If you've been caught up in all of the Pixel news today, then you might have overlooked something in the specs page. It would appear that Google is extending its software update promise from two years to a minimum of three years.
Android devices are usually known for having two years of updates, then nothing but security patches. For the previous Google Pixel and the Nexus line of devices, you received two OS upgrades and three years worth of security patches. This may sound like a short enough time even when compared to the likes of Apple, but it’s the best you can get on Android.
This is one of Google’s many avenues of trying to improve itself against the competition. Increasing the time the device will receive updates for places it in a respectable position with the enthusiast market. A certain subset of users certainly care about updates. The only thing is, even though the device will be upgraded for three years, will the hardware actually handle that? Phone hardware advances rapidly, and batteries also deteriorate. A question will be answered among the next 3 years.
If Android releases continue at the same pace and schedule (August of each year), then you're looking at getting Android P in 2018, Q in 2019, and R in 2020 on your Pixel 2 and 2XL. That's 4 versions of Android on the same device, provided the battery lives long enough to tell the tale.
