The Pixel 7a is Google’s mid-range Pixel offering in 2023. With a slightly higher price tag than before, the Pixel 7a still continues to provide one of the best Android experiences in the mid-range, all thanks to Google’s software magic and Pixel UI. People who buy the Pixel 7a care about software updates, and it’s important for them to know just how many software updates will the Pixel 7a. Thankfully, the Pixel 7a is promised to receive a whole bunch of updates over its lifecycle.
How many Android updates will the Pixel 7a get?
The Google Pixel 7a will get three Android platform updates and five years of security updates. This means the Pixel 7a will be updated to Android 16 at least and will be supported with security updates up until May 2028 at least.
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Pixel 7a Android updates explained
The Pixel 7a launched on May 10, 2023, at Google I/O with Android 13 out of the box. Google has promised to provide at least three Android platform updates for the Pixel 7a. Thus, the Pixel 7a is promised to receive updates for Android 14, Android 15, and Android 16 at least.
The Pixel 7a is promised to get updated till Android 16 at least.
Pixel 7a updates beyond Android 16 are not promised by Google, but that doesn’t necessarily rule them out. It just means that Google is not promising them at the time of sale. Things could change in the future, and you could get lucky with another update.
Since the Pixel 7a is part of the Pixel lineup, it is also one of the first devices to receive an Android platform update. If you care about being on the latest Android version as soon as it launches in stable or even in developer betas, the Pixel 7a is a great phone to purchase.
Google Pixel 7a
The best sub-$500 camera phone • Solid performance and plenty of RAM • Improved 90Hz display
The essential Pixel experience
The Pixel 7a delivers more premium features than ever for under $500, such as wireless charging support, a 90Hz refresh rate display, and a 64MP camera.
How many security updates will the Pixel 7a get?
Google is promising five years of security updates for the Pixel 7a. Since the Pixel 7a launched in May 2023, it will be supported with security patches up until May 2028 at least.
The Pixel 7a is promised to get monthly security patches up until May 2028 at least.
Security updates beyond May 2028 are not promised at the time of sale. But Google has rolled out critical security patches to past devices beyond their initial support promise.
How frequently will it get updated?
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
For the Pixel 7a, Google promises a monthly cadence for security updates, but no frequency is specified for other feature updates and Android platform updates.
Usually, Google is prompt in releasing the monthly security patches on the first working Monday of the month. However, in some instances, the monthly security patches have arrived later than expected.
As for Android platform updates, Google rolls out the major Android version update for Pixels once a year, usually between August-October. Developer betas for the same are rolled out months in advance, but they are not recommended for average users. Google also rolls out feature updates for Pixels from time to time.
How does Pixel 7a’s software update promise compare to the competition?
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
The Pixel 7a comes with the same software update promise as the flagship Pixels.
However, the flagship Pixels often launch alongside the latest Android version and are thus able to take proper advantage of three additional platform updates. The Pixel A-series launches just a few months before a new Android version is launched, so it spends one of its promised platform updates rather early when the new version rolls out.
Samsung has the best software update promise among Android OEMs, and it’s a wide lead in the mid-range. For mid-range devices like the Samsung Galaxy A54, Samsung is promising four OS upgrades and five years of security patches. This means that the Galaxy A54 will receive Android 17 and security patches up to 2028, which is better than what you get on the Pixel 7a.
On the other hand, Apple makes no definite software update promises for its lineup but consistently keeps some of its oldest devices up to date with features and security patches. For example, the original iPhone SE was launched in March 2016 with iOS 9 and was updated all the way to iOS 15 in 2022.
