A question about future updates.

[deleted]

So, chances are this has already been asked. But I couldn't find it, so sorry in advance if it's the case.

So the pixel 7A looks to be my next phone. However, I have a simple question about it. Google mentions that there will be three years of OS updates, and five years of security updates. It's a bit weird and it's a bit annoying.

I am wondering how is Graphene going to approach this?

Will it only get the three years of OS updates and be stuck on this Android version while still receiving security patches? Or is the team planning on making 5 years of OS update, by porting it over for as long as the security patches keep coming out?

Hell, do you even know at this point? I mean, I realize it might be a bit early to ask this kind of question...

Thanks :)

spring-onion

There is no guarantee but it's highly likely the Android updates will continue along with the security patches.

See this thread: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/7489-devices-receiving-security-updates-only/17

final

So far GrapheneOS always upgrades to the latest version of Android on every supported device and their team attempts to upgrade to the new one as soon as the latest public build is out on the upstream. The only time this hasn't happened is when the device is end-of-life and no longer supported.

Upgrade to Android 12: https://grapheneos.org/releases#2021102020
Upgrade to Android 13: https://grapheneos.org/releases#2022082100

GrapheneOS team members doesn't expect OS updates to be frozen as per the response in above reply, as this is just an indication of 'minimum' guarantee rather than what will be the standard.

Likewise, a lot of security patches don't get backported to the older versions of Android even if they are supported. It would not make sense for GrapheneOS to stay on the Android version supported by Google when they can just choose to port the latest OS for security. You should expect GrapheneOS to upgrade regardless.