I mean I don't trust Google as far as I can throw a TPU datacenter, but they are promising 7 years of OS updates on Pixel. And so are companies like Samsung. Many others offer 3, and even the low-rent "we have your money... I mean... who dis?" manufacturers are offering 2, so it's not like Android is going anywhere. There are just too many players. Honestly, I wouldn't get a Pixel because they are uninspired devices, not because Google will stop supporting them tomorrow.
What does seem to be happening is that the core "user facing" Android (vs all the AI stuff and Play Services-based apps like Maps) is getting more and more settled as a stack and Google is cutting development staff to reflect that. To be fair, I can't speak deeply as to what's happening under the hood, just the touchy bits.
My phone started with Android 9 and is now on Android 15. 10, 11 and 12 all had (compared to now) larger changes. However, if you held a gun to my head and asked me what has changed with Android 13 and on, my answer would be "stuff seems a little rounder" ...and maybe a new font? But it sorta just feels like a new version of the old font. You just don't need that many people for Android's current evolution rate. Which really sucks for all the folks losing their jobs.
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I mean I don't trust Google as far as I can throw a TPU datacenter, but they are promising 7 years of OS updates on Pixel. And so are companies like Samsung. Many others offer 3, and even the low-rent "we have your money... I mean... who dis?" manufacturers are offering 2, so it's not like Android is going anywhere. There are just too many players. Honestly, I wouldn't get a Pixel because they are uninspired devices, not because Google will stop supporting them tomorrow.
What does seem to be happening is that the core "user facing" Android (vs all the AI stuff and Play Services-based apps like Maps) is getting more and more settled as a stack and Google is cutting development staff to reflect that. To be fair, I can't speak deeply as to what's happening under the hood, just the touchy bits.
My phone started with Android 9 and is now on Android 15. 10, 11 and 12 all had (compared to now) larger changes. However, if you held a gun to my head and asked me what has changed with Android 13 and on, my answer would be "stuff seems a little rounder" ...and maybe a new font? But it sorta just feels like a new version of the old font. You just don't need that many people for Android's current evolution rate. Which really sucks for all the folks losing their jobs.