The shift from Snapdragon processors to Google’s in-house Tensor chips inside Pixel phones brought a big advantage for Google. Vertical integration gave Google more control over the entire hardware and software experience, much like Apple has maintained all along.We started to see the benefits of this deep integration when Google was quick to bring features introduced on newer Pixels to older models. It was a win-win situation, especially for older Pixel generations, where users would get access to newer features without being forced to upgrade. It was the biggest perk of owning a Pixel — that it would remain future-proof for a long time.