Google has started rolling out the November 2019 security patch for its Google Pixel devices. Apart from patching some severe exploits, the update also brings camera- and display-related improvements to the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.
This time around though, Google is not rolling out the November security patch for the original Pixel and Pixel XL marking the end of their life. The handsets were released back in 2016 with the promise of receiving two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.
As per Google's promise then, the handsets should have stopped receiving security updates after September but the company still rolled out the October security update for them. Similarly, despite the promise of Android updates for two years from release, Google extended the software support for these devices and rolled out the Android 10 update for them.
The November security patch fixes a number of 'High' and 'Critical' severity exploits. For the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, the update also brings Smooth Display improvements. On the Pixel 4 XL, the display now runs at 90Hz consistently irrespective of the brightness level while on the smaller Pixel 4, the display switches back to 60Hz only when the brightness goes below 42%. This brightness threshold was previously set to 75%.
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL launched with Android 7.1 Nougat, receiving three major Android OS updates before reaching their end of life. In comparison, most Android flagships receive only about one or two major OS updates before they are stopped supporting by their OEM.
Google promises that all new Pixel phones and devices will receive OS and security updates for three years from release.
Update: Google has disclosed that they will be releasing one last security update for Pixel and Pixel XL handsets.
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