October 9 marked the date for Made By Google 2018 event where Google unveiled a number of tech products including the new Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL. When Nexus and the first generation of Pixel devices were launched, Google stated that it will provide Android version updates for the next two years while these devices will the security fixes for three years. When the second generation of Pixels smartphones was launched, Google changed the Android update period from two years to three years along with three years of security fixes and updates.
Now that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have been launched, Google has renewed its vows promising a security fix and Android version update for the next three years where the period ends in October 2021. This means that if Google continues with its Android version launch schedule, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL users will get their Android Q, Android R, and Android S update as well and yes, don’t ask what could Q, R, S stands for because Google never reveals the name before its actual launch but we can speculate although not too soon.
According to said support period, Pixel and Pixel XL recently received their last Android update for Android Pie 9.0 as their lease to receive updates ends in October 2018 while they will continue to receive security updates till October 2019. Similarly, Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users will continue to receive two more Android updates (if Google launched them in time) till October 2020 and the same year, these second gen smartphones will get their final security updates.
The newly launched Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will continue to receive up to three Android updates i.e. Q, R, and S, until October 2021 when Google will withdraw its Android version and security updates support from it.