.