Android software update ushers in a major breakthrough: Qualcomm and Google work together to provide up to 8 years of support

Qualcomm and Google cooperate to provide 8-year software updates for Android phones equipped with new Snapdragon chips. This move is of milestone for long-term software support for Android devices.

Extend the service life of the equipment

Imagine that your Android phone can remain updated for nearly ten years. This is exactly what Qualcomm and Google are working to achieve. They announced that future Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Series and 7 Series chips will support up to eight years of software and security updates.

"Starting with Android smartphones equipped with Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, Qualcomm Technologies now provides device manufacturers with up to eight years of support for Android software and security updates. Smartphones equipped with new Snapdragon 8 Series and 7 Series mobile platforms will also be eligible for this extended support."

It should be noted that "up to eight years" includes the release year, so the actual Android version is upgraded to seven years. Even so, this is a huge leap for most Android devices on the market.

This move is a direct challenge to Google's Pixel 8 and 9 series (also provided seven years of support). Android users have lagged behind Apple's long-term software support for many years. Today, this gap may be narrowing, but there is an important prerequisite.

The key is: the manufacturer's independent decision

Qualcomm's statement is not a guarantee. Like many things at the Android operating system level, it's more like opening a door. Mobile phone manufacturers still need to really walk in. The one that ultimately decides whether your specific phone model will get these extension updates is the phone manufacturer.

"The platform software support included in this program will be available to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for eight years, including Android operating system and kernel upgrades, without major changes or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the device."

Essentially, Qualcomm has reduced the cost and difficulty of providing longer-term support for these manufacturers. They take on the heavy responsibility of upgrading the Android operating system and kernel, so mobile phone manufacturers do not need to completely modify their code.

The first batch of devices that meet this upgrade support cycle include the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, Xiaomi 15 series, OnePlus 13 and Asus ROG Phone 9. Samsung has promised seven years of Android OS updates since the Galaxy S24 series, but that would be a nice boost for other manufacturers.

Of course, not all news is good news. If you are using an older Snapdragon chip, don't be overly excited. This extension support is only available for future 8 Series and 7 Series chips. And, to be honest: even if you want to use it for eight years, most phones can't withstand eight years of high-strength use.

However, this will help if you take it seriously to reduce e-waste and keep your phone running. You can choose to repair and maintain your device for longer periods of time, because you know it will still receive important security patches and software updates – provided the manufacturer can cooperate.

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