Google’s Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones get their final update

They say that all good things must come to an end, but occasionally they do so prematurely and for no apparent reason. The Pixel 3 and its larger sister, the Pixel 3 XL, are getting their final maintenance update, which will arrive a little later than expected after three years of service. Unfortunately, the cessation of software upgrades for these models appears to have come sooner than expected, especially given that there don't appear to be many technical grounds for Google to halt the flow.

Google's Pixel 3 handsets were released in 2018, thus at least in terms of software guarantees, Google has already delivered. The phones were updated to their end-of-life status in October, but Google promised a final cumulative upgrade, which it had done previously with the Pixel 2. Consumers had almost given up hope of obtaining this final update, but it has now arrived, according to 9to5Google.

The Pixel 3 February update is a modest one, but it's significant because it's Google's final update for the phones. The model isn't losing out on anything because the release includes all security patches and bug fixes from November 2021 to February 2022. Last month, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL received an update to repair a peculiar and deadly Microsoft Teams glitch, but that was the extent of it.

The issue with Android updates

The cessation of upgrades for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL highlights one of the most common criticisms of the Android OS. While Google's mobile OS has improved in terms of features, design, and stability, it still has a long way to go in terms of update consistency and reliability. Even Google is being put to shame in this area, as Samsung has gone above and beyond what the Android company has promised for its current Pixel 6 flagship.

The Pixel 3 may appear to be outdated in terms of technology, but its hardware is still fairly good today. The model is comparable to many recent mid-range phones, and many users report that it is still useable and functional. Google's decision to limit upgrades to three years is mostly arbitrary, indicating how few resources the firm is willing to devote to servicing older phones - something Apple appears to have no trouble doing.