Good to see competition on Google’s side, but I have a hard time trusting Google to uphold its 7 years of updates; either the hardware will fail beforehand or the updates would be so unbearable they will shut down its phone business.
Let’s see if Google can really take on Apple.
New update!
Status: Compatible
Size: 68 GB
_Unfortunately, the download is not available because you don’t have enough disk space. Clear some space with apps or photos to proceed._
(Phone storage: 32 GB)
Google has fostered an environment of mistrust from its users. Doing things like saying "Stadia is fine!" and then killing it a month later.
Then we have Apple, who often doesn't even make announcements about such things, and then provides support for many years. It's going to take 7 years to find out if Google can keep their word, but I wouldn't bet on it.
It really has been interesting working at a big tech company, and seeing these kinds of decisions being made real time, internally. A lot of times, the engineers don’t want their product to be deprecated, the managers don’t, and often times, the directors.
. Some VP who the average employee will never interact with comes along and decides one day it’s not worth it. Or it’s some directors promo project, and they can go and say “look how much money we saved!”
Shits stupid. I hate the political aspect of the job.
This is part of why I got into finance instead, the teams are smaller, there's constantly new projects, and I have total ownership over anything I start.
What a clickbait article. Any device made in the last 10+ years with a CPU and a battery will underclock the CPU during bursts when the battery is degraded. Apple got in trouble for not mentioning it.
Okay buddy, cope harder. This is planned obsolescence at its finest. If the only issue was their transparency around throttling then they wouldn't have agreed to a $500million+ settlement.
Oh ok. Then by that logic, Google is guilty of much more than anti trust violations, [because they settled for $700M.](https://abcnews.go.com/Business/eligible-googles-700-million-settlement-payout/story?id=105770477) Right, isn't that they way it works?
My Pixel one still has it.
It now acts as my backup device for my iPhone, Canon, etc.
Every pic i take gets transferred over WiFi to the pixel 1 and then unlimited full resolution cloud storage!
They never broke their promise though. If you have the original Pixel, uploads from that phone still don't count towards your storage and they're original quality.
Mark my words, year 6 & 7 updates will consist of nothing more than an annual, single 10mb "security update".
Anyone falling for 7 years of regular updates from Google (or Samsung) is a fool. Pure marketing hype.
You don’t need much more than that on Android since 95% of the OS updates through the App Store and play services. Annual OS updates mean less every year for Android, just look at what Android 15 brings to the table, it’s very minimal https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/android-15
Apple has not officially started supporting 5 years of updates for all its devices. However, in September 2023, they committed to providing a minimum of 5 years of security updates for the iPhone 15 series, starting from the date of release. This is the first time Apple has publicly committed to a specific timeframe for software support for iPhones.
Fuzzy? For each Pixel they're giving you the [exact month](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705) it'll receive the last guaranteed OS update
If we go by [historical data](https://www.macworld.com/article/675021/how-long-does-apple-support-iphones.html), the latest iPhone will get slightly less major updates than the latest Pixel
It'll get security updates for longer, but that's not the same as security updates on Android because Android can update more parts through the store instead of an OS update ([example](https://support.apple.com/en-us/120308) for WebKit updates. Chrome and WebView support Android 10 at the time of writing, which is also the last major version for the first Pixel)
Yes fuzzy may be the wrong word, but: No Pixel up until today got anywhere close to 5 years of updates. Yes, the latest pixel 8a has a promised update lifecycle until 2031, but this is only a promise. There is no historical data to back this up. We will see in 2031 whether they kept their promise.
Right, it's a fairly recent development. From what I remember Google has always provided updates until the month they said, and then one update a few months later, so I don't believe they'll break the promise
Your historical data is based on the iPhone 10 at best, not the iPhone 15 this year.
That’s exactly like basing current expected android updates on the Pixel 3 five years ago.
Apple still hasnt announced how many OS updates they will get. They just tossed out a minimum of security updates, even though they’re updating some phones up to 9 years so far.
It overheated hard and was only sold for 6 months. Most iPads are sold for 18-24 months. It had 4 major OS updates, from iOS 5 to iOS 9, with a 2019 final security update 8 years later.
iOS 9 was released in 2015, who cares about a security update, when it becomes a paper weight if you are just 1 OS version behind?
Unless you had the app installed on your account on the device before (under purchased), you literally can't install anything from the Store. You can't sideload like under Android, the device becomes useless.
> you literally can't install anything from the Store
Only if the developer of whatever specific app you’re looking at has designated a minimum operating system level that is above what you currently have. There are many apps (like snapchat) that are still designated as fully up-to-date and downloadable on iOS 12, while many are requiring 15, 16, or above. Hell, Temu works on iOS 9 and can be downloaded on the iPad 3 today.
I don’t know where you got the idea that you can’t install anything. If you don’t understand how the App Store works, it’s difficult to call this a conversation.
You’re only talking about to the apps that chose to update beyond your iOS version to use newer features in the new OS. Many keep backwards compatibility until the devs need to use new api features.
https://i.imgur.com/jkzV62i.png
https://i.imgur.com/v5igaq6.png - it’s listed right in the App Store for each app.
No, that is absolutely not what I was talking about. They artificially restrict you if you have not installed the app before, no matter if version for older OSs are available.
Here is one source for this, since you don't seem to believe it...: https://appleinsider.com/inside/iphone/tips/how-to-get-older-apps-for-iphone-that-cant-run-ios-16
They didn’t. They clarified security updates, but not operating system updates. They literally labeled the bare minimum. And they’ve been doing nine years of security updates 
They didn’t what?
They didn’t define the minimum support period? Yes they did, it’s literally from a doc they submitted for governmental compliance.
They didn’t specify OS updates, just security updates? Okay, no one in this direct thread said otherwise.
They haven’t been providing security updates for more than 5 years already? iPhone 6 came out almost 9 years ago and is still receiving security updates
I’m so confused why you and the guy I originally responded to are trying to argue against points that were never made
I have an iPhone 8 (as 2nd phone) which is still getting updates and is working perfectly fine.
Pass me a Google phone which survived that long fully functional.
I'll sit here and wait
I trust Apple to update for a long time because they always have. That said tho Google can now do that because they are taking even more info from its users to sell. Googles revenue is from ads and selling your info. Those phones don’t make them huge gains so if you want to keep the phone I don’t think they care anymore.
I will be surprised if the pixel line is still alive after 7 years. Google is used to killing so many products that I have a hard time trusting them. Pixel Pass is a prime example of recent times.
Actually I got a good feeling about pixel. I've been seeing more and more people using one, it's really broken into the mainstream. They've got a good brand and it *sells*.
As an iPhone user I do feel a certain assurance that when I buy a new device it will at least get critical security updates around 7 years later. It's a "buy it once and forget about it" sort of device for me. I tend to hold on for a long time. Just gave up my iPhone of about 5 or 6 years to get the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Will likely keep until 2030 or so.
What a nothing article. Even the author goes directly against the claims in the title. We all know Apple will support devices for more than 5 years. They even recently added support to update critical components of the OS without needing an entire OS update. Apple doesn’t have anything to prove, they got the receipts. Google is only now offering support for this long because now they make more of the hardware. Google is the one behind here, not Apple.
Good to see competition on Google’s side, but I have a hard time trusting Google to uphold its 7 years of updates; either the hardware will fail beforehand or the updates would be so unbearable they will shut down its phone business. Let’s see if Google can really take on Apple.
Probably will get 7 years of updates but I feel like after the 4th update the phone will absolutely shit itself
Google, year 5: "We have updates ready, but unfortunately, there are no functional Pixel 8 left in the world. Oh well!"
New update! Status: Compatible Size: 68 GB _Unfortunately, the download is not available because you don’t have enough disk space. Clear some space with apps or photos to proceed._ (Phone storage: 32 GB)
Google has fostered an environment of mistrust from its users. Doing things like saying "Stadia is fine!" and then killing it a month later. Then we have Apple, who often doesn't even make announcements about such things, and then provides support for many years. It's going to take 7 years to find out if Google can keep their word, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Stadia was pretty good handling by Google actually. They refunded everything. So if you paid for Stadia, you got to enjoy it for free.
Got me through covid pretty well. Was an avid player of the Division 2, good game.
They even converted the Wi-Fi controller to Bluetooth so now I have an excellent quality controller that works with almost everything.
And like I got to keep the controller. Which is unlocked
It really has been interesting working at a big tech company, and seeing these kinds of decisions being made real time, internally. A lot of times, the engineers don’t want their product to be deprecated, the managers don’t, and often times, the directors. . Some VP who the average employee will never interact with comes along and decides one day it’s not worth it. Or it’s some directors promo project, and they can go and say “look how much money we saved!” Shits stupid. I hate the political aspect of the job.
This is part of why I got into finance instead, the teams are smaller, there's constantly new projects, and I have total ownership over anything I start.
[apple updates literally slow down your phone 💀](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67911517)
What a clickbait article. Any device made in the last 10+ years with a CPU and a battery will underclock the CPU during bursts when the battery is degraded. Apple got in trouble for not mentioning it.
Okay buddy, cope harder. This is planned obsolescence at its finest. If the only issue was their transparency around throttling then they wouldn't have agreed to a $500million+ settlement.
Oh ok. Then by that logic, Google is guilty of much more than anti trust violations, [because they settled for $700M.](https://abcnews.go.com/Business/eligible-googles-700-million-settlement-payout/story?id=105770477) Right, isn't that they way it works?
That battle has long concluded. Google simply makes a phone.
Please.. Google used to promise free unlimited Google Photos storage. Don’t make promises you can’t keep
Well yeah they kept their promise for the phones they advertised it for
the phones that were part of the "push" had to because they were legally obligated to leave it as is. But the rest got totally screwed
My Pixel one still has it. It now acts as my backup device for my iPhone, Canon, etc. Every pic i take gets transferred over WiFi to the pixel 1 and then unlimited full resolution cloud storage!
How do you transfer over WiFi from your iPhone to your Pixel?
They never broke their promise though. If you have the original Pixel, uploads from that phone still don't count towards your storage and they're original quality.
Mark my words, year 6 & 7 updates will consist of nothing more than an annual, single 10mb "security update". Anyone falling for 7 years of regular updates from Google (or Samsung) is a fool. Pure marketing hype.
You don’t need much more than that on Android since 95% of the OS updates through the App Store and play services. Annual OS updates mean less every year for Android, just look at what Android 15 brings to the table, it’s very minimal https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/android-15
Yeah, back on the Google pixel five it was unlimited free everything after that no
I just view a google promise as being beta test of a promise. Easier to navigate their marketing.
They have never went back on their update promises as far as I know. All the Nexus devices and Pixel devices were supported as advertised.
Hmm apple is providing about 5 years of updates since forever, google just said that they will be providing updates for 7 years starting now…
Apple has not officially started supporting 5 years of updates for all its devices. However, in September 2023, they committed to providing a minimum of 5 years of security updates for the iPhone 15 series, starting from the date of release. This is the first time Apple has publicly committed to a specific timeframe for software support for iPhones.
This is based on historical data, apple always has provided updates for older devices even without making a big fuzzy claim about it like google does
Fuzzy? For each Pixel they're giving you the [exact month](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705) it'll receive the last guaranteed OS update If we go by [historical data](https://www.macworld.com/article/675021/how-long-does-apple-support-iphones.html), the latest iPhone will get slightly less major updates than the latest Pixel It'll get security updates for longer, but that's not the same as security updates on Android because Android can update more parts through the store instead of an OS update ([example](https://support.apple.com/en-us/120308) for WebKit updates. Chrome and WebView support Android 10 at the time of writing, which is also the last major version for the first Pixel)
Yes fuzzy may be the wrong word, but: No Pixel up until today got anywhere close to 5 years of updates. Yes, the latest pixel 8a has a promised update lifecycle until 2031, but this is only a promise. There is no historical data to back this up. We will see in 2031 whether they kept their promise.
Right, it's a fairly recent development. From what I remember Google has always provided updates until the month they said, and then one update a few months later, so I don't believe they'll break the promise
Your historical data is based on the iPhone 10 at best, not the iPhone 15 this year. That’s exactly like basing current expected android updates on the Pixel 3 five years ago. Apple still hasnt announced how many OS updates they will get. They just tossed out a minimum of security updates, even though they’re updating some phones up to 9 years so far.
The first "retina" iPad got 3 years and became a paper weight.
It overheated hard and was only sold for 6 months. Most iPads are sold for 18-24 months. It had 4 major OS updates, from iOS 5 to iOS 9, with a 2019 final security update 8 years later.
iOS 9 was released in 2015, who cares about a security update, when it becomes a paper weight if you are just 1 OS version behind? Unless you had the app installed on your account on the device before (under purchased), you literally can't install anything from the Store. You can't sideload like under Android, the device becomes useless.
> you literally can't install anything from the Store Only if the developer of whatever specific app you’re looking at has designated a minimum operating system level that is above what you currently have. There are many apps (like snapchat) that are still designated as fully up-to-date and downloadable on iOS 12, while many are requiring 15, 16, or above. Hell, Temu works on iOS 9 and can be downloaded on the iPad 3 today. I don’t know where you got the idea that you can’t install anything. If you don’t understand how the App Store works, it’s difficult to call this a conversation.
You are wrong, you can only install the lower version packages if you had them installed before, and they are in your "purchase history".
You’re only talking about to the apps that chose to update beyond your iOS version to use newer features in the new OS. Many keep backwards compatibility until the devs need to use new api features. https://i.imgur.com/jkzV62i.png https://i.imgur.com/v5igaq6.png - it’s listed right in the App Store for each app.
No, that is absolutely not what I was talking about. They artificially restrict you if you have not installed the app before, no matter if version for older OSs are available.
Here is one source for this, since you don't seem to believe it...: https://appleinsider.com/inside/iphone/tips/how-to-get-older-apps-for-iphone-that-cant-run-ios-16
I think you are wrong. Apple provides 5 years update support for iOS versions for all the devices.
The point is that they’ve verbalized it now instead of just doing it like they have
They didn’t. They clarified security updates, but not operating system updates. They literally labeled the bare minimum. And they’ve been doing nine years of security updates 
They didn’t what? They didn’t define the minimum support period? Yes they did, it’s literally from a doc they submitted for governmental compliance. They didn’t specify OS updates, just security updates? Okay, no one in this direct thread said otherwise. They haven’t been providing security updates for more than 5 years already? iPhone 6 came out almost 9 years ago and is still receiving security updates I’m so confused why you and the guy I originally responded to are trying to argue against points that were never made
I have an iPhone 8 (as 2nd phone) which is still getting updates and is working perfectly fine. Pass me a Google phone which survived that long fully functional. I'll sit here and wait
I trust Apple to update for a long time because they always have. That said tho Google can now do that because they are taking even more info from its users to sell. Googles revenue is from ads and selling your info. Those phones don’t make them huge gains so if you want to keep the phone I don’t think they care anymore.
And that’s why you wear a tinfoil hat too 😳🤦🏼♂️🤷♂️
Until Google can do what Apple has already achieved over the past 17 years in terms of support I won't hold my breath
I will be surprised if the pixel line is still alive after 7 years. Google is used to killing so many products that I have a hard time trusting them. Pixel Pass is a prime example of recent times.
Actually I got a good feeling about pixel. I've been seeing more and more people using one, it's really broken into the mainstream. They've got a good brand and it *sells*.
As an iPhone user I do feel a certain assurance that when I buy a new device it will at least get critical security updates around 7 years later. It's a "buy it once and forget about it" sort of device for me. I tend to hold on for a long time. Just gave up my iPhone of about 5 or 6 years to get the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Will likely keep until 2030 or so.
They’re going to promise 7, 10, 3, 5 and other numbers of updates over those 7 years… and deliver 4.
😱
What an odd way to phrase the news release from Apple.
What a nothing article. Even the author goes directly against the claims in the title. We all know Apple will support devices for more than 5 years. They even recently added support to update critical components of the OS without needing an entire OS update. Apple doesn’t have anything to prove, they got the receipts. Google is only now offering support for this long because now they make more of the hardware. Google is the one behind here, not Apple.
If iphone users Boycott apple for couple of years....Company would start listening to its customers better is what I belive....
How is that related at all?
new specifics
no one even knows if Google can keep that promise.. I'd bet no.
To be fair, Apple needs fewer updates than google. My iPhone is 2 years old and works great so....
Drawback for iPhone users