TL; DR
- Google sends Android 12L to Pixel 3a and 3a XL.
- This latest update is expected to be the last update these phones will get.
It’s been three years since the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL hit the market. Now it seems the time has come as these reliable handsets will get their final update today.
according to 9To5Google, both the Pixel 3a and 3a XL will be upgraded from SP2A.220505.006 to SP2A.220505.008 sometime today. Also known as Android 12L, this update is the last time these devices will receive an update.
Despite previously announcing that updates would stop four months ago, Google has kept the 3a and 3a XL security patch list a little longer than expected, giving the smartphones a small voltage roaming update in June and now Android 12L.
As the Pixel 3a and 3a XL fade into the sunset, it’s easy to forget just how much of an impact these phones have had not only on the Pixel portfolio, but on the market as a whole.
If you remember, these devices were the first Google phones to carry the “a” name. The 3a and 3a XL branch out from the flagship Pixel 3, and are Google’s first forays into the mid-range market.
By cutting a few things here and there, Google managed to drop the Pixel 3 at almost half the price. Although some features are missing, the 3a and 3a XL manage to offer much of what the original Pixel 3 offered. Without sacrificing much in return. The affordable price combined with the strong performance helped Google to find success in the mid-range market, paving the way for Google to continue with repeated “a” series. That success turned the heads of other big-name companies that later tried to enter the market.
If you want to learn more about the impact these phones are having on the industry, check out our feature on the Pixel 3a.