On the Android side, the outlook is less promising. The Galaxy S7 started with Android 6 and was updated only to Android 8. The original Pixel, the first Android 7 phone, received updates only up to Android 10, offering three years of support. Notably, the original Pixel had 4GB of RAM, a specification found in today’s budget phones. Nevertheless, newer processors may outpace its performance.
Storage presents a potential bottleneck. The 2016 phones typically came with 32GB of storage on the base model, a capacity that would be considered inadequate by today’s standards. Modern operating systems, such as Samsung’s One UI on the Galaxy S23, can consume more than 16GB of storage space. Additionally, higher-resolution photos and videos, larger games, and data caching in apps have grown, demanding more storage.
In the future, a 128GB Pixel 8 may struggle to offer effective performance running Android 21 by 2030. As OS sizes increase linearly, phones may need to provide 512GB of storage or more.
While Google’s commitment to extended software updates for the Pixel 8 is commendable, there’s another promise that could enhance its longevity further. Building more durable flagship smartphones that can withstand military spec testing, like the Lenovo ThinkPhone, could be a transformative innovation. Creating phones that resist breakage may be the key to ensuring they remain functional for years to come.
