OnePlus and Xiaomi are poised to bridge the software update gap with tech giants like Google and Samsung, thanks to Qualcomm’s recent collaboration with Google. This partnership paves the way for extended software support on devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and Android 15, offering a remarkable eight years of updates.
What makes this development significant is that manufacturers can now seamlessly update software and security features without the need for extensive code modifications. This extended support surpasses Google’s seven-year commitment for Pixel phones and Samsung’s similar promise for their flagship devices. Qualcomm’s initiative aims to enhance device longevity and sustainability, ensuring users can keep their phones longer with up-to-date software and enhanced security.
Looking ahead, upcoming smartphones leveraging Qualcomm’s latest chipsets will also benefit from this extended support, covering the next five generations of Qualcomm chips. This means that devices running on Snapdragon 8 and 7-series platforms can provide users with prolonged software update guarantees for the foreseeable future.
However, it’s essential to note that this doesn’t automatically translate to immediate eight-year update pledges for current Snapdragon 8 Elite devices like the OnePlus 13 and Xiaomi 15. Manufacturers would need to invest additional effort to implement such extended support, considering their existing update policies for early-2025 devices.
While Qualcomm’s collaboration with Google streamlines the process, smartphone OEMs still hold the responsibility of implementing these extended updates. It’s a step in the right direction, but achieving prolonged software support ultimately depends on manufacturers’ commitment to providing users with a seamless and secure experience over an extended period.