Hey Google, a $350 watch deserves 3+ years of software updates

After years of rumors and leaks, Google finally took the cases off the Pixel Watch earlier this week. However, the company left out one key detail during the presentation – how long it will support its first-ever Wear OS smartwatch. Luckily for us, Google’s own product documentation site goes into detail. Just like the Pixel 7 series, the Pixel Watch gets three years of guaranteed software updates through October 2025 (Pixel 7 phones also get an additional two years of security updates).

If that three-year OS promise doesn’t sound very impressive, allow me to assure you it doesn’t. Let’s start with the Pixel Watch. It faces two major competitors at the moment and both surpass Google in terms of support. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5, which is built on the same Wear OS foundation, gets four years’ worth of software updates. The Apple Watch Series 8, on the other hand, will be supported for a full five years based on past trends.

As a potential Pixel Watch buyer, it’s disappointing to know that the clock is already ticking. If I don’t pick one up at launch, I’m buying a product that’s already fast approaching a set expiration date. While I agree that Google has to draw a line somewhere, three years is far from enough for a device that stays on shelves a third of that time.

Also, given Google’s tendency to shut down popular services, I’m a bit cautious about buying a first-gen product. While I doubt it will share Stadia’s fate, Google’s reluctance to make a long-term commitment does not inspire confidence. In contrast, long-term updates would solidify Google’s commitment, but that would be costly for the company if its first-gen product flops. In fact, the Galaxy Watch 5 looks like the safer choice, and that’s before we even talk about the price. Samsung’s offering is 25% cheaper than the Pixel Watch.

Before the announcement, I was hoping that the Pixel Watch would become an industry benchmark for long-term software support, similar to the Nexus series. Instead, I am now reminded of how little has changed since the late 2010s. Most Wear OS smartwatches at the time, including my second-gen Moto 360, only received software updates for two to three years.

Opinion: The Pixel Watch can’t be successful if Google reuses the same 8-year-old formula

It’s not just the Pixel Watch that disappoints on the software update front; Google’s Pixel 7 series also receives three Android version updates. You’ll see security patches for a few more years after 2025, but don’t expect new feature drops.

When Google announced it was using custom silicon for the Pixel series, many speculated the move would bring longer support windows. This made sense as Google no longer has to rely on a third-party chip supplier to release updated drivers or provide support. But although Google has negotiated with Qualcomm to ensure three operating system updates for Snapdragon SoCs will roll out after 2020, the search giant hasn’t broken that benchmark for its own devices. It’s not clear why. Perhaps given the Pixel’s relatively low sales volume, cost is still an obstacle.

Meanwhile, the competition has caught up with Google. Xiaomi was once derided among Android enthusiasts for its inconsistent software support. However, the company has promised to provide three years of operating system updates and four years of security patches for the Xiaomi 12 series. To be clear, you get an extra year of security updates with the Pixel 7, but that’s a narrow win when you consider how far ahead Google once was.

And then there’s Samsung. The South Korean company is now the leader in the Android market in terms of software support. With four years of OS updates and a total of five years of security patches, it’s not far from matching Apple’s excellent track record. For some context, the 2017 iPhone 8 received this year’s iOS 16 update. Samsung’s update policy also applies to mid-range smartphones such as the Galaxy A53 5G, which instead of Pixel 7 and Pro competes against the cheap Google Pixel 6a.

Granted, there’s still an advantage to owning a Pixel — you get software updates earlier than the rest. Android 13, for example, hasn’t made it to most non-Pixel smartphones yet. Although Google hosts a beta program every year, most manufacturers don’t seem to accelerate development until after the stable release.

However, faster updates do not compensate for a shorter support window. I’d also argue that many Pixel owners are buying into the ecosystem for Google’s clean and feature-rich Pixel UI, at least today. These discerning users tend to compare the software longevity of their smartphones to the gold standard. If Google wants to sell a premium experience that rivals the iPhone, it has to go through more than half as many years of operating system updates. And more importantly, we still need Google to lead by example and keep the Android industry on its toes. I doubt Samsung and Xiaomi would have improved their policies if it weren’t for the competition.

All in all, I hope Google considers increasing its commitment to long-term software updates across the Pixel ecosystem — if not for the benefit of customers, then at least for the good of the environment. Smartphone hardware has reached the point where yields are falling, and with Google’s self-healing and other sustainability initiatives, we should have the choice to continue using our existing hardware for longer.

See also: It’s time to ditch our fascination with the annual upgrade cycle