What you need to know
- All supported Pixel devices running Android 13 are being updated to the August 2023 security patch.
- The patch includes several bug fixes for the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, as well as fixing a Bluetooth keyboard connection issue.
- This is the last scheduled security update for the Pixel 4a, ending support for the phone. The Pixel 4a 5G will still see support until November 2023.
Every month, Google Pixel phones get a new security patch. Security patches are important for shoring up your phone's defenses against possible exploits which could be used to steal your personal information.
This month, Google patched well over 30 vulnerabilities to help keep Android users safe.
Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet users are also seeing a number of bug fixes in addition to the security patch. Both devices had trouble connecting to some kinds of Bluetooth keyboards, but that problem should now be fixed. The Pixel Tablet would also flicker or glitch occasionally while in Hub Mode, but this, too, has been resolved.
Pixel Fold users will find a number of fixes that help make their devices feel a bit smoother. Those include better live wallpaper scaling when using the phone in different orientations and fixes to touch input issues when on the lock screen or when using the Google search bar.
Here is the list of changes per Google's changelog:
Bluetooth
- Fix for issue occasionally causing Bluetooth keyboards to not connect
User interface
- Fix for issue causing certain Live Wallpapers to display incorrectly in different device orientations
- Fix for issue occasionally causing lock screen to not respond
- Fix for issue occasionally causing home screen launcher search input to not register
- Fix for issue occasionally causing flickering or glitches while in Hub Mode
Lastly, it should be noted that this is the final scheduled security patch for the Pixel 4a. To be clear, this is a different phone than the Pixel 4a 5G. The Pixel 4a 5G will see support through November 2023 while the regular Pixel 4a's final month of support is August 2023.
The 4a long held a spot atop our best cheap phones list but has been replaced with newer Pixel A-series phones like the Pixel 7a, which offers a better camera, smoother display, and Google's own Tensor G2 processor.
Google has been known to roll out extremely important security updates long after this "end of life" timeframe has been reached, but if you're worried about not getting any more security patches on your Pixel 4a, now might be a great time to upgrade.
With a 90Hz display, powerhouse Google Tensor G2 processor, quality build including a metal frame, and the biggest camera sensors on a Pixel A-series phone yet, there's almost no reason to buy any other phone.
