Google releases January Android security patch for Pixel smartphones

Google has started rolling out the January Android security patch for their Pixel smartphones. These security patches are used to exterminate security bugs, but also act as a way to send out improvements and specific features to Google's smartphones.

For example, the December update included 13 functional patches to the Android platform, along with a fix for RAM management and camera performance on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. With the January update improves the quality of audio recorded while making a video on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

It looks like the January update is smaller than some of the previous monthly patches. It also looks like Google will be releasing the update at the same time for the first-gen Pixel and Pixel XL, which in the past couple of months was updated a little later than the 2017 and 2018 Pixel models.

The update will be pushed out to all three generations of Pixel smartphones OTA (over-the-air) and you will receive a notification when it is available for your device. Once you receive the notification, make sure your battery is fully charged, and that you are connected to Wi-Fi before initiating the update.

Such updates are usually sent out in waves so you may not receive the notification immediately. If you haven't received the update in a few days, you can try manually checking for it under Settings > System >Advanced > System update.

Google discontinues security updates for Nexus 6P and Nexus 5x

The Huawei Nexus 6P and LG Nexus 5X are the last two smartphones in Google's Nexus lineup, and over the past year have received security updates alongside their Pixel replacements. But it looks like Google will be discontinuing these updates with the release of January's Android security patch.

Both smartphones were commercially released back in the fall of 2015 and were guaranteed two years of Android version updates and three years of security patches. Both handsets receive their Android 8.0 Oreo update and were set to receive their last security update in November. Google, however, would include both handsets in their December update too.

Come January however, Google seems to have left its aging handsets out of this month's security update. With your devices becoming less secure in the coming months, it may be finally time to bid your aging Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X goodbye.