The Google Pixel 8a is the company’s latest affordable smartphone and probably the best mid-range phone you can get right now. It offers a similar design and aesthetics as its pricier counterparts, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, but cuts back on the spec sheet to achieve a more budget-friendly price tag.
But, does the latest Google Pixel 8a sacrifice in terms of software support? Thankfully, the device comes with the same software update promise as the other Pixel 8 series models. So, how long will the Pixel 8a get software updates?
How Many Software Updates Will the Pixel 8a Get?
Like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the pocket-friendly Pixel 8a will also get seven years of Android updates, security updates, and Pixel Feature Drops. So, you’ll have the latest Android experience for many more years to come.
The Google Pixel 8a comes with Android 14 out of the box, the same OS as the other Pixel 8 series phones launched with last year. This means the last OS upgrade for all Pixel 8 series models will be Android 21, which will be released in 2031.
These Google Pixel phones will also receive seven years of Pixel Feature Drops that bring exciting features and improvements multiple times a year.
That’s an impressive software support for a mid-range phone such as the Pixel 8a. In fact, no other smartphone brands offer this many OS upgrades for a mid-range phone, even their high-end phones get a maximum of four or five OS upgrades.
Also Read: Top 5 Google Pixel 8a Alternatives in India
No Treat for Older Pixel Phones
While the mid-range Pixel 8a enjoys an impressive 7-year software update treat, older Pixel phones are on the verge of getting their final OS upgrade.
Google only offers three Android OS upgrades for the Pixel 7 series and older models. This means Android 16 will be the final major OS update for the Pixel 7 models, and then all Pixel phones launched before Pixel 8 will become ineligible for future OS upgrades.
Google, on one hand, is offering seven OS updates to the Pixel 8 series, while older Pixel phones are stuck with three. This huge gap has been disappointing for a lot of older Pixel users. Google could have extended software support for two additional years, at least. But, it doesn’t seem to be happening. If you want longer software support, get any of the newest Pixel phones.
In case you have an older Google Pixel, click here to see which of them are eligible for the Android 15 upgrade. The same article also highlights exciting features of the upcoming Android OS.
