This month is the final month of guaranteed major and security updates, and we already know Android 14 won’t land in the Pixel 4a (though it will in the Pixel 4a 5G as it has guaranteed updates until November).

So for those of you who own that phone, what do you plan to do with it? Are you going to keep using it for a couple more years without the updates? Install a custom ROM (which one?)? Or are you maybe planning to get a new phone (a Pixel?)?

If you still own an older Pixel phone, how are you keeping it alive?

  • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    Are you supposed to stop using your phone once it stops getting updates?

    Mine is on Android 9 and idgaf.

    I replace my phone when it stops working well enough for day to day use.

    • AlmightySnoo 🐢🇮🇱🇺🇦@lemmy.worldOPM
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      1 year ago

      It depends on whether you do sensitive stuff with your phone that’s going to risk getting exposed if your phone stops getting security updates and a malware gets made specifically for it. But I guess like on PC with careful vetting of apps and avoiding sketchy websites the risk should IMO be minimal.

    • Murvel@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Yes, when the security patches stops it’s time to switch. But since these are usually a separate deploy chain from regular Android updates its hard to figure out when these patches stops coming. I’ve tried to find out out when the security patches for my Samsung S20+ stops, no idea still.

      • UsernameIsTooLon@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        If you’re smart with your phone, you technically don’t need to update. You can also prolong life with custom rims and their own monthly patches.

    • jwagner7813@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’d say for most users, this is the case. But you’re not in a thread of “most users” 😂. There’s definitely a niche here that would like to stay on the most recent system software as it probably brings them functionality they need or will want to use.