Although some models have battery bloat issues (I’m looking at you, Pixel 7), Google Pixel phones are generally sturdy. In fact, many Pixel users report that their phones last more than five years. Add to that the fact that the tech giant behind the device promises seven years of updates for newer models, and you can get a lot of mileage out of just one phone. So, how long will your Google Pixel phone receive new software updates?
It depends on the model of course. Some Google Pixel phones will no longer receive support, including all models from the original Pixel to the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a. Depending on when you’re reading this, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro may have been added to the list, with support set to end in October 2026. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6a moves to the legacy section in July 2027. If that seems a little too fast for a phone released in 2022, remember that Google didn’t make the promise of 7 years until the Pixel 8 releases.
Fortunately, the Pixel 8 and newer models still have significant headroom. Here are the end-of-life dates for all currently supported Pixels in Fall 2026:
- Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro: October 2026
- Pixel 6a: July 2027
- Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro: October 2027
- Pixel 7a: May 2027
- Pixel folding: June 2028
- Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: October 2030
- Pixel 8a: May 2031
- Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold: September 2031
- Pixel 9a: April 2032
- Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold: August 2032
- Pixel 10a: March 2033
- Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold: August 2033
Does Google Pixel have the longest support among all brands?
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The models considered recent (the Pixel 10 models and the latest Pixel 11) will be supported until around 2032 and 2033 respectively, which is a considerable period of time in the world of technology. So, if your device remains healthy (especially in terms of battery), you can theoretically keep it for a while. Is it long term? Absolutely. The Google Pixels aren’t the phones with the longest support, as Fairphone promises seven years of Android updates and eight years of security patches. At Google, the figure is seven for both types, but that’s still in the upper echelons.
Larger manufacturers tend to support their products longer. Samsung users say Galaxy phones are reliable in terms of hardware, so the manufacturer offering seven years of support is definitely a good sign (even if mid-range devices “only” get six years). And Apple? iPhones are much more colorful in this regard. The average is five years of guaranteed iOS updates and seven years of security patches, but this can vary by model, and Apple makes no guarantees in this regard.
So if you own a Pixel, consider yourself lucky: not every phone has such a precise update schedule. Of course, high-end manufacturers like Honor (especially its Magic series) also promise seven years, but phones produced by Motorola and a few others can receive as little as three years of Android updates and four years of security patches. Blink, and the update schedule disappears, it seems.
