This one is aimed at those who aren’t beta-testing Android 14. It’s a bunch of “security patches” for Pixel phones running Android 13, though Google didn’t give a detailed changelog.
So have they said why they’re dropping support for the 4a?
I got this phone straight from Google at the end of October 2020. So I haven’t even had it for 3 years yet, but it’s no longer being supported with security updates? That’s nuts.
The iPhone 7 I also have is still getting security updates. That’s over 7 years. And Google can barely make it to 3?
The phone still runs excellently. Haven’t even had to replace the battery.
This is the kind of thing that makes me want to dump Google entirely.
I got this phone straight from Google at the end of October 2020
They count from launch date, which in your case is August 2020, so… 😕
Definitely agree that they could do more on their update guarantees.
Haha yeah, launch date, which makes it 3 years and 1 month which is still absurd. It’s sad that they’re okay with condemning the device as e-waste since it’s still perfectly serviceable, but I can’t use it for work if it’s no longer receiving at least security updates 😢
And before someone says “just buy a new pixel” I don’t really like the new pixels. The 4a has a headphone jack, a rear fingerprint reader, and is still fast with good battery. I shouldn’t be forced to buy an upgrade to this one yet.
The great thing about Pixels is the massive support for custom ROMs.
The LineageOS build for the Pixel 4a still seems to receive updates if you want to try it out: https://download.lineageos.org/devices/sunfish/builds
One issue with custom ROMs however is that you likely won’t be able to use NFC payments.
The lack of NFC payments alone is enough to turn a phone into a brick imo
I’ve used NFC payments with custom ROMs plenty of times. Not sure about on the Pixel phones though
Agreed, it sucks. Essentially it boils down to them not controlling the source for the processor/chipset/drivers whereas Apple has vertically integrated where they developed their own chipsey with the Bionic and the M series. Google has moved that way with the Tensor chips seen on the Pixel 6+ but everything prior is using Qualcomm and reliant on them for chipset support. Qualcomm unfortunately only promises 3 years of support.
With Tensor Google is promising at least 3 years of version updates and 5 years of security updates. Time will tell how that promise works out.
Hey there are dozens of us that will be dumping the Pixel for the next phone. And for varying reasons.
