Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro

Google/JR Raphael Google Pixel Intelligence How Google's Pixel 8 revolutionizes the landscape... 10 hidden Google Pixel shortcuts that will amaze you... Own a Google Pixel Fold or Pixel? These tips are for you... Unlock the full potential of your Google device with these 10 powerful tricks... Wear OS users, get ready for a game-changing calendar upgrade... SHOW MORE Google's recently unveiled Pixel phones offer a plethora of appealing features, from their sleek design and advanced camera capabilities to the integration of artificial intelligence. While these qualities may entice consumers to choose a Pixel over other options, what truly sets Google's latest Pixel phones apart is a less obvious aspect. It is an aspect that the average person walking into a carrier store might not even be aware of. Yet, without a doubt, it is the most important and consequential aspect of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, with implications reaching far beyond the platform and the industry as a whole. [ How to switch from iPhone to Android ] This game-changing aspect is none other than the unprecedented software support guarantee that accompanies these Google-made phones. Though this may not seem like groundbreaking news, especially when compared to the attention-grabbing features offered by these devices, it represents the most significant change in the Android ecosystem this decade. Furthermore, its impact on your future smartphone choices, regardless of whether you opt for a Google Pixel device, cannot be overstated. [Psst: Are you a Pixel owner? Any Pixel owner? Take advantage of the free Pixel Academy e-course to uncover the advanced intelligence hiding within your current device!] Google's promise for the Pixel 8 In case you haven't heard, Google is now offering an impressive seven years of operating system updates, security patches, feature drops, and comprehensive support for its new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones. This marks a substantial increase from the previous three-year lifespan of Pixel phones, while still maintaining a competitive pricing strategy against the market leaders. To provide some context, Google's Pixels have consistently outperformed other Android devices in terms of software update reliability. My annual Android Upgrade Report Card provides concrete evidence of this fact. Year after year, Google ensures that all its Pixel owners receive the latest Android operating system updates within days, sometimes even hours, of their release. This applies to not only the most recent models but also older versions, including second-generation devices and even three-year-old Pixels. In stark contrast, many other Android manufacturers struggle to deliver updates, with delays ranging from a few months to well over a year. Google Pixel 8Google Introducing the Pixel 8 Pro in its exquisite "Bay" blue color. Google has consistently led the pack in terms of prompt software support. However, it has been limited by the three-year update window, fueling a perception that Android phones fall short of iPhones in terms of longevity. In fact, Samsung began offering four years of OS upgrades for many of its Galaxy models last year, highlighting this discrepancy. While Samsung's delivery timeline may be less reliable and speedy (in addition to transitioning to a quarterly model for security patches in a phone's third year), it still places Google in an unfavorable position as the primary steward of the Android platform. It's worth noting that any comparison between Google and Apple's update strategies can be misleading. Android's definition of an OS update vastly differs from iOS. Apple bundles various components into its biannual updates, while Google regularly releases standalone app updates for different system-level features on a monthly basis, ensuring widespread adoption across devices. Consequently, it is challenging to make a direct comparison between the two platforms. Nevertheless, the reality remains that, historically, Google-made Pixel phones have only received operating system updates for three years. Despite the emphasis placed on security patches and Play Store rollouts, operating system updates are crucial. Beyond enhancing the user interface and introducing new features, these updates often include significant under-the-hood improvements, crucial security and privacy advancements, and both expansions and restrictions to APIs, which enable third-party apps to interact with your device and personal data, enabling a variety of advanced functionalities. In fact, these updates are so essential that I would never endorse using a phone that does not regularly receive them in a timely manner.