End of support after five years
When Google unveiled the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in October 2021, the company initially promised three years of Android updates. Google later extended this support to a total of five years.
This period ends in October 2026. Because the final version of Android 17 QPR2 will not be released until December, both smartphones are excluded from the update schedule. Even the beta version that has now been released is no longer available for these devices, reports 9to5Google.
Googling
Although this ending is no surprise to many users, it still marks a turning point: for the first time, a smartphone with Google’s Tensor chip has reached the end of the official update period.
Pixel 6a remains unaffected for now
It’s worth noting that the Pixel 6a is still supported. The mid-range phone was only released in 2022 and is expected to receive updates until June 2027. Although it uses the same Tensor G1 processor as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, it remains in beta for now.
The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will also continue to be supported. Google will support devices from the Pixel 8 onwards for significantly longer, with a seven-year update guarantee.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
If you want to know which other smartphones will get Android 17, read more here.
