Google Pixel 2 will be retired in December, report claims

Oct 6, 2020 16:03 GMT  ·  By

Google has only recently announced a new Pixel phone, but at the same time, the company is also preparing to discontinue an older model as it switches the focus on new-generation devices.

It’s the Google Pixel 2, a phone that is already three years old and which Google planned to discontinue in October 2020, according to the original schedule.

In other words, beginning this month, the Pixel 2 would no longer receive security patches, though according to a recent report from Android Police, the device would live on for two more months. This means that the Google Pixel 2 will also get a December 2020 security update that will also include the November patch – this means that after the October update, Google will skip the November patch but ship it as part of the December 2020 one.

“Pixel phones get the latest version of Android directly from Google. If you bought your device from the Google Store, updates will typically reach your device within 2 weeks. If you bought your device elsewhere, updates can take longer. Pixel phones get Android version updates for at least 3 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store,” Google explains.

“Pixel phones get security updates for at least 3 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US. If the duration is longer, Pixel 3, Pixel 2, and Pixel (2016) phones get security updates for at least 18 months from when the Google Store last sold the device.”

After the Google Pixel 2, the next in line to be ditched is the Pixel 3 series, whose end of support is October 2021. This means those owning a Google Pixel 3 would get updates for one more year.

As far as the Pixel 2 is concerned, the update to Android 11 is already available, though it goes without saying that for the best experience you’re still recommended to get a new-generation model.

What does the end of support actually mean for old Pixel phones?

After this target date is reached, devices no longer get security patches, but this doesn’t affect the functionality of the phone. In other words, you can continue using your old Google Pixel just fine, only that your device would be exposed to potential threats should security vulnerabilities be discovered, simply because Google would no longer fix them.

Android 11 is also the last update that lands on the Google Pixel 2 and unsupported models wouldn’t receive new operating system versions when they are released. The Google Pixel 3, which is set to sunset in October next year, would also receive the next version of Android, most likely called Android 12, when it lands in the summer of 2021.

So essentially, abandoned Pixel phones are no longer getting security updates but they will continue to work just fine even after the end of support date is reached. Of course, you aren’t recommended to stick with a phone that’s not getting security fixes for obvious reasons, but on the other hand, you can keep the Pixel 2 around for anything like testing and app development.

If you’re already considering an upgrade and want to get a Google Pixel 5, the new model is available from $699, so it’s not necessarily the most affordable switch. However, keep in mind that Google Pixel phones are typically provided with three years of security updates, so if you get a Pixel 5 today, you are good to go until at least 2024 according to this policy.