A quiet change has occurred in Android devices over the past few years as new smartphone updates have been extended. For years, it was dangerous to keep an Android smartphone for more than a few years. There is no guarantee that operating system or security updates will continue to be provided beyond that time.
Google began making changes in 2023 when Mountain View announced it would guarantee seven years of Android and security updates for its Pixel 8 lineup. This year, the company expanded support to the mid-range Pixel 8a, which was announced in May. The Pixel 9 series, released in August, also comes with 7 years of guaranteed support.
Samsung has updated its policy to coincide with the arrival of the Galaxy S24 lineup, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 are also catching up on new foldable phones on the same schedule.
These changes are part of a long-gestating program that Google created in 2020 called the “Google Requirements Freeze” (GRF). The program allows chip makers like Qualcomm to support multiple operating system versions on a single SoC. This means manufacturers no longer need to update their software for at least three versions of Android.
Recently, Google expanded that program with the new Longevity GRF program, as highlighted by Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman.
How is it different from LGRF?
For more technical details, Rahman breaks down the nitty-gritty of Android kernel software and how Google “freezes” vendor requirements to extend support timelines.
At its simplest, LGRF allows chip manufacturers like MediaTek to use the same “vendor-side” software for up to seven Android iteration updates. For example, Android 15 was just released in October of this year. Next year’s Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could get an OS update to Android 22 without requiring any major software changes from Qualcomm (assuming Google keeps its brand).
Under LGRF, OEM software remains “frozen” for the first three years, from Android 15 to 17. The Linux kernel must then be updated and Google certified, which ensures the latest security updates. The updates will be large and will prevent manufacturers from missing out on necessary interim patches.
During this week’s Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the first system-on-chip to utilize LRGF. Presumably, MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9400+, which was announced in early October, may support LRGF since the Dimensity chip is found in many Android devices, but it is likely that the chip will not provide any updates or I couldn’t find any information about the number of patches.
According to Rahman, LRGF has at least one major drawback. This program prevents OEMs from supporting new hardware features added to new versions of Android. Specifically, you can’t release a phone with an Android version that’s four updates later than the chip manufacturer’s original software. This is intended to prevent manufacturers from shipping devices that only receive two or three updates instead of seven.
For example, Rahman said, phones frozen on Android 11 won’t be able to use features released for Android 13, such as the flashlight brightness API, because they require vendor software updates.
This was an issue under the previous GRF standard and I am not sure if there is a solution to this issue or if updates after the initial freeze period will allow newer but delayed features to work. , it is unclear from the report.
Google does not release any of this information publicly. Rahman received the information from a source who attended an event for OEMs earlier this year.
