What Cell Service Does Pixel 3 Support

Android smartphones, unfortunately, commonly don't get the support they are actually capable of. Fifty-fifty the all-time and biggest names in Android only support devices for 3-5 years at best. This month, the door is endmost on updates for 2018's Pixel iii serial, and Google'due south response to that ending is that 3 years of updates is nonetheless a "cracking experience" for customers.

Really?

VICE author Aaron Gordon published an editorial today regarding the finish-of-life for the Pixel 3, with Google'south back up window forcing him to "dump a perfectly proficient telephone." It's a situation that many are facing, prompting them to either wait at upgrading or just live with a phone that is now knowingly less secure.

The entire piece is a solid read, only one bespeak of attention specifically is with Google's response. When asked why the Pixel 3 was losing support for major updates and security patches, Google said that it feels this window still provides a "great experience."

We find that iii years of security and OS updates still provides users with a great feel for their device.

This comes every bit a surprising remark, given that Google proudly touted the expanded support windows of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro final year. In a argument to ArsTechnica, Google previously said:

We build Pixel phones to get better over fourth dimension with software and feature updates, and then starting with Pixel 6 and Pixel vi Pro, Pixels will now receive security updates for at least five years. Users will even so get at to the lowest degree three years of OS updates, after which we're committing to ensure that Pixels will stay up-to-appointment and secure. The frequency and categories of updates will depend on the capabilities and needs of the hardware.

Of class, the central difference between the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 6 is what'southward under the hood. Similar Google'southward other by releases, Pixel 3 ran on a fleck from Qualcomm, where Pixel vi is using the custom Tensor fleck. Qualcomm is a key reason why older Pixels, and almost every Android phone, has a cap on how long information technology can be feasibly supported.

But still, when Samsung has been pushing the boundaries of support by extending its security update window to 4 years – even on Qualcomm-powered devices that are a few years old – Google's policy becomes a chip harder to stay on board with. On top of that, there's the "gold standard" in Apple, which continues to support a phone that's going on seven years old.

One can't help merely feel a bit hurt that Google seems so at ease with a mere three years, fifty-fifty on these older devices.