Qualcomm & Google: 8 Years of Android Updates on Snapdragon 8 Elite & Future Chips

Qualcomm & Google: 8 Years of Android Updates on Snapdragon 8 Elite & Future Chips

Starting with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm will offer device manufacturers (OEMs) the “ability to provide support for up to eight consecutive years of Android software and security updates.” Qualcomm  announced a “program” in partnership with Google. What this means is that support for platform software included in this program will be made available to OEMs for eight consecutive years, including both Android OS and kernel upgrades, without requiring significant changes or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the device (a separation commonly referred as “Project Treble” or the “vendor implementation”). While kernel changes will require updating kernel mode drivers, the vendor code can remain unchanged while the software support is being provided. This program specifically includes “two upgrades to the mobile platform’s Android Common Kernel (ACK) to support the eight-year window.” The kernel is the core of every OS, and these ACK kernel upgrades for Android OS will allow OEMs to …