Google finally confirmed October 19th as the official date for unveiling the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro. However, this has not stopped leaks and teasers from being released online regarding the much-awaited devices. The most recent one is how long the Pixel 6 will receive security updates.
Evan Blass, a well-known leaker on Twitter has brought to light more information regarding the Pixel 6 obtained from Carphone Warehouse, a leading retailer. The images, which are believed to be marketing materials for the device, have since been taken down, but you can view the archived versions here and here using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
In what was just rumours in the past, it seems that the Pixel 6 will be receiving at least five years of security updates. The now archived promotional material refers to it as “Android security updates for at least five years from when the device became available on the Google Store in the US.”
This would effectively mean Google is committed to supporting the device until 2026, marking a huge upgrade from the past Pixel phones.
Past Pixel phones have had 3 years of support with support for Pixel 2 being dropped following the release of Android 11 while the Pixel 3 has received Android 12, the last major update.
The extended support also means Google is beating its competitors, with Samsung only providing 4 years of security updates for their new devices. This move is more in line with what the German government wants for the European Union, but still short by two years.
The German government is lobbying for phone manufacturers to be supporting devices with software and security updates for a period of at least seven years, giving them a more computer-like lifecycle, which would, in turn, reduce the amount of greenhouse emissions from the industry as more people would ideally be using one device for longer without needing a new one every one or two years.
Magic Eraser for Pixel 6
Also, part of the leaked marketing materials were references to the Magic Eraser, a feature those familiar with image editing software like Adobe Photoshop will appreciate.
“Magic Eraser makes distractions disappear with a few taps. Remove strangers and unwanted objects in Google Photos, so the people and places that you capture remain the true stars” reads part of the promotional material.
This feature would ideally be used to remove photobombers from your pictures or that ex-girlfriend you broke up with without deleting the picture altogether.
Other camera-related information that is confirmed includes a 50-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, while the Pixel 6 Pro will also have a 48-megapixel telephoto lens.
Charging on the Pixel 6
There are references to a battery life of greater than 24 hours “even on 5G” with fast 30W wired charging and reverse charging through Battery Share.
The 5G being in quotes worries me, as the 5G network is a notorious battery drainer and the Pixel 6 claiming a greater than 24 hours battery life on the network will definitely make for some interesting results when the device is put to the test on its release.
A manufacturer committing to a long time of support normally implies confidence in the product. Other manufacturers will definitely find it difficult to match Google, especially when they are tied by policies from chipmakers like Qualcomm.
