zlacker

I wonder if it has to do with the recently passed EU regulation about sustainable smartphones. The same one that mandates user removable batteries.

The regulation mandates 5 years of updates after the end of commercialization. That usually makes it 7 years after launch date. And the Pixel 8 is water-resistant (IP68), so it doesn't need a user replaceable battery according to the regulation (but a repair shop shall be able to).