Qualcomm will help eight years of Android updates

Beginning with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm will provide gadget producers (OEMs) the “capacity to offer help for as much as eight consecutive years of Android software program and safety updates.”

Qualcomm right now introduced a “program” in partnership with Google.

What this implies is that help for platform software program included on this program will likely be made out there to OEMs for eight consecutive years, together with each Android OS and kernel upgrades, with out requiring important modifications or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the gadget (a separation generally referred as “Challenge Treble” or the “vendor implementation”). Whereas kernel modifications would require updating kernel mode drivers, the seller code can stay unchanged whereas the software program help is being supplied.

This program particularly contains “two upgrades to the cellular platform’s Android Widespread Kernel (ACK) to help the eight-year window.”

The kernel is the core of each OS, and these ACK kernel upgrades for Android OS will enable OEMs to offer safety for his or her gadgets longer. 

It’s finally as much as producers to replace their gadgets, however the bottleneck going ahead received’t be the chip. Qualcomm right now notes how the prolonged software program help it’s offering can “decrease prices for OEMs considering supporting their gadgets longer.”

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Whether or not an eligible smartphone or cell phone receives all of the software program help being supplied by Qualcomm Applied sciences is as much as the OEM.  However Qualcomm Applied sciences is already seeing commitments from OEMs to maintain their gadgets out there to shoppers for longer.

The primary gadgets to profit are Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphones launching with Android 15. Notably, this system runs for the “subsequent 5 generations” of SoCs, together with Snapdragon 8 and 7-series chips launching “later this yr.” Older chipsets is not going to profit from this program.

Google with the Pixel 9 and Samsung on the Galaxy S25 promise seven years of Android OS and safety updates.

• “Qualcomm Applied sciences, Inc.’s efforts to increase the lifespan of Android gadgets are a key step for rising the longevity of smartphones,” mentioned Seang Chau, VP and GM of Android Platform. “By means of this collaboration, OEMs can extra seamlessly replace the software program and safety on their gadgets, guaranteeing a safer and long-lasting Android expertise for our customers.”
• “Qualcomm Applied sciences is happy to take this step ahead, working intently with Google to facilitate the most recent Android OS upgrades on gadgets with Snapdragon,” mentioned Chris Patrick, Senior Vice President and Common Supervisor of cellular handsets, Qualcomm Applied sciences. “With this development, we’re elevating the bar, offering extra flexibility for our OEMs and finally enhancing person experiences. We’re excited to see extra OEM gadgets that help Android OS longevity quickly.”