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Google is changing how Pixel updates are delivered each month

By Anam Hamid

Updated: Oct 05, 2023, 11:10 AM

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Google is changing how Pixel updates are delivered each month

Since time immemorial, Pixel users have come to expect security updates and occasionally feature drops on the first Monday of every month. Since the release of the Pixel 6, Google has struggled to stick to this schedule and sometimes, the updates are buggy. Google never explained why these issues happened but has now come up with a practical solution for them.

Aside from new camera features and AI tricks, the Pixel 8 series also comes with a big software promise: the phones will officially be supported for seven years. The support commitment includes Android operating system upgrades, meaning the phones will likely get updated to Android 21. Even spare parts for the handsets will be available for seven years.

But a long update commitment would be no good without adherence to quality. After trying to tell itself for years that it can deliver security patches on the first Monday of every month, Google has finally realized that that's not a realistic target.

To ensure it only rolls out high-quality, beta-tested updates, Google has decided that it will only send out security patches, bug fixes, and feature updates when they are ready.

So while Pixel users will still get updates every month, they won't necessarily arrive on the first Monday of the month. Instead, they will be deployed as soon as Google has performed the necessary tests.

We also dug into how we can deliver the highest quality, best tested updates to Pixel users on a consistent basis. As part of this effort, our security updates, bug fixes and feature updates won’t roll out on a specific day each month. Instead, we’ll deploy updates as soon as they’ve completed the necessary tests to ensure they improve the experience for all Pixel customers.

Google's Pixel phones are already one of the best phones of 2023 and with the company now pledging to offer longer support than even Apple and even committing to improving the update experience, it may only be a matter of time before it becomes one of the biggest smartphone sellers in the world.

The company definitely isn't making empty pledges, with Pixel Department Vice President Nanda Ramachandran telling Austrian publication DER STANDARD that many internal resources have freed up for update maintenance.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.