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WhenGoogleand thenSamsungpromised seven years of major OS updates for the latestPixel 8andGalaxy S24families, I was left agog.
Since then, Ive been looking for potholes on the road to seven years.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 from seven years ago
Ive been looking for off-ramps where Google or Samsung renege on the promise.
Thats why I hope Google doesnt promise seven years for the rumoredPixel 8a.
It would just be too stressful for me.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 from seven years ago
See, I dont think Google can do it.
I dont think Google can support the Pixel 8a for seven years of updates.
Weve already seen hints.
Can you tell if this phone has an AI inside?
Is seven years realistic?
Nobody knows for sure
Woulda phone from seven years agobe able to run todays version of Android?
In 2017, Samsung launched theGalaxy S8 certainly one of thebest Galaxy phones.
The Google Pixel 6a came in some nice colors
That phone had respectable specs, even by todays standards.
It used an Exynos or Snapdragon 8-core processor and packed either four or six gigs of RAM.
It also used USB-C, had wireless charging, and even offered microSD card expansion.
Say what you will, Apple doesn’t disappoint its fans
By todays standards, this would be a fine bargain phone.
you’re free to find cheap phones with less than 4GB of RAM.
Therefore, you might expect that the Galaxy S8 would be upgradeable from its original Android 7 toAndroid 14.
Sadly, Samsung never pushed the Galaxy S8 past Android 9.
Yup, that flagship phone got two major OS updates, and thats all, folks.
ThePixel 7family, launched the same year, only gets two measly years of Android updates.
Google isnt promising any new Android updates, even for thePixel 7 Pro, after 2025.
Now, Google and Samsung expect me to believe the newest phones will be supported for seven years.
Google is more than tripling its support promise, from two to seven years, in one generation.
Already, weve seen cracks begin to show, and some wavering on updates.
Still, the red flags went up.
The alarms began to blare.
Will we even be able to say that its an up-to-date phone if Google doesnt update everything?
There have been no more unexpected omissions from the Pixel 8.
There is no Pixel 8a yet, though rumors suggest we will see the phone soon at Google I/O.
The Pixel 8a should be a bargain phone.
Ill expect less because buyers will pay less.
Thats the idea of a bargain phone.
Its okay, as long as Google sets the right expectations.
Promise three years of updates for the Pixel 8a.
You know, just likeApple.
I dont want to do that for the next seven years.
I dont want to do that at all.
So dont make me, Google.
Dont make me doubt and question the updates.
Dont bother promising so much for this bargain phone.
Make it a bargain.
Then, make a promise for support that can be delivered.
Thats what I want from the Pixel 8a for the years to come.
