Future Google Pixel phones will not have a free unlimited Google Photos back-up as officially announced by the company in its blog post.
The unlimited original-quality photo backup to Google Photos is a major selling point for the tech company's Pixel phones. Along with the release of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 4, however, the only option that remained was for unlimited "high-quality" backup. Today, Google announced that future Pixel phones will no longer have any of these "unlimited" options, though all Pixels bought today are exempt from the recent policy change.
In the same announcement, Google announced it would also end free unlimited video storage in Google Photos, with all data uploaded after June 1st, 2021 will occupy space in your Google account. Initially, rumors indicate that the new policy regarding the end of free unlimited photo storage covers only current and old Pixel phones, with future Pixels exempted from the change. The rumor was quashed when the company announced that future Pixel phones are not exempt and only Pixels that were bought today are not included in the policy change.
In the past, Google Pixel owners enjoyed unlimited photo storage and video storage upon buying their devices. The option was still available upon the release of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 4, although instead of "original-quality" backup, the option was only available for "high-quality" backup. When Google released Pixel 5 less than a month ago, it attracted hordes of customers with its free three months of Google One, which added 100GB storage for users.
In place of the free unlimited photo storage and video storage, industry observers say the company may offer a promo for its future Pixels similar to its offering with the Pixel 5. This may help offset the limitation brought about by the removal of the free unlimited photo and video storage option.
Google officially confirms that future Pixels won't have unlimited Photos storage https://t.co/Na5j9NghnX by @NexusBen — 9to5Google.com (@9to5Google) November 12, 2020
While Google's announcement came as a surprise to many, given that the free unlimited "high-quality" photo storage and video storage are among the reasons why lots of people buy them, it is not entirely unexpected. It is not also the first time that the company scaled back on its offering. As for Pixels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 that are bought today, they will still have free "high-quality" Google Photos storage primarily because some of these devices include lifetime guarantees on free storage when customers bought them.
On Google's support page, the company explained that if customers bought their Pixel 5's earlier, their current backup benefits and quality storage options will remain the same. In the case of Pixel 2 to Pixel 5, these devices will continue to have unlimited free storage, although high-quality photos and videos uploaded from other devices will be counted against their Google Account storage beginning June 1, 2021.
