Google has stealthily revealed that it’s extending software support for some of its devices, like the Pixel Fold and Pixel 6 series. They will now offer a full five years of OS and security updates from when the devices first went on sale on the Google Store in the U.S.
This is a notable jump from the previous three-year support window. It suggests that Google is serious about delivering longer-lasting devices. By comparison, its latest device, the Pixel 9 series, will receive a full seven years of OS and security updates.
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Google Pixel 6, Pixel 7 Series, and Pixel Fold Set to Receive 5 Years of Android OS Updates, Including Android 17 and 18
The rebuff was made in a recent update to Google’s support page for Pixel phones, now showing that the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and some more models will receive five years of updates. Alongside routine security updates and OS upgrades, these devices will also receive new features made available through Google’s Pixel Drops program which usually brings some improvements and bug fixes. Devices that qualify for this extended support are the Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6a.
With this policy shift, the Pixel 6 series, originally launched in 2021, can receive updates as far as Android 17. The Pixel 7 series should get Android 18 in 2027. The company previewed designs for Android 16, the upcoming major update after Android 15 which will be released in Q2 2025. A more limited update is due in late 2025, likely involving minor tweaks and additional features.
The trend toward extended support periods started with the Pixel 8 series, which offers seven years of software updates. This policy has now been expanded to include the Pixel 9 series, too. These efforts make Google a playmaker in the extended device support market that’s in rivalry with other handset branch manufacturers who will usually offer shorter software cycles.
FAQs
Which Pixel devices get 5 years of updates?
The Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel Fold will receive five years of OS and security updates, including up to Android 17 for the Pixel 6 series.
How long will the Pixel 9 series be supported?
The Pixel 9 series will receive seven years of OS and security updates, starting with its launch in 2025.
