For months, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro users have been plagued by an annoying display stutter that mars the otherwise smooth Android experience. From first-party apps like the Play Store to popular third-party clients like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), scrolling on Google‘s latest flagships has been plagued by jank and choppiness. It’s an issue that seems to fly in the face of the Pixel line’s software optimization focused on fluid animations and responsive performance.
Finally, after a steady drumbeat of complaints on Google’s Issue Tracker, the company has acknowledged the problem—and even flagged it as “fixed” as of March 26th. But there’s a major catch: the promised fix won’t actually roll out to Pixel owners until the release of Android 15 in late summer/fall.
“Ongoing optimizations in performance and power are slated for the next Android release,” a Googler commented on the issue thread, adding, “These include improvements positively impacting overall system UI jank as well as use cases tied to some Android applications.”
For Pixel 8 owners expecting a relatively quick patch, this timeline represents a bitter pill. Android 15 likely won’t arrive until late summer at the earliest, potentially leaving users to deal with stutters and lags for another 4-5 months at least. For some, it could mean living with the issue for nearly a full year after initially reporting it back in mid-October.
Unsurprisingly, the update was met with outrage from owners who had been hoping for a more timely resolution. One commenter dismissed the “fixed” designation as “a bad joke,” arguing it shows “Google either cannot solve the problem or is not taking it seriously.” Another dejectedly wrote, “If we really have to wait till August or longer for this to be fixed…well, it’s seriously going to impact my choice next time I purchase a smartphone.”
The delay is all the more frustrating given Google’s recent promises surrounding extended software support for Pixel devices. Just last year, the company announced it would provide Pixel updates for at least five years from the release date for the Pixel 6 series and newer models. Premium smartphones like the Pixel 8 Pro, which started at $999, are even slated for an additional two years of security patches.
But if relatively straightforward UI optimizations require the better part of a year to address, it raises questions about Google’s ability to deliver on those lofty timeline commitments—at least when it comes to fixing functional bugs and annoyances in addition to security vulnerabilities. For the company’s most ardent supporters and evangelists, this latest saga has been a particularly bitter episode.
With the Android 15 release on the way, Pixel 8 owners can do little but cross their fingers and hope the eventual fixes provide the buttery smooth scrolling experience Google’s smartphones have long been lauded for. In the meantime, they’ll have to make do with a flagship experience marred by stutters and freezes—however brief—with each swipe and scroll.
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