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Is the curtain falling on big-ticket Android updates? Does a yearly release cycle even matter anymore, or is it just a sign of the times that there isn’t much left to really add to our smartphones?
The December 2025 Pixel Drop marked a milestone for several reasons. It was the fourth year of “Quarterly Platform Releases,” which were formerly “Feature Drops.” Like all good things, though, this could be the end of the format as we once knew it.
Think back to the last time you had a truly massive update on your phone that affected how you used it daily. It probably was a long time ago, right?
What is clear is that in the future, larger pre-packaged releases could be split up. This will affect Pixel phones first and foremost, as we get functionality and features at an even more regular rate than ever before.
If this sounds somewhat familiar, that’s because it is. It reminds us heavily of the x.1 update days of yesteryear, repackaged once again. Apple has been doing this for years. Perhaps Google feels it’s time to do it all over again, as the Pixel gains traction globally. It’s an interesting strategy, but one that could pay dividends for owners and Google, too.
Could this be a ploy from Google to shift even more Pixel phones? It could be a reason, but this feels like a knock-on from the merging of the Android and Pixel teams just a few years ago. The fruits of that alignment mean that there is less of a separation, and this has probably helped improve the speed of development for the most important hardware in Google’s portfolio.
There is a big incentive for lots of technology makers to try and get us to upgrade or switch, as we all are holding on to our phones longer than ever before. Not to argue for this, you might care less about software updates if you are about to buy a new phone. Conversely, you might switch regularly so you’re not bothered either.
Features often get held back or have timed exclusivity periods. Annoying as it may be, it’s just part of the cycle. To be fair to Google, often we see features get backported where possible or where there is enough interest.
You may have also noticed a distinct shift away from brands over the past 18 months, as they try to sell phones solely on their hardware or internal specifications nowadays. Almost every single phone maker is trying to integrate AI somewhere or somehow, even if it doesn’t truly elevate the core experience.
What’s more, Gemini has been a massive component of Pixel marketing, with less time being allotted to pure Android functions in ads, billboards, and other media. AI development moves much faster than Android, so a pertinent question (that we can’t really answer) is whether we see more from Gemini as Android takes a back seat.
You don’t need to push huge Android updates because these are cloud-based AI functions. Everyone gets the same features whenever Google is ready, and with so much money tied up in Gemini, this feels like it could be something the company can leverage more over the coming years. If you have an older phone that isn’t getting as many updates, so long as AI-powered apps on your phone are up-to-date, you still get new functions like Gemini Live and Gemini Live video.
One of Google’s solutions to help is the Android Canary program. This new strategy aims for rapid development of the platform.
Using the same foundations as the Chrome Canary program, this is the bleeding edge of Android updates. It’s a testbed for all the cutting-edge features that could come in the next update on your phone, tablet, or even computer.
It’s no secret that we’ll see some form of desktop version of Android in the coming years. Canary feels like the natural progression as Chrome OS slowly fades away into corporate obscurity. With lots to do ahead of any public reveal, Android Canary is very much the tip of the spear. Make it fast, break things, but ultimately we get builds faster and with features that are tested to a wide group of people almost weekly.
Like a developer preview, Canary is not for the faint-hearted. Nobody should run this on their primary device, as things will break or stop working as intended. That said, instead of waiting months for a public Android Developer Preview ahead of the new big version, Canary just keeps that ball rolling constantly.
Regular Public Beta builds can quickly incorporate functions that have already been tested extensively in Canary builds, allowing for things to get integrated quickly as per Google’s own plans.
This feels like a win-win, and if you’re foolhardy enough, you can get a real glimpse of what is to come from Android sooner than ever before, while this could be a quick way to shore up leaks and loopholes.
Monthly or regular patches are still essential and shouldn’t be confused with larger yearly releases or even those quarterly Android updates. For the most part, these are a different beast. The regular security bulletins help patch bugs, software loopholes, and generally ensure your phone is safe from things like malware and dodgy software.
Lots of brands still leave some phones behind with monthly updates. That is another argument entirely, but it’s something we hope can be a greater focus point, especially for lots of cheaper hardware.
Midrange and budget phones still need updates and get left behind time and time again. That’s only the fault of the device manufacturers, as they prioritize new releases, and often it means you can’t use specific applications like banking services, as update support is so poor within just a few months.
Google’s new strategy doesn’t account for this, but those regular security patches are still a key component and shouldn’t be ignored, especially as we’re seeing many cheap phones ship with 4+ years of support slated. It’s great for a company to say that when a phone launches, but it’s not that good if you only get one or two updates per year.
The biggest takeaway is that, yes, Android updates still matter, but the way we’ll get them is about to change drastically. Another thought we’ve had from all of these potential changes is that Android is going to – hopefully – just get better and better as a platform. The ball is going to be in Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, Honor, Motorola, etc.’s court, though, if Google really ramps up these “mini” releases.
For Pixel owners, it’s going to be an exciting time, even if those “big” one-time drops with tons of changes and features aren’t as common. We’ll get smaller, bite-sized chunks for sustenance rather than a hearty meal after months of crumbs. For Android fans, this feels like a better way to handle updates.
In years gone by, it has always felt like the phone you buy today will only get better with updates. With even more regular updates and functionality-improving additions, hyperbole aside, we could be on the cusp of a golden age for Android once again.
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Damien is a UK-based video producer for 9to5Google.
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