By: Nick Gambino
Google’s flagship smartphone duo, the Pixel and Pixel 4 XL, have met their demise just nine months after their release.
This is unusual as the shelf life for Google phones is usually somewhere in the ballpark of 18 months. But don’t worry if you have one of these two Google phones, they intend to still support them with regular software and security updates – for now, anyway.
“Google Store has sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL,” a Google spokesperson told The Verge. “For people who are still interested in buying Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL, the product is available from some partners while supplies last. Just like all Pixel devices, Pixel 4 will continue to get software and security updates for at least three years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the U.S.”
This is clearly in preparation for the next launch. The Pixel 4a, Google’s budget-conscious phone, is expected later this month, while the Pixel 5 will drop sometime in the fall.
Discontinuing their flagship phone halfway through the typical lifespan is not exactly a surprising move by the company. Google has had to play catch-up for some time after entering the smartphone race late. By offering something new and exciting less than a year after their last, they are at least swinging for the fences in an attempt to stay relevant and fresh.
The 4a is part of this strategy. Apple has offered several iterations of the budget iPhone over the years and it has proved to be quite successful. Not everyone is looking to drop nearly a grand on a smartphone. Some just want a functional device that gets the job done without having to sell their firstborn.
That doesn’t mean Google is looking to cut quality corners. The 4a is technically a better phone than the 4 even, with a souped-up camera and a longer-lasting battery. Then again, if you just bought the 4 or 4 XL within the past 9 months, even a budget phone this soon after is less than appealing. Though, this offering should entice new customers.
