There was a time when major Android updates, even for smaller releases, were as grand and exciting as their flagship hardware release counterparts.

That drivel has gradually died out in recent years, leaving the OS feeling like it wasn’t the same as before.

Although we get more builds than ever, ranging from quarterly feature drops and major OS upgrades to monthly security patches, the process feels less thrilling than it used to.

Even worse, with Google and Android OEMs relentlessly shoving saturated AI down everyone’s throats, updates have become even less inspiring.

I am sure I’m not the only one who possesses this feeling.

There are more software updates than ever

But they have stopped being exciting

I bought my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL for its fantastic camera and clean software.

As a long-time Samsung Galaxy and Xiaomi user, I was sold on Google’s pledge of seven years of extended software support and exclusive Pixel perks unavailable on other brands.

Sure, that support is longer than I’ve ever held onto a phone, but it provided peace of mind knowing my device wouldn’t be obsolete four or five years down the line.

It mirrors why I fell in love with the platform, back when every new Android release was a significant event that overshadowed hardware announcements.

I genuinely loved every new feature and UI tweak that arrived with those upgrades, and that polish is the primary reason I’ve stayed loyal to Android for roughly 15 years.

I still look forward to whatever Google is cooking up for its next Pixel Drop or system upgrade, especially if it means better battery life or killing off the stutter.

Still, I can’t shake this lingering doubt. Over the past couple of years, and even as the owner of a Pixel 9 Pro XL, updates have started to lose their luster.

I’m not sure if it’s because new features feel less groundbreaking, or because momentum has started to stall when Google stretches release timelines and only arrives on devices months after announcing them.

But one thing is certain: Today’s updates don’t bring the magic they used to.

Artificial intelligence is all over every update

I want to see more meaningful additions

A major driver of this slump is probably Google’s fixation on artificial intelligence at the expense of small yet meaningful enhancements.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate AI or Gemini (though I dislike how their integration has bumped up hardware prices across the board).

I’m not a power user who relies on generative tools all day long.

Still, I appreciate firing off smart home commands and routines to Gemini without pulling my phone out of my pocket or juggling multiple apps.

Beyond my personal setup, AI has undoubtedly proven life-changing for many.

I don’t necessarily blame tech itself. I blame Google’s execution here. The company has lost track of what actually matters to everyday users.

If Google weren’t so busy with the AI race, we might get reliable platform upgrades that deliver genuine quality-of-life improvements that are more valuable for many.

Google should have delivered things that matter

I prefer it fixes the problems with my Pixel first

I wish Google would realign its efforts and resources toward features that carry as much impact as they used to.

It should have prioritized foundational system improvements in core Android updates that benefit every user, not just the latest Pixel models or the most capable processors.

I would much rather see useful home screen customization options than half-baked additions like Pixel Studio or Daily Hub (the latter of which Google quietly sunset).

It would also be nice if Google prioritized building a proper Desktop Mode that gets most of the essential features right.

There’s no excuse for missing those important productivity tools, knowing Samsung has offered DeX on Galaxy devices for years.

Likewise, I would prefer a robust, unified Android notification system over AI-generated notification summaries any day.

I would also take battery longevity and thermal efficiency over the extra AI capabilities of a chipset.

Users have been complaining for years about unstable background processes and battery drains on Pixel phones.

Instead of using its resources on AI vaporware, it would be logical to realign this back into improving system stability, which would make my Pixel infinitely better.

I would take battery longevity and thermal efficiency over extra AI capabilities.

To make matters worse, Google has started gatekeeping new AI features to the latest hardware, leaving older users out in the cold.

This is true for Gemini Intelligence. Google has been hyping the agentic capabilities of its next models for years, but only to disappoint us by saying that it won’t arrive on previous Pixel models.

It’s now clear that Google has been using these new AI features as leverage to force hardware upgrades.

Moreover, this completely undercuts the promise of device longevity. What is the point of a seven-year update pledge if my year-old Pixel 9 Pro XL is already locked out from many features?

With that, I would gladly prefer smaller, functional features and continued system stability improvements over gaudy AI that only benefit a tiny fraction of the user base.

Apple was right all along

Quality and reliability matter more

If you look across the border, Apple was right all along.

Sure, the company fumbled its initial AI launch. It arrived late to the party and took its fair share of mockery from its rivals.

Eventually, Apple prioritized core software stability and reliability while refining performance and power efficiency.

This is exactly what Google should have done in the first place, instead of gambling big on AI gimmicks.

In the current state, Gemini and Android’s broader AI integrations make my Pixel phone feel like experimental grounds for Google and other OEMs.

Even worse, users are still plagued by endless bugs with every update rollout. Although old issues are eventually addressed, new problems are introduced in their place.

After years of user complaints, Google still hasn’t sorted out these basics. I believe it is long overdue for Google to stop playing and fix this mess.

Did Google stop caring for its users?

I am nowhere near as confident carrying a Pixel today as I was a year ago, nor am I as enthusiastic about Android overall as I used to be.

I think it’s either that these updates and software lack real substance, or the focus on AI additions has drained my excitement.

Perhaps part of the problem stems from Google shifting into modular app updates rather than bundling them into full OS releases, leaving things fragmented.

Whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the underwhelming state of Android today, which worries me.

I believe Google can still turn things around, but that recovery starts with going away from generative AI gimmicks and refocusing on what matters, or what users actually need.