Qualcomm and Google have joined forces to increase software program updates on Android gadgets. With Google’s help, the chipmaker has dedicated to offering prolonged vendor help to any OEM constructing on its strongest chips, pushing the theoretical lifespan of Android gadgets to eight years. There are many caveats, however this transfer might make your subsequent telephone extra helpful for longer.
The prolonged help window solely applies to Android gadgets with the newest Qualcomm chipsets. To begin, the eight-year help timeline might be prolonged to gadgets operating the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite cellular platform, which has powered gadgets just like the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25. Later this yr, the identical coverage might be utilized to the corporate’s new Snapdragon 8 and Snapdragon 7-series chips, and you’ll count on the identical deal for at the very least the subsequent 5 generations of Qualcomm silicon.
“Via this collaboration, OEMs can extra seamlessly replace the software program and safety on their gadgets, guaranteeing a safer and long-lasting Android expertise for our customers,” said Google’s Android Platform supervisor Seang Chau.
Snapdragon 8 and seven chips are utilized in flagship and almost-flagship telephones, so do not count on a brand new Qualcomm-based funds telephone to get anyplace close to the identical replace dedication. There’s nothing stopping Qualcomm from providing the identical take care of cheaper parts, however individuals are likely to count on telephones that value extra to last more. An inexpensive telephone won’t even make it eight years earlier than one thing breaks otherwise you get bored with how sluggish it’s, and OEMs aren’t incentivized to spend the cash supporting low-cost {hardware}.
Presently, Samsung and Google lead the market with seven years of assured safety patches and OS updates. With Qualcomm’s assist, different corporations might attain comparable heights. With Qualcomm’s help, OEMs will be capable to present eight years of safety patches, and there may also be at the very least two updates to the seller’s Android Widespread Kernel throughout that point. This may make it simpler for OEMs to launch full Android OS updates even towards the tip of a tool’s lifespan.