Millions of older Android phones are about to lose their eligibility to use Android Auto. Google has recently warned some users that it will soon stop supporting Android 9 and Android 10, meaning Android Auto’s minimum required version will soon rise to Android 11.
Android Auto will soon stop supporting millions of older phones
For the tech industry, ending support for older systems is hardly surprising. As software features grow increasingly complex, developers must focus their resources on maintaining newer platforms, and phasing out old versions is almost an inevitable trend. However, for users who have kept using old phones for years, even using them as in-car navigation and entertainment centers, this change still feels regrettable.
In fact, whenever I see someone able to keep using a phone until its official software support ends, I’m always quite impressed. Smartphones now update at a rapid pace, and most people replace their devices every two or three years, but many users still stick with older phones simply because they can still meet their daily needs. This change to Android Auto happens to hit this group of users who have long supported older devices.
Recently, several Reddit users discovered that when they launch Android Auto, a warning message pops up on the in-car screen, warning that their phone will soon no longer be supported. Although Google has not officially announced a complete timeline, this notification almost confirms that Android Auto will soon only support Android 11 and above.
In fact, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. About two years ago, Google also announced it would stop supporting Android 8 and earlier versions, and at that time many older devices were likewise excluded from the Android Auto ecosystem. Now it’s Android 9 and Android 10’s turn to meet the same fate; it’s only a matter of time.
So, which phones will be affected? Representative models still stuck on Android 10 include the Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 9, and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, among others. By today’s standards, these devices are indeed quite old, having been on the market for more than six or seven years. However, for many users, whether a phone is old doesn’t matter; as long as it works properly and the battery is still decent, there’s no reason they must replace it.
The most representative case comes from an Xperia XZ2 Compact user. He said on a forum that he had been reluctant to change phones, not because of budget issues, but because this model’s size was just right. In recent years, small Android phones have almost disappeared, and most new phones have adopted larger screen designs. So even if he were willing to upgrade, it would be hard to find a replacement that truly met his needs. For this type of user, losing Android Auto support is not just losing a feature; it is more like being forced to give up a device they have loved for years.
Google is ending access to Android Auto on my phone. What can I do?
by u/No_One_of_Consequenc in smallphones
From market data, the usage share of Android 9 and Android 10 is actually no longer particularly high. The latest statistics show that Android 10 accounts for about 4.1% of all Android devices, and Android 9’s share is similar. In other words, affected devices together make up less than one-tenth of the Android ecosystem. However, a small percentage does not mean a small scale. Considering that the number of Android devices worldwide is close to 4 billion, even if fewer than 10% of users are affected, that could still translate to hundreds of millions of devices. This also explains why the related news sparked widespread discussion.
For Google, ending support for older system versions helps improve security, stability, and the efficiency of developing new features; but for some loyal users, it is a reality they have to face. As Android Auto moves into the Android 11 era, those who have relied on old phones to connect to their cars for years will also be forced to choose between continuing to use old devices and upgrading to a new phone.
Source: KOCPC Chinese