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Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Confirmed to Receive Android Version Updates for 3 Years

Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Confirmed to Receive Android Version Updates for 3 Years

By Jagmeet Singh | Updated: 20 October 2017 19:16 IST

Highlights

Google has promised version updates for Pixel 2 series until 2020
Previously, the Pixel phones received security updates for three years
This is another attempt by Google to influence the buying decision

Google will roll out Android version updates to Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL for the next three years - until October 2020. The fact had been revealed at launch, but the ambiguous wording included both "OS and security" updates, thus, this latest clarification is a good confirmation.

"Pixel 2 (2017) phones get Android version updates for at least three years from when the device first became available on the Google Store. After three years, we can't guarantee more updates," reads the updated support page. Both Android version and security updates will be released until October 2020, the company said.

The latest development means that your Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL will receive new software versions until the release of Android R that is likely to be out sometime in 2020. Google will also ensure to deliver you a secure experience for the next three years. However, it is worth noting that the hardware may become obsolete over time and would not be able to third-party content, such as apps and games, despite running the latest Android version.

Google's Pixel 2 updates timeline
Photo Credit: Google

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the first models by the Sundar Pichai-led team to get guaranteed updates for a period as long as three years from the date of their launch. Earlier, version updates were limited to two years from launch, while security updates were limited to three years from launch. It appears that both match now, at least for the latest generation of Pixel devices. The first-generation Pixel that was launched in 2016 lately received an update to Android Oreo and will get Android P next year. But notably, the 2018 version of Android will be last for the original Pixel handset.

Other things remain constant, the long-standing delivery of new software versions would help Google overcome some early criticism on its Pixel range. The lineup, which got expanded with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL earlier this month, has so far caught with some software bugs. Some Pixel smartphones in the US weren't able to receive text messages on Verizon network. Likewise, an uproar had emerged following the launch of the new Pixel models due to the steep price of the USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter. The company recently reduced its price from the original $20 to $9 to address the market.

In addition to the fresh move, Google is offering unlimited photo storage option with the Pixel and Pixel 2 handsets to incline customers towards its hardware over Apple's iPhone models and other Android-based mobile devices. The unlimited storage is available through the Google Photos app.

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