Google Pixel devices start receiving Android 14 with October 2023 Feature Drop

Yesterday may have been the day of new Pixel devices for Google. However, it also finally released its first stable Android 14 builds, which are available before the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro begin shipping. For reference, the company presented the Pixel Watch 2 during Wednesday's launch event too, as well as a visually updated pair of Pixel Buds Pro earbuds.

As always, Android 14 arrives on Pixel smartphones first, with the Pixel 4a 5G through Pixel 7a eligible, plus all flagships released in between. While the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro mark the start of Google's commitment to offering seven years of software support for its smartphones, this does not extend to existing models. Thus, it seems that Android 14 is the final stop for the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a 5G, even though the latter arrived almost a year after the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.

Arguably, the full changelog is too long to discuss here. With that said, Google has published a dedicated Android 14 website that demonstrates some of the changes from Android 13, including improved lock screen customisation and expanded accessibility options. The release of Android 14 also coincides with the October 2023 Feature Drop, the details of which Google has covered in a separate blog post. The company has bundled its latest Feature Drop within Android 14, such as an updated Camera app, RAW image editing and new Battery Saver features. 

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