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Pixel Drops give you seven years of that new-phone feeling.
Google pledges to update newer phones with the latest software and security advancements.
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A lot can change in a few years: You might fall in love, have a kid, change jobs, or move to a new city.

As the wheels turn, you can rely on Google Pixel to help you make plans, document big moments, and keep in touch with friends – while the phone itself gets better along the way. To protect your sensitive data from new threats and you from new-phone FOMO, new Pixel phones (starting with Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8),1 Pixel Drops,2 and OS upgrades. So the Pixel you buy today will only get better over time.

“We know Pixel users love our devices, so we’re always trying to think of new ways to keep them in their hands for as long as possible,” says Aisha Sharif, Pixel product manager.

Multiple times a year, you’ll get fresh new features and world-class security updates. And you’ll keep getting them for seven years after the phone is released.  

Aisha Sharif, Pixel product manager At Pixel, we want our devices to get better over time. Keeping the phone you love

How long should you keep your phone? Over the past few years, Sharif and her team noticed users were holding on to their phones for longer periods of time.

Some people fell in love with the feel or color of a specific Pixel phone, or grew attached to the device they’d been using for years. Others bought the newest Pixel and passed their old phones down to their children to use.

The Pixel team needed a solution that allowed users to keep the phones they love while giving them access to the newest features and security updates. “At Pixel, we want our devices to get better over time,” Sharif says.

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New features and security, all the time

Each new Pixel Drop brings updates that ensure your phone keeps improving. In January 2025, Pixel phones received updates to Gemini Live that allow you to talk through the images, files, and videos you see on Pixel.3 Whether you need advice on styling an event based on the venue, or help doubling a recipe, Gemini Live can analyze what you’re looking at and brainstorm with you.

This Pixel Drop also improved Circle to Search with AI Overviews. Pixel users now see more sourced summaries for places, trending images, and unique objects when they circle, highlight, or tap on their Pixel screen.4 And those are just a couple of the updates in a single Pixel Drop.

“It’s like getting a gift,” Sharif explains. “There’s that exciting moment when you purchase your new phone. But it doesn’t stop getting exciting after that point.”

Plus, behind the scenes, Pixel is getting safer all the time thanks to regular security updates and bug fixes. The aim is to deliver updates to Pixel users on a consistent basis. This means security updates, bug fixes, and feature updates won’t roll out on a specific day each month – they’ll arrive as soon as they’re ready.

Updates designed with performance in mind

Sharif stressed that each new Pixel Drop is designed to work seamlessly with existing Pixel hardware.

For Sharif and her team, the seven years of updates are the culmination of years of work to make Pixel feel fresh but also familiar. “We want you to feel like you’re always getting a new phone,” she says. “But it’s still the old Pixel that you love.”

So how long can a phone last? With the latest Pixels, it’s a lot longer than you’re used to.

Takeaways
To protect you and your sensitive data, new Pixel phones (starting with Pixel 8 phones) come with seven years of security, feature, and OS updates1Regular Pixel Drops are like “getting a gift” multiple times per year2Gemini Nano, Google’s most efficient AI model – built for on-device tasks – is available on Pixel 8 Pro and newer models
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  1. Pixel updates for 7 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US. See g.co/pixel/updates for details.

  2. See g.co/pixel/updates for details on when your Pixel is eligible to receive Pixel Drops. Availability of some Pixel Drops may vary. 

  3. Gemini Live available for ages 18+ and in select countries and languages. Compatible with certain features and accounts. Internet connection required. All results for illustrative purposes. Check responses for accuracy.

  4. Available on select devices and internet connection required. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Results are for illustrative purposes and may vary. Check responses for accuracy.