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Snapdragon 8 Elite a secret weapon for more years of Android updates
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The homegrown Google Pixel range of phones comes with the promise of 7 years of Android OS and security updates. Samsungmatches it, but it’s far from universal across the vast range of Android devices.
Google wants to change that, according to a new report which says thenewly announced Snapdragon 8 Elite SoCcould be initial key to ensuring far greater longevity across the spectrum of Android devices.
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Android Authorityreports Google has introduced a new program it’s calling Longevity GRF (Google Requirements Freeze) of which the forthcoming Qualcomm flagship mobile chip will be the first to support.
As it currently stands, the vast array of chips deployed by Android device makers are among the roadblocks preventing multiple years of reliable access to Android update. Because the chip makers themselves often don’t support the hardware for that long, there’s a shorter window for them to stay compatible with new Android updates.
Google has already attempted to lessen this burden by freezing it’s own requirements for up to three years after each Android update is launched.
According to the report, the Longevity GRF program would lengthen that time period for up to seven years, meaning chipset makers could use the same vendor software during that entire period.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite being on board for this update would mean, in theory, that every flagship phone running this chip would be able to support seven years of Android updates – regardless of how long Qualcomm itself supports the SoC.
Right now, that includes the Asus ROG Phone 9, with rumours claiming the Samsung Galaxy Ultra 25 will use the chipset worldwide too.
While that would still mean only the top-performing Snapdragon smartphones out in 2025 would benefit, the program is likely to broaden to chips farther down the trough in time.
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Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He’s based in South Florida, USA. …
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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
