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Updates: One good reason to skip buying a new Google Pixel from Verizon

A major benefit of buying a Nexus, now Pixel, phone is the ability to get the latest and greatest version of Android up and running immediately. It turns out Verizon may put a damper on that plan for certain devices.
Written by Matthew Miller, Contributing Writer
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The new Google Pixel smartphones were announced a few days ago, with stock on the Google Play Store quickly running out. This year you can also purchase the phone from Verizon -- but you may not want to.

9to5 Google reports that Google will continue to control monthly Android security updates, but Verizon will manage system updates. This is terrible news for those who buy from Verizon, as Verizon is known for long delays in releasing software -- sometimes never issuing updates.

With this news, it seems Apple continues to be the only smartphone manufacturer that can control the entire software update system, and the software that is installed on the device out of the box. The 9to5 Google article also states that Verizon may put some bloatware on the Google Pixel, which was unheard of for the past Nexus devices.

Thankfully, the Google Pixel you can purchase on the Google Play Store works with Verizon. If you are a Verizon customer who wants a Pixel and wants to avoid these problems, you can order it from Google and not Verizon.

The Google Pixel earned the second spot in my 10 best smartphones article, but that ranking was based on a pure Google experience purchased directly from Google.

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