Snapdragon 8 Elite-Powered Smartphones Will Now Receive 8 Years of OS and Security Updates

Google on Monday introduced a collaboration with Qualcomm to supply prolonged working system (OS) and safety updates on Android smartphones powered by its newest flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This means authentic gear producers (OEMs) will now have the ability to provide their clients with software program assist for as much as eight years. In addition to the flagship chip, telephones powered by the brand new Snapdragon 8 and 7-series cellular platforms will even be eligible to obtain this prolonged assist.

Eight Years of Software Updates on Android

According to Qualcomm, it has labored with Google to permit Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) such because the Snapdragon 8 Elite to obtain as much as eight consecutive years of Android updates and safety patches with out requiring vital modifications or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the machine.

The firm says software program assist will embody an unchanged vendor code, though kernel modifications will likely be required to replace the kernel mode drivers. This is claimed to decrease the prices incurred by OEMs whereas providing longer assist for his or her respective gadgets. In addition to the OS and safety updates, the eight-year window will even embody two upgrades to the cellular platform’s Android Common Kernel (ACK).

Qualcomm says this transfer promotes the machine’s longevity and sustainability. Further, it ensures that OEMs have entry to the most recent model of the Android every year.

New smartphones launching with Snapdragon 8 Elite and Android 15 would be the first handsets eligible to obtain the prolonged assist from Google. It will even cowl the following 5 generations of Qualcomm’s ASICs, following its collaboration with Google. In addition to Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Snapdragon 8 and Snapdragon 7-series cellular platforms are additionally stated to be eligible however the choice to implement the replace will nonetheless be with the OEM.

The firm additional clarifies that solely the aforementioned cellular platforms will likely be supported and legacy chipsets won’t be able to take benefit of the prolonged OS assist window.