Qualcomm and Google Extend Android Software Support to 8 Years

Qualcomm and Google have announced an extended software support plan for select Android smartphones, increasing updates to eight years. This effort extends to devices built by the most recent Snapdragon chipsets, representing one of the longest commitments to Android devices.

Qualcomm & Google Announce 8 Years of Android Updates for Snapdragon 8 & 7-Series Phones, But There’s a Catch

Per the announcement, smartphones based on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform would now qualify for up to eight years of Android software and security updates. Future models launching with Snapdragon 8 and 7-series chipsets will also be eligible for this extended support. This policy grants manufacturers the option of applying the full eight years to a device, but whether or not they do ultimately depends on the manufacturers. For instance, it is not yet clear whether the newly announced Galaxy S25 will stretch its supporting period to eight years from seven.

Android devices have traditionally fallen behind iPhones when it comes to software support, with many of them receiving only three to four years of updates. Although premium devices like Google and Samsung’s flagships have expanded the range of that time frame to seven years, most Android smartphones simply lack this long-haul support. The new effort between Qualcomm and Google seeks to fill this void by getting the best and the more affordable Android devices to last longer while maintaining security.

One of the key things that makes such a prolonged support possible is Google’s Project Treble, which separates core Android updates from manufacturer-specific additions. This makes the update process smoother, leading to lower delays and better consistency between devices. It has also confirmed that eligible devices will receive two major updates to the Android Common Kernel (ACK), which is important for both security and performance.

However, there is a catch. While Qualcomm and Google are providing the framework for extended support, manufacturers will ultimately decide how long they update their devices. Some brands may use the eight-year support cycle to its full extent while others may continue with their current policies. This initiative only applies to newer Snapdragon-powered smartphones, however. The extended updates for existing devices currently utilizing last gen chipsets will be no more, although Qualcomm will still be working with manufacturers in the support of legacy models.

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