By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Roughly two years since they came to market as the flagship products bearing the Android OS, the Nexus 6P, 5X as well as the unusual yet overpriced Pixel C convertible will be rendered obsolete when the next version of Android rolls around. Android P is set to be released this year but it will not work on any Nexus phone or on the last tablet Google has released.
Nexus devices were sold by Google on the premise that they would receive OS updates faster and longer than third-party devices. It seems that is not the case anymore. Once the new OS does not support the hardware, it is a matter of time before apps and services stop working on them as well. If you encounter any issues or problems, then you're on your own.
While this can be blamed on Google focusing on its new Pixel devices (which failed to move the sales needle with only 4.5 million units sold over two years), part of the blame is the limitations built into the Qualcomm Snapdragon processors which don't get updated driver support to run newer software.
If you're wondering why Android Wear, Google's wearable and smart watch platform has fallen off the radar, it is the Qualcomm chipsets in these devices that have also failed to be refreshed, thereby limiting the development of the platform.
What is clear from this unfortunate story is that companies who make hardware to fit their software, have a better chance of supporting it for a longer period. Apple famously creates custome silicon for its devices and also controls the hardware to an exacting degree. That's why we still have iPad 2s and iPhone 5's continuing to work with the latest iOS updates.
The bad news for Nexus and Pixel C owners is that support for their devices is going to end soon. The question remains are they willing to trust Google devices again, which still supply processor component from Qualcomm, with very little guarantee that theyir flagship devices will get continued support beyond the apparent 48-month window.
Source: AppleInsider