this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023

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100

Pixel 8 leak promises 7 years of OS updates—even more than an iPhone (arstechnica.com)

submitted 2 years ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Pixel 8 leak promises 7 years of OS updates—even more than an iPhone::Just about everything has leaked about the $699 Pixel 8 and $999 8 Pro.

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[–] pup_atlas@pawb.social 76 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I’ll believe it when I see it. Apple has a demonstrated track record of supporting their phones for years, Google has a demonstrated track record of killing anything that isn’t an immediate run-away success. So sorry Google, but I can’t just take your word for it.

[–] Cheesus@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

When has Google failed to deliver on the promise of updating their phones? Yeah it's been way less than apple, but they have stuck to it every time.

[+] waitmarks@lemmy.world -9 points 2 years ago (3 children)

they have so far kept all promises about updating their pixel line.

[–] pup_atlas@pawb.social 24 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The promises they’ve made previous have been FAR less than their competitors. Previous pixel phones have only enjoyed 3 years of updates according to my research (Pixel 4, 4A, 5, and 5A), where as Apple devices (a clear competitor in their space) will still let you load the latest version of iOS (17) on the iPhone XR, a phone released in 2018, 5 years ago. The iPhone 8 is still receiving security updates, which was release in 2017, a full 6 years ago. I would be happy to see some competition in the space, but Googles promises fly in the face of their reputation here, and actions speak louder than words. I hope they do live up to their promises, but I simply won’t believe it until I see it for myself.

[–] waitmarks@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

yea obviously apple has been better in the past, one of the reasons i switched from pixel to iphone. however, whenever they have said X years of updates for a given device, they have kept it. it’s literally the only thing i would trust them on.

[–] Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

They haven’t said this though. This is a leak from someone else that may or may not be true.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg -2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Google makes promises they keep. They might kill stuff off, but they arguably are always fair about it. I was a stadia user, they basically let me do a bunch of gaming and get a bunch of gaming hardware for free in the end.

Nest products have also had a very long lifespan, only the very very earliest hardware that uses nest infrastructure has been killed off. That includes the Wi-Fi products which are supported much longer than the routers of many competitors in that space (e.g. Netgear).

Google A) hasn't had the market pressure and B) up until recently hasn't had their own chip, which has made them rely upon Qualcomm ... which has been a huge issue for all Android carriers.

Now that Google has their own chips, I would've be surprised if even the Pixel 6 and 7 get extended lifetimes.

Not to mention, if they make a promise, they can get sued for breaking it... so if this leaves the rumor mills, and they say "7 years minimum", I would absolutely take them at their word.

[–] GregoryTheGreat@programming.dev 7 points 2 years ago

I had a pixel phone once. A few months in the phone got a bag update that crippled the device. They fixed it nearly a year later. I had a Lagship not a flagship. #neverforget.

Not only does Google need to demonstrate that they will do updates. They have to do a good job at it.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/google-kills-two-year-pixel-pass-subscription-after-just-22-months/

[–] waitmarks@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

nothing to do with how long they update their phones operating system.

[–] EyesEyesBaby@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Not with updating the OS, but you said "updating their Pixel line" which is exactly what this is.

[–] solidgrue@lemmy.world 23 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Challenge: build quality lasts only 2.6 years.

[–] cooopsspace 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You need to get a case and screen protector on your phone.

The only thing that'll let down my hardware is the battery.

[–] solidgrue@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Build quality ≠ wear & tear

Never had a lemon of a Pixel device? Count yourself lucky.

[–] sir_reginald@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago

This is nice. I have a Pixel 6 running GrapheneOS which has 5 years of updates, so hopefully I won't have to buy another phone until then.

I hope that by then, the hypothetical Pixel 11 has a replaceable battery, due to the EU regulations and that would make my (almost) perfect phone (if only they included a 3.5 jack too).

[–] narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago

If this is true, it would obviously be great. But I'll believe it in 7 years if/when the Pixel 8 gets Android 20 (assuming they go on with their yearly release cycle).

I'm not even sure they have the vertical integration to be able to do it. Some proprietary firmware for a modem that's not updated to work with later Linux kernels and all of a sudden it won't work with newer versions.

But if they can manage that, great.

Even then it's probably not for me. The last Pixel I tried for a week or so was the Pixel 6 Pro. The "Pro" Pixel line is their flagship lacking a lot of flagship specs: the SoC is basically a customized Exynos, which makes it rather inefficient compared to Qualcomm and Apple, resulting in pretty poor battery life despite sizable battery capacity. The optical (!) fingerprint sensor feels very slow (reminds me of first generation Touch ID, even though that probably was worse) and technically it's also less secure than an ultrasonic one. The camera system is usually up there, but hardly the benchmark anymore. If you want the "Google experience" (whatever that may be) it's probably great but other than that.

Also, storage options are very inconsistent with these. The biggest I could get in Germany was 256 GB with the 6 Pro, and that was only in black. Other colors were limited to 128 GB. There is a 512 GB version in some countries, but Google simply refuses to offer it here. Service/repair seems pretty horrible from what I've heard. 7 years of software updates don't help when you can't even get your battery changed quickly without hassle.

Phones overhyped by "tech" YouTubers. Their "a" series tend to offer great value for the money though, especially if you wait a few months after launch where prices from retailers drop quite significantly.

[–] muntedcrocodile@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago (3 children)

The only reason u would buy a pixel phone is to but graphene os on it

[–] Chreutz@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ironically, the phone that potentially can be least infected by Google is the phone made by them.

[–] muntedcrocodile@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

I used the google to destroy the google.

[–] sir_reginald@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

I don't understand the downvotes. This is totally a valid reason to use a Pixel, specially with extended updates support.

[–] Not_Alec_Baldwin@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

I love graphene. I wish I had taken the plunge sooner.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 3 points 2 years ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The big news is that Google is finally giving its Pixel phones a longer support window.

Google pitches the Pixel phones as the flagship of the Android ecosystem, and now, if this spec sheet pans out, the OS maker is finally giving them an update plan to match.

That would comfortably lead all major manufacturers, leaving only Google and Fairphone at the top of the charts.

The specs for the Pixel 8 Pro include something called a "Super Actua" display, which the marketing docs say will work "even in direct sunlight."

Manufacturers keep picking this fight with the sun, and while I guess brighter is better, I'm still not confident any phone will put a dent in sunlight.

The Tensor 1 and 2 had CPU clusters headlined by two Arm Cortex X1 CPUs and benchmarked similarly.

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