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Verizon won’t drag its feet in releasing Pixel system updates from Google
July 24, 2025
Verizonnow says that any Android system and security updates released by Google for itsPixel and Pixel XL smartphoneswill be rolled out for both its devices and ones not sold by the carrier at the same time.
Last week, Verizon said in an official statement it wouldmanage the system updatesfor its versions of the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, while letting Google handle the security updates. That lead many people to assume that OS updates for those phones could be delayed on Verizon’s Pixel models, while folks who bought the unlocked phones directly from the Google store would get those same updates first.
As it turns out, Verizon now says that those worries are unjustified.Ars Technicareceived a statement from a company representative that said:
Verizon’s statement added that the Pixel phones themselves will be carrier unlocked, although Google has confirmed that thephones’ bootloaders cannot be unlocked. In addition, while the phones will havethree Verizon apps pre-installed, the carrier says they can be deleted by the user.
In a separate statement, a Google spokesperson confirmed Verizon’s update plans toArs, saying:
This is obviously a big relief for any Verizon customers who might have feared they would get Android updates later than their unlocked Google counterparts. Does this new statement from the carrier make you more willing to purchase the Pixel phones from Verizon?
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