Android Auto Drops Support for Older Phones, Forcing Upgrade Path
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Android Auto is ending support for smartphones running Android 8.0 (Oreo), effective with the latest beta release (version 15.5). Users with devices on the older operating system will no longer receive updates and will need to upgrade to Android 9.0 (Pie) or later to continue using the in-car infotainment system.
The change, initially announced over a year ago, was delayed to give users time to transition. However, Google is now enforcing the requirement. this means owners of many devices from 2016-2017 will either need to update their phone’s operating system – if possible - or purchase a new smartphone to maintain compatibility with Android Auto.
According to Google data, the impact is expected to be limited. Onyl 1% of active Android devices currently run Android 8.0, with an additional 3% running Android 8.1. While a small percentage this still represents a significant number of devices given the billions of Android phones in use globally.
“Anyone who bought a new smartphone in recent years is of course in the right place,” the article states,implying newer devices are unaffected.
the decision to drop support for Android 8.0 isn’t entirely unexpected. Many apps have already ceased compatibility with the older OS, and devices running it often no longer receive critical security updates, raising concerns about user safety.
(Note: The featured article link regarding Swift Controls was omitted as it’s a separate topic and not central to the core mission of rewriting the article about Android Auto support.)
