These extended updates are welcome for owners of Pixel phones that were only promised three years of new Android features. Even when released, they were outpaced by longer support assurances from rivals like Samsung that have only grown in the interim. While the newest Pixel and Galaxy phones promise seven years of operating system updates, Google extending the shelf life of its older models is a welcome gesture to some who might otherwise need to buy new phones next year once their Android updates ran out.
Google made the surprise announcement alongside its December software update (which is now rolling out to Android 15 devices). On a support page, Google listed which of its older phones will get a total of five years of software updates from their launch date, so the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will get their last Android updates in 2026, while the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6a will get theirs until 2027. The Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold will get updates through 2028.
While Google initially suggested the Pixel 6 would get five years of updates, it had less assurance at the launch of the Pixel 7 series, saying its 2022 phones would get "at least three" years of Android upgrades. The company was firmer about only promising three years of updates for the more affordable Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a.
These update extensions do not include the Pixel 5 or older Google phones. The oldest phone supported is the Pixel 6, which was the first to use the Google-designed Tensor chipset.
All told, this makes these older Pixel phones even more viable for folks looking to extend the lifespan of their existing Google handsets or pick one up at a lower price than the newest Pixel 9 series that launched back in August.