Android fans ‘surprised’ as new Google phones missing major feature – Apple has never made same mistake with iPhone

GOOGLE has revealed that its flashy new smartphone will come without a major feature users come to expect each year.

The tech giant recently unveiled the Pixel 9 series with a host of new tools, such as the ability to magically add yourself into group photos you've taken.

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As the owner of Android, Google usually gets the advantage of making new versions of the software available first as soon as their flagship is released.

Apple does the same with iPhones, releasing a new version of iOS every year to coincide with flagships.

But this year things are a bit different for the Pixel.

Google says that Pixel 9 will come with Android 14, the current version of the software, when it is released later this week.

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Fans had hoped they would get their hands on the new version, Android 15.

Some users have said they're "surprised" by the move on social media.

But others have indicated that it might well be because the Pixel has launched earlier this year.

New versions of Android are usually launched in the autumn time.

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Others have also said it doesn't really matter, as software changes are quite minute these days - and Pixel 9 will still have new tools and features.

It also doesn't mean the Pixel 9 will miss out on Android 15 entirely.

When the update does eventually land, Pixel 9s will be first in line for it.

"Does it really matter?" one user wrote on Reddit.

"You will get the update in a few months.

"I'd rather them not rush the update just to meet the phone deadline and you get 15 and it's so buggy that people think it's the phone and then trash the phone and the OS."

Another wrote: "It’s that iPhone precedent and now the market expectation is new device = new version of OS."

Google is also continuing its commitment to providing seven OS upgrades on the Pixel 9, meaning the phone will get updates

So when will Android 15 arrive?

Android 15 is currently going through beta testing, so any bugs or issues are spotted and ironed out before a general public release.

Betas are usually rolled out in stages and Android 15 is currently at beta 4 which is the final stage.

This means we're at the stage right before Google is ready to make the final version of Android 15 available.

Google hasn't given an exact date yet.

But previous years give a bit of a hint.

Last year, Android 14 launched on October 4.

Android 13 was exceptionally early, coming on August 15.

Android 12 was another early October release, while Android 10 and 11 were both in September.