Pixel Watch 3: Google limits software updates to three years
Our Bureau
Washington, DC
Google has announced a suite of new features for Android devices that extend beyond its own Pixel smartphones. According to GSM Arena, these updates include enhancements to accessibility, content consumption, and safety, as well as a new feature for Wear OS.
Firstly, Android’s TalkBack screen reader will now leverage Gemini models on supported devices to offer detailed audio descriptions of images.
This enhancement reportedly allows users to receive comprehensive descriptions of photos, whether they are in their camera roll, receiving text messages, or browsing social media.
Another significant update, according to GSM Arena, is the official rollout of the Circle to Search feature, which enables users to identify songs playing in their vicinity or on their devices.
This feature, which helps users quickly find the names of songs they hear, has been anticipated by many Android enthusiasts.
Additionally, Google has introduced a new function in Chrome that allows users to listen to web pages. This feature includes customizable options for listening speed, voice type, and language, making it easier to consume web content in a manner similar to podcasts.
New shortcuts also allow users to search for destinations via voice commands when reconnected online or to view their current location with a simple tap on the watch face.
Google has recently confirmed that the Pixel Watch 3 will receive just three years of software support, mirroring the policy applied to its predecessors, the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2.
According to GSM Arena, this support duration contrasts sharply with the company’s ambitious seven-year software commitment for its Pixel 8 series and upcoming Pixel 9 lineup.
Google has set a new benchmark in the mobile world with its promise of seven years of software updates for its latest smartphones, including the Pixel 8a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, according to GSM Arena.
This commitment is unprecedented and suggests that most users would likely upgrade their smartphones well before the end of this extended support period.
However, when it comes to wearables, Google’s approach is notably different.
The three-year software support window for the Pixel Watch 3 indicates a divergence in how Google addresses updates for its smartwatch versus its smartphones, as per GSM Arena.
Google might choose to release updates beyond the October 2027 cutoff, but this remains uncertain. (With agency reports)
