Google Pixel & Pixel XL to receive Android Q update "by popular demand"

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The Google Pixel & Pixel XL will receive Android Q due to "popular demand"
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Today’s Android Q announcement came with one major surprise for Pixel and Pixel XL users – Google has extended software support by a year to include the upcoming version of Android.

Although the Pixel 3 and Pixel 2 devices will receive a minimum of three major software updates, Google only ever promised two Android version updates for the original Pixel duo. In fact, the company’s website still states that it can’t guarantee updates after October 2018. 

But in the official Android Q Beta announcement post, Google’s VP of Engineering, Dave Burke, revealed that support for the update had been extended to the original Pixel series due to “popular demand.”

Burke didn’t elaborate on these comments but it seems as though the original Pixel series still has a pretty loyal user base. Hopefully, this move also means that Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 support could be extended beyond the guaranteed three years of updates eventually. That is as long as the user base is large enough and the device hardware is capable of supporting the newer software.

Even if this doesn’t happen, three years of software updates in the Android world is certainly nothing to complain about. 

The final version of Android Q isn’t due to roll out until the third quarter of 2019, presumably in August. But if you wish to get your hands on the software sooner, Pixel, Pixel 2, and Pixel 3 users can all enroll in the Beta program today.

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