OnePlus and Xiaomi Can Offer More OS Updates Than Google Pixel

Flagship smartphones from OnePlus, Xiaomi, and other brands may soon offer extended software updates that match or exceed what Google and Samsung provide.

In a blog post, Qualcomm, the maker of Snapdragon chips, announced a collaboration with Google to streamline the process for third-party manufacturers to offer long-term software support. Devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and Android 15 (or later) will now be capable of receiving up to eight years of Android software and security updates.

Why is this a big deal?

Qualcomm’s involvement is expected to simplify the software and security update process for manufacturers. With this extended support, smartphone makers will not need to make significant code changes or upgrades for up to eight years, including Android OS and kernel updates.

This new update timeframe surpasses Google’s seven-year promise for recent Pixel phones and Samsung’s commitment for select Galaxy devices.

According to Qualcomm, this initiative aims to promote device longevity and sustainability by ensuring users can keep their phones longer without compromising security or missing out on new features.

What about future chip and phone support?

Qualcomm also mentioned that smartphones launching on new Snapdragon 8 and 7-series platforms will be eligible for extended support. This collaboration with Google will cover the next five generations of Qualcomm chips, ensuring that future devices can offer prolonged update promises more easily.

What this doesn’t mean

While Qualcomm’s announcement is significant, it does not guarantee that current Snapdragon 8 Elite devices will automatically extend their update promises to eight years. Manufacturers like OnePlus and Xiaomi would need to implement this change, which may require additional effort beyond their initial update policies for early-2025 devices.

Additionally, not every future Snapdragon 8 Elite device is guaranteed to come with an eight-year update promise. Qualcomm’s role is to facilitate extended updates, but it remains the responsibility of smartphone OEMs to implement them.