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Update (11/12/2020 at 3:24 p.m. ET): Google has confirmed that future Pixel phones will not benefit from high-quality unlimited backups in Google Photos. Click here for more information. The article, as posted earlier today, is kept below.
It was a big surprise when Google announced yesterday that it will no longer offer unlimited free storage for high quality photos in Google Photos. As of June 1, 2021, users will only get 15 GB of free storage that comes with each Google Account.
The bright side of yesterday’s news is that existing Pixel devices are exempt from these new policy changes. This means that if you own a Pixel 5 or older, you can continue to enjoy unlimited free storage for high quality photos. That’s a great advantage for Google’s phones and a reason to choose a Pixel device over a competitor.
However, this perk will apparently not be offered with future Pixel devices. According to Android Central, when the next Google smartphone is released, the downloaded photos will count towards the same 15 GB quota provided for free with each Google account. After that, you will apparently have to pay for a Google One subscription, which starts at $ 1.99 for 100GB. If you pay for a 2TB plan, which is $ 9.99 per month, you will get extras like a VPN and even advanced editing features in Google Photos.
If the report is true, that’s a huge disappointment, as having free and unlimited storage of high-quality photos is a fantastic benefit. You’d think Google would use this as a selling point for future Pixel devices, but it apparently isn’t. In yesterday’s announcement, Google didn’t mention any plans for future Pixel phones, so we’re still hoping that the free and unlimited photo backups continue to be a plus.
If you own a Pixel 5 or earlier, you have more reasons than ever to decline the upgrade. If you don’t have a Pixel device, the policy changes will take effect on June 1, 2021. According to Google, most Photos users should have around three additional years of free high-quality photo backup. But as we’ve learned, it’s not just photos that count towards your 15GB allowance, but files and documents as well, so free storage could be faster than you think.
Update: confirmed
A Google spokesperson confirmed AndroidPolice that future Pixel smartphones will not have high quality free unlimited image backups in Google Photos.
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