The Google Pixel 9 family is the search giant’s newest darling and once you get past all the launch problems that we’ve be hearing, it’s a really exceptional set of smartphones. One of the things that make them as good as they are — even if you ask Google — is the software. That seemed to be more of the focus this year.
The good thing about software is that as long as the hardware supports it, the features can be sent down to older devices, as we’ve learned might be the case for some Pixel 9 features. My favorite part about this is how at the end of the day, as an Android user, it offers you even more choice than you previously thought you had. Let’s talk about it.
Devices As Old As The Pixel 6 Could Get Some Of The New Magic Editor Features
The Google Pixel 9 phones came with a load of new software features. Unsurprisingly, there were some new abilities added to the Magic Editor suite. One is Auto Frame, which lets you choose a subject in an image and it’ll automatically frame the image around that subject, expanding the image with AI when necessary. Reimagine flexes the AI chops of the device, with the power to drastically change image backgrounds.
Looking over from your older Pixel, you might have had your face pressed against the hypothetical window, craving for those features to make their way to your phone, and thankfully for you, that might turn out to be a reality. An APK teardown by Assemble Debug for the variant of the Google Photos app for the 2021 to 2023 Pixels, showed code relating to Reimagine and Auto Frame.
To make things even more certain regarding the potential of the feature coming to Pixels as old as the Pixel 6 (since it launched in 2021), understand this: there’s a separate Google Photos variant for non-Pixels, and it doesn’t have these same lines of codes.
Long Software Support Gives Users More Choice, Even Towards The End Of The Support Window
When we hear about phones coming with a certain number of years for major software support, we think about how that benefits us if we buy the phone. However, there’s another way that you can look at the situation, especially if you’re typically more of a budget buyer.
The longer the software support a device has, the more viable it is as a “cheap” purchase down the line. I’ve had friends who want great cameras and performance, but they can’t afford a $1,000 device. However, with long software support, they get the chance for a lot more.
For instance, I could walk out and buy a Pixel 6 for under $350 on Amazon (and less than $300 on eBay!). Despite being launched in 2021, it might still get these new Magic Editor features. The S24 lineup would still be a viable purchase as far as 2031, getting new software features, and by then, it’d be dirt cheap. As Android users, we’re spoilt for choice, even if we don’t realize it.
