Google has given older Pixel smartphones a subtle but potentially significant performance boost through the March Pixel Drop.
The March Pixel Drop brings with it a number of tasty morsels, including a cool new Connected Cameras feature for Pixel 9 phones.
Older devices haven’t been left in the lurch either. While Google hasn’t been shouting from the rooftops, there are clear signs that older Pixel phones will perform better following the latest update.
What does the March Pixel Drop mean for older Pixels?
One eagle-eyed Reddit user (via Android Authority) has noted that the Linux kernel running at the heart of older Pixel phones has been updated from 5.10.x to 6.1.x. That’s the very same kernel version as the current Pixel 9 family.
Suffice to say, if you’re using a Pixel 6, Pixel 7, or Pixel 8 phone, it should feel snappier following the update.
“Not sure if it is the kernel but the phone feels extremely responsive compared to pre-March update,” notes one Pixel 6a user.
Another older Pixel user reports “a good boost in battery life since March update”.
Needless to say, running on the latest version of any piece of fundamental software such as this is good news for security, too.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
New hope for Google’s seven year promise
News of this performance boost for older Pixel devices, while largely anecdotal, lends hope concerning Google’s extended support promise.
While the company led the way in promising OS and security updates for seven years with the Google Pixel 8 family, we’ve always had the nagging feeling that such a guarantee might not be worth as much as it seems.
Putting aside the physical wear and tear your average phone undergoes in seven years, Google’s Pixel phones are known for not being among the top performers – certainly when it comes to the flagship class.
Would the Pixel 8 really be capable of running Android 21 at an acceptable lick in 2030?
However, this latest update suggests that Google is willing and able to wring extra performance out of older hardware by updating Android’s core code. It bodes well for the future of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 families.
