If there is one particular thing about owning a smartphone, it is this -- there seems to be a never ending arms race in rolling out a newer and better device. In fact, it is an annual occasion for new smartphone models to be released each year, and there is pressure to perform an upgrade from time to time. While mobile carriers have made it easy and far more affordable to stick to an existing plan while enjoying an upgrade, the pain of migrating information from one device to another is also there. Google’s own Nexus and Android-powered devices are one of the first few to receive the latest Android operating system update each time it is released, but all good things must come to an end eventually. Which is why Google has made an announcement on when the different kinds of Nexus handsets would cease to receive its security updates.
Do take note that it is not all set in stone just yet, taking into consideration how Google has kept to their policy that Nexus as well as the newer Pixel devices would always “get security patches for at least 3 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store, or at least 18 months from when the Google Store last sold the device, whichever is longer.” Still, having a more concrete idea as to when a particular handset is about to hit the end of the road makes the whole task of planned upgrading or obsolescence easier, especially for those who love to have their lives all planned out.
For both the relatively new Pixel XL and Pixel smartphones, there will be no guaranteed Android version updates once October 2018 rolls around -- which means owners of these devices are pretty much safe to be on the receiving end of Android 8.0 Oreo which should be released later this year. Even so, you can continue rocking on to the Pixel XL and Pixel for one more year after that without worrying too much about being hacked or compromised, since security patch updates are guaranteed all the way until October 2019.
Both the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 no longer had any more guarantee of Android version updates since last October, so it is pretty much luck of the draw if you were to continue using them. I would strongly recommend making a jump to a newer device soon, since guaranteed security patch updates for these two devices will end in October this year.
For folks who are still rocking to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, there is still a glimmer of hope that Android 8.0 Oreo might arrive on these handsets, as guaranteed Android version updates will end only in September later this year. However, if you are happy with Android 7.0 Nougat and do not mind missing out on the Oreo bandwagon, keep a hold of these devices for slightly more than one more year, since guaranteed security patch updates will end only in September 2018.
