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 implies authentic gear producers (OEMs) will now be capable to supply their clients with software program assist for as much as eight years. Along with the flagship chip, telephones powered by the brand new Snapdragon 8 and 7-series cellular platforms may even be eligible to obtain this prolonged assist.

Eight Years of Software program Updates on Android

According to Qualcomm, it has labored with Google to permit Software-Particular Built-in 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 important modifications or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the system.

The corporate says software program assist will embrace an unchanged vendor code, though kernel modifications will probably be required to replace the kernel mode drivers. That is claimed to decrease the prices incurred by OEMs whereas providing longer assist for his or her respective gadgets. Along with the OS and safety updates, the eight-year window may even embrace two upgrades to the cellular platform’s Android Widespread Kernel (ACK).

Qualcomm says this transfer promotes the system’s longevity and sustainability. Additional, it ensures that OEMs have entry to the most recent model of the Android annually.

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

The corporate additional clarifies that solely the aforementioned cellular platforms will probably be supported and legacy chipsets will be unable to reap the benefits of the prolonged OS assist window.