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It’s the end of the line for the Pixel 6 series.
The first Android 17 QPR2 beta is the last-ever major update that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will receive, Google has confirmed (via 9to5Google). Even when the full version arrives – likely towards the end of the year in a ‘Pixel Drop’ – the Pixel 6 handsets won’t receive it.
This marks the end of major Android updates for the first Pixel phones featuring Google’s own Tensor processor.
End of support after five years
When Google unveiled the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in October 2021, the company initially promised three years of Android updates. Google later extended this support to a total of five years.
This period expires in October 2026. As the final version of Android 17 QPR2 is not due to be released until after this, both smartphones will fall outside the update schedule. Even the beta version that has now been released is no longer available for these devices.
Whilst this end comes as no surprise to many users, it nevertheless marks a turning point: for the first time, a smartphone featuring Google’s Tensor chip has reached the end of its official update period.
Pixel 6a remains unaffected for now
It is worth noting that the Pixel 6a continues to be supported. The mid-range phone was only released in 2022 and is set to receive updates until June 2027. Although it uses the same Tensor G1 processor as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, it remains in the beta programme for the time being.
The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will also continue to be supported. Google will provide support for devices from the Pixel 8 onwards for significantly longer, with a seven-year update guarantee.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
If you’d like to know which other smartphones will receive Android 17, you can read more here.
What this means for users
Anyone who owns a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro can, of course, continue to use their smartphone. The devices will continue to function normally and will receive security updates until the official end of support.
However, new Android versions and upcoming platform features will no longer be released. Users who wish to continue receiving the latest Android features and long-term security updates should therefore consider upgrading their device in the medium term – see our in-depth guide to the best phones you can buy right now.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Particular caution is advised for participants in the Android Beta Programme. Anyone using a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro should follow Google’s instructions carefully. After leaving the beta branch, depending on the update path, additional steps may be required to switch back to a stable version of Android.
The end of the first Tensor generation
With the end of support for the Pixel 6, the first generation of Tensor smartphones is also being phased out of Google’s active development programme. These devices marked an important milestone for the company in 2021, as it was the first time Google had relied on a smartphone chip developed in-house.
For owners of these devices, the end of support does not mean they will immediately become unusable in everyday life. However, it does highlight how quickly even modern smartphones can reach the end of their official update cycle – even when they are still functioning perfectly well from a technical point of view.
