Yesterday was Android 10 day! A flurry of podcasts, articles, and videos hit the web showing off the official release of Google’s newest phone operating system. I joined the fun talking about Android’s native Desktop Mode on a OnePlus 7 Pro Open Beta, but yesterday was all about Google’s Pixel. Very few other manufacturers can match the update speed of a first party Hardware + Software solution.

Lot’s of manufacturers make promises about support, and few live up to those promises. Google has had a solid track record with support so far, we all remember the Nexus too, but this year represented two important milestones for the brand.

Judging a manufacturer by its claims, it’s refreshing when those claims are realized.

DAY 1 – ALL PIXELS, ALL OF THEM

The first critical victory here, Google isn’t playing any games with older phones. When Android 10 launched, it launched for every Pixel all the way back to the first generation Pixel and Pixel XL. No delays, no promises, no missed deadlines.

This is likely the last major update for the original Pixel. Instead of supporting the newer devices first and putting older devices in line, it’s a nice perk seeing the entire Pixel portfolio updated on the same day. It would be nice if we could expect this kind of attention from more device makers.

EVEN THE “AFFORDABLE” PIXELS

And when Google said Android 10 was ready for all Pixels, even our less expensive handsets were included. The 3a and 3a XL got the same love as the big brother premium phones.

Pointing this out might elicit a shrug. “Well yeah. First party Google phones getting updates. That’s the way it should be.”

Amid all the listicles, and top fives, articles about night modes or gestures, and Android 10 EXPLAINED videos, it’s important to chalk up a couple critical points on the scoreboard. We shouldn’t shrug off a company actually meeting their deadlines.

This Android update made me a little apprehensive.

I wasn’t the biggest Pixel 3 fan, but I’ve held up the 3a as the gold standard for mid-range phones. There are few alternatives in North America that truly compete with this user experience at $400 full retail. Several family members have taken the plunge, thanks in part to my glowing recommendation.

It’s a terrible feeling when your recommendation doesn’t quite live up to expectations, and it’s a beautiful feeling when you nail the right fit gadget for a friend.

The last potential hurdle for the 3a has been met. Google isn’t treating it like a “lesser” product. It’s not on the same deserted support island as other “Lite” versions of popular phones. Price conscious shoppers didn’t have to make a compromise with Android 10.

The greater Android ecosystem is still horribly fragmented. Gadget blogs publishing numerous reports on which phones might receive this update, and trying to estimate when those updates might arrive.

For Pixel owners, ALL Pixel owners, maybe the most important feature of Android 10 was that you really did get it.