You might not realize, but technology typically has a shelf life. Sure, you can use something until it finally gives out, but chances are that its performance will degrade to a point where you’re not happy with it anymore before it dies completely. This could come in the form of battery life or overall speed in accomplishing tasks.
Sometimes, that expiration date looming over your device could come from the manufacturer itself. This can come in the form of software updates. Yes, you can keep using devices after the software support ends, and many do, but it means you run the increased risk of running into problems that’ll never be fixed. Over time, you might find newer apps no longer support an old operating system, and you’ll either have to live with it or be forced to upgrade.
My Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 faced an expiration date like this a few years ago, but it hasn’t stopped me. I don’t need the latest apps or updates on my tablet — all I need to do is browse social media and surf the internet.
Quiz
Pixels, Nothing, & Android Phones
Trivia Challenge
From glyph lights to tensor chips — how well do you really know the Android universe?
PixelNothingAndroidDesignHistory
What is the signature visual feature that makes Nothing phones instantly recognizable on the back?
Correct! Nothing phones feature a transparent back combined with the Glyph Interface — a series of LEDs arranged in distinctive patterns that can light up for notifications, charging status, and more. It’s one of the boldest design statements in modern Android.
Not quite. Nothing phones are famous for their transparent back design combined with the Glyph Interface, a system of LEDs that glow for notifications and alerts. It’s a throwback to the transparent gadget aesthetic of the early 2000s, reimagined for smartphones.
In what year did Google launch the very first Pixel smartphone, replacing the Nexus line?
Correct! Google launched the original Pixel and Pixel XL in October 2016, marking the end of the Nexus era. Unlike Nexus devices, Pixels were fully designed and marketed by Google as a premium hardware brand.
Not quite. The first Google Pixel arrived in October 2016, replacing the Nexus line. It was a significant shift for Google, as the company took full ownership of the hardware design and branding rather than partnering with manufacturers like LG or Huawei.
What is the name of Google’s in-house chip that powers Pixel 6 and later devices?
Correct! Google’s Tensor chip debuted with the Pixel 6 in 2021, marking Google’s move away from Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Tensor is designed with AI and machine learning tasks in mind, powering features like on-device speech recognition and photo processing.
Not quite. The chip is called Google Tensor, introduced with the Pixel 6 in 2021. It was Google’s first custom silicon for phones, designed to prioritize on-device AI tasks — similar in spirit to Apple’s move with its own A-series chips.
Nothing Phone was founded by Carl Pei, who previously co-founded which other well-known smartphone brand?
Correct! Carl Pei co-founded OnePlus alongside Pete Lau before departing in 2020 to start Nothing. OnePlus was famous for its ‘flagship killer’ pricing strategy, and Pei has brought a similarly disruptive mindset to Nothing.
Not quite. Carl Pei co-founded OnePlus, the company known for affordable flagship smartphones and its ‘Never Settle’ motto. He left OnePlus in 2020 and founded Nothing, which launched its first phone in 2022.
Android was originally developed by a small company before being acquired by Google. What was that company called?
Correct! Android Inc. was founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White. Google acquired the company in 2005 for around $50 million, and the rest is mobile history.
Not quite. The company was called Android Inc., founded in 2003 and acquired by Google in 2005. Andy Rubin, one of its founders, later led Android development at Google and is often called the ‘Father of Android.’
What affordable accessory trick can transform a Google Pixel’s appearance to mimic a Nothing phone’s transparent aesthetic?
Correct! A cheap vinyl wrap or skin featuring a circuit board or transparent-style print can give your Pixel the aesthetic look of a Nothing phone for just a couple of dollars. It’s a purely cosmetic trick, but it’s a fun and affordable way to change up your phone’s look.
Not quite. The answer is a vinyl skin with a circuit board or transparent-style design — these are available for just a dollar or two from sites like Etsy or AliExpress. It won’t add actual Glyph lights, but it nails the visual vibe of a Nothing phone on a budget.
Which Pixel feature, praised for dramatically improving low-light photography, was introduced with the original Pixel 2?
Correct! Night Sight launched with the Pixel 3 in 2018 as a major software-driven photography feature, using computational photography to brighten dark scenes without a flash. It set a new benchmark for smartphone low-light imaging at the time.
Not quite. The answer is Night Sight, which arrived with the Pixel 3 in 2018. It uses machine learning and multiple exposures to produce bright, detailed photos in near-darkness — it was so impressive that it pressured competitors to develop their own night modes.
Nothing OS, the software on Nothing phones, is built on top of which version of Android and is known for what key software philosophy?
Correct! Nothing OS sits close to stock Android in terms of functionality but adds distinctive design touches like the Dot Matrix font and custom icon pack. Nothing has been praised for keeping bloatware low and promising meaningful software update support.
Not quite. Nothing OS is built on stock Android with light but distinctive customizations — most notably its unique Dot Matrix typeface and cohesive monochrome icon style. It’s one of the cleaner Android skins available, which has earned it a loyal fanbase.
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Not all expiration dates are the same
You can ignore some of these
I wouldn’t say I take particularly good care of my tablet. I don’t have a screen protector, it’s not in a case, and I don’t do anything other than use it until the battery gets low enough that I need to plug it in. I still only need to charge it every other day, and I’d say that’s excellent for a tablet that’s seven years old. The last Android security update it received was on August 1, 2023, so it’s more than three years out of date with the security updates, but if you ignore that date, it has plenty of life ahead of it.
Android 17 is the current version of Android, and it was released earlier this year. My tablet is still rocking Android 12, which is obviously many iterations behind. Despite its age, I haven’t been stopped from downloading any app I want, but that mainly includes streaming apps and social media. I don’t do much gaming with the tablet, although my Snapdragon 855 CPU would be more than capable of powering some demanding Android games.
The point is that not every expiration date matters, and some can be safely ignored if you’re willing to put up with the risks. Obviously, an app reaching end of service is a different type of expiration date, but if your device keeps on working after its last update, there’s no reason to prematurely shelf it.
You’ll find that even a tablet as old as this one can still do pretty much anything you ask of it. Android 12 might be ancient, but it still has a lot of support, and even if the day comes when apps stop working, you can still get more mileage out of it if you convert it into something other than your daily driver.
I will say that you probably shouldn’t keep using your phone long after its last security update. While I did it with my OnePlus 8 Pro, it feels like there’s more risk with a phone than there is with a tablet. I use my phone for a lot more than I do my tablet, and that inherently leaves it open to more security risk. I was just fine with my OnePlus, but your mileage may vary.
Use your devices until they stop meeting your needs
Don’t let a company decide for you
You might’ve noticed that new phones come out all the time, and a lot of people upgrade to the latest and greatest when there’s no reason to. I have a Google Pixel 9a that I picked up earlier this year, and we’re already looking at Pixel 11s hitting the market. I’m a full two generations behind, but I’m not stressing it because my phone does everything I need it to do. It’ll still receive updates for years to come, so there’s nothing to worry about on that end.
Don’t let somebody like Apple or Google tell you that your phone is too old if it’s still working. There’s no reason to upgrade devices every year, especially since a lot of these changes end up trickling down to the older models. Your second-gen Apple TV 4K is still on par with your third-gen model, and even the base PS5 now has AI upscaling, a feature once thought to be a major selling point for the PS5 Pro. The devices that you’ve had for years are just fine to use if you’re happy with them. Don’t let FOMO win out and just hang on to your expensive things for longer. It’s what I’ve been doing with a lot of my things, and let my ancient tablet be the shining light you need. It might be old, but it still performs great, and I don’t plan on upgrading it any time soon.
