We all know that Google has entered the world of mobile phones on a good note. Since it let third parties take care of creating the Pixel, the company has improved the features and capabilities of its smartphone line.
Well, after a truly successful launch of the Pixel 8, it seems that Google is rolling out a rare but very welcome update for several models of the Pixel family. At least those powered by a Tensor chipset (Pixel 6 from 2021 onwards).
This comes from the informant Mishaal Rahman, who has detected signs of the imminent update in comments attached to a recent Android update, left by Google software engineers. In the update, they would touch the kernel for the first time.
What are we talking about
In simple terms, the core of a chipset is the low-level software that runs directly on the hardware: the basic code that communicates between the silicon and the Android operating system.
The kernel is involved in almost everything that happens on a phone, from memory management to security controls.
In the case of Google’s Pixel processors, the cores are based on Linux. The Pixel Tensor G1 and G2 currently use Linux 5.10, while the Pixel Tensor G3 (the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro) are on Linux 5.15. It seems that all these models, including the upcoming Google Pixel 9, will soon be updated to Linux 6.1.
Very low-level improvements
Since this software code is such a fundamental part of how a phone operates, it is rarely ever updated on existing phones: new versions require a lot of testing and implementation work to ensure that no unexpected issues arise in the way a device functions.
However, these kernel updates can bring many advantages. They ensure compatibility with newer components, help protect against the latest security threats, and can improve device efficiency.
There is no clue about when this kernel update could arrive exactly, but it should improve your Pixel phone when it does. Don’t expect a new list of features like the ones we get with Android updates.
When the time comes, Google should deploy these kernel updates via OTA, just like Android updates are applied. You won’t have to do anything to install them, except restart your phone when prompted.
