We've been pointing out this was almost certainly going to happen since they launched: androiddev.social/@MishaalRahm... Why? Android doesn't have any long term support branches for older versions of the mobile OS. Today's release of Android 15 QPR1 is the only supported stable release. - ThreadSky

grapheneos.org • 93 days ago

We've been pointing out this was almost certainly going to happen since they launched:

https://androiddev.social/@MishaalRahman/113601522660269275

Why? Android doesn't have any long term support branches for older versions of the mobile OS. Today's release of Android 15 QPR1 is the only supported stable release.

Comments

dakushijin.bsky.social•91 days ago

Since they canceled/delayed the next pixel tablet, is there any hope the current one gets the same extended support for the extra two years?

grapheneos.org•91 days ago

Pixel Tablet is going to be supported for 5 years from launch. They just didn't remember to update the page for it yet.

dakushijin.bsky.social•91 days ago

Yes! And thanks so much for the response!

iamhaunt.bsky.social•93 days ago

Rejoice as a 7a owner 👍

grapheneos.org•93 days ago

All the Tensor Pixels from the Pixel 6 through the Pixel 9 Pro Fold have very similar hardware. They run nearly the same firmware and software. Generational upgrades to the CPU, GPU, SSD, Wi-Fi, cellular, etc. haven't made them drastically different devices, unlike before Tensor.

grapheneos.org•93 days ago

One of the main differences was that the Pixel 6 and 7 use the Linux 5.10 LTS branch, Pixel 8 used 5.15 and Pixel 9 used 6.1. However, 6th/7th/8th gen Pixels are moving to the 6.1 LTS branch with Android 15 QPR2. They'll likely move to a new branch each year after that migration.

grapheneos.org•93 days ago

Linux extended LTS branch support from 2 years to 6 years, mainly for Android. However, they moved back to 2 years after Google made major improvements to enable easier migrations to new branches. Whether or not other Android devices handle it, Pixels are dealing with it already.

grapheneos.org•93 days ago

We recently published a thread about the upcoming 6.1 LTS branch upgrade for 6th/7th/8th gen Pixels here:

https://bsky.app/profile/grapheneos.org/post/3lbmyp4jfi22b

6.6 LTS is used for microdroid virtual machines on the Pixel 6 and later, and they did port the bare metal drivers, but it's not mature enough yet.

grapheneos.org•93 days ago

Yearly Android releases receive approximately 1 year of monthly/quarterly updates leading up to the next yearly release. After that point, they aren't really developed or maintained anymore. Most people confuse monthly security backports to old versions with the monthly updates.

grapheneos.org•93 days ago

Android Security Bulletin monthly security patches are backports of most High and Critical severity patches to the Android Open Source Project to old major releases from the past ~3 years. The initial release of Android 15 is one of those older releases and receives backports.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply