Qualcomm and Google, through their latest partnership, have announced the expansion of software support for selected Android smartphones, expanding updates up to eight years. This step, which is applied to the phone operated by the latest Snapdragon chipset, marks one of the longest software support commitments in Android ecosystem. According to the announcement, “Snapdragon 8 Elite starts with Android smartphones running on mobile platforms, Qualcomm Technologies now provides the ability to provide support to device manufacturers for eight consecutive years of Android software and security updates. The smartphones launching on the new Snapdragon 8 and 7-series mobile platforms will also be eligible to get this extended support.

In short, the phone run by Snapdragon 8 Elite Chip will be eligible for eight years of Android software update. Additionally, future devices launching with Snapdragon 8 and 7-series chipsets will qualify for expanded Android OS and security updates. However, whether a device really receives the support of the entire eight years, it will depend on the manufacturer. For example, what recently released Galaxy S25 will now support eight years of software updates, above seven? only time will tell.

Over the years, software support and timely update have been a pain point for Android ecosystem. Until some time ago, most Android devices received updates of three to four years, which are behind the iPhone, usually found in five or more years of iOS updates. While flagship offerings from Google and Samsung now offer software updates up to seven years, these devices represent only a small fraction of the Android smartphone market. With this change, Qualcomm and Google aim to create Android devices-only flagships but even mid-range models-prolonged when improving security.

One of the leading environment of this initiative is Google’s Project Treble, which distinguishes the core Android system updates from manufacturer-specific modifications. This allows brands to advance updates, reduce delays and ensure stability in equipment without making extensive changes in their custom software. Qualcomm has also confirmed that the devices included in this program will get two major updates for Android Common Karnell (ACK), which plays an important role in device safety and performance.

While the promise of eight years update is a step in the right direction, a catch. Just because Qualcomm and Google are offering this extended support, this does not mean that all eligible equipment will receive updates for the entire duration. Once again, note that the final decision is with the phone manufacturers, who will determine how long they want to support their equipment. Some brands may choose to provide updates for the entire eight years, while others may stick to their existing updates policies. As the new Snapdragon-operated phones launch at the end of this year, it will be clear which brands are ready to take full advantage of this extended update cycle.

It is important to note that old Snapdragon-managed equipment will not be included in this program. The smartphone running on the previous generation chipset will not benefit from extended support. Qualcomm has stated that it will continue to work with manufacturers on software support for heritage equipment, but no additional year updates will be added.