The Pixel 2 series' latest software update is its last

Owners of the Pixel 2 or 2 XL series may be happy to see an OTA including the December 2020 Android security patch for their device soon. Then again, this is the last one they will see that comes officially from Google, as its software support from its maker comes to an end after this update.

Then again, this means a commitment to 3 years' worth of these regular software upgrades has been upheld in the case of these Snapdragon 835-powered devices. The Pixel 2 series was also the last to side-step the trend toward massive notches and the gradual loss of front-facing speakers that overcame its successors over the years.

On the other hand, it also means that most of the Pixel Feature Drop update conferring its last-ever official patch upgrade does not apply to these phones. The rest consists of changes such as the expanded roll-out of Hold for Me, Google's AI-aided call-holding managing facility.

There is also Adaptive Connectivity and Adaptive Sound, which intelligently modulates 4G/LTE-to-5G handovers and call sound quality respectively based on ambient conditions.

Therefore, most of the update is clearly directed at the Pixel 3 or 4 series, as well as 4a, 4a 5G or 5 devices. Accordingly, Pixel 2/2 XL owners who want to try these out may need a newer phone. Then again, the older devices' current custom ROM options - which just start at LineageOS 18.0 - might keep them going for the immediate future, at least.