Google Pixel 5, Pixel 4, Pixel 3 Series Getting September Android Security Update: All Details

Google Pixel 5, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and more global models are getting RQ3A.210905.001 firmware.

Advertisement
By Tasneem Akolawala | Updated: 8 September 2021 16:29 IST
Highlights
  • Google Pixel users will receive the update in a phased manner
  • Firmware for Pixel 5a in North America is RD2A.210905.002
  • 23 issues have been resolved with the patch dated September 5

Google has also published factory images and OTA images of the latest patch

Google has started rolling out September Android security update for compatible Pixel phones. This includes the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a models. The tech giant says that the update will roll out over-the-air (OTA). It will roll out in phases, depending on carrier and handset. This means it may take weeks before all units receive the September Android update. All compatible Pixel phone users will receive a notification once the update becomes available.

Google made the September Android security update announcement via a support page. The firmware build number is RQ3A.210905.001 for global Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5 units. The firmware version for Pixel 5a in North America is RD2A.210905.002 and RD2A.210905.003 for the Pixel 5a in Japan.

There are 17 issues that have been resolved with the latest September security patch dated September 1 and 23 issues have been resolved with the patch dated September 5. The flaws range from critical to moderate. The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in the Framework component that could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to cause a permanent denial of service.

Advertisement

Google has also published factory images and OTA images of the latest update for users to sideload manually. You can check for the update manually by heading to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update.

Advertisement

The Mountain View company is reportedly gearing up to launch its next-gen Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones on September 13. The phones were unveiled a while ago and they are confirmed to be powered by Google's own SoC called Tensor. These phones will also have a unique camera module that runs across the width of the back panel. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are reported to integrate larger sensors than the predecessors.


It's Google I/O time this week on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, as we discuss Android 12, Wear OS, and more. Later (starting at 27:29), we jump over to Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder's Netflix zombie heist movie. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 
REVIEW
  • Design
  • Display
  • Software
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Camera
  • Value for Money
  • Good
  • Excellent build, comfortable to handle
  • Intuitive software features
  • Very good cameras
  • HDR capable display
  • Excellent stereo speakers
  • Bad
  • Expensive
 
KEY SPECS
Display 5.50-inch
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Front Camera 8-megapixel + 8-megapixel
Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel
RAM 4GB
Storage 64GB
Battery Capacity 2915mAh
OS Android 9.0
Resolution 1080x2160 pixels
NEWS
VARIANTS
REVIEW
  • Design
  • Display
  • Software
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Camera
  • Value for Money
  • Good
  • Excellent build
  • Intuitive software features
  • Very good cameras
  • HDR capable display
  • Excellent stereo speakers
  • Bad
  • Poor notch design
  • Expensive
 
KEY SPECS
Display 6.30-inch
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Front Camera 8-megapixel + 8-megapixel
Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel
RAM 4GB
Storage 64GB
Battery Capacity 3430mAh
OS Android 9.0
Resolution 1440x2960 pixels
NEWS
VARIANTS
REVIEW
  • Design
  • Display
  • Software
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Camera
  • Value for Money
  • Good
  • Very good cameras
  • Good software features
  • Guaranteed updates for three years
  • Stereo speakers
  • Bad
  • Expensive
  • Weak processor and low storage for the price
 
KEY SPECS
Display 5.60-inch
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
Front Camera 8-megapixel
Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel
RAM 4GB
Storage 64GB
Battery Capacity 3000mAh
OS Android 9 Pie
Resolution 1080x2220 pixels
NEWS
REVIEW
  • Design
  • Display
  • Software
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Camera
  • Value for Money
  • Good
  • Very good cameras
  • Good software features
  • Guaranteed updates for three years
  • Stereo speakers
  • Bad
  • Expensive
  • Weak processor and low storage for the price
 
KEY SPECS
Display 6.00-inch
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
Front Camera 8-megapixel
Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel
RAM 4GB
Storage 64GB
Battery Capacity 3700mAh
OS Android 9 Pie
Resolution 1080x2160 pixels
NEWS
REVIEW
  • Design
  • Display
  • Software
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Camera
  • Value for Money
  • Good
  • Reliable camera performance
  • Lean software with guaranteed updates
  • Stereo speakers
  • Vivid OLED display
  • Light, built well
  • Bad
  • Relatively low battery capacity
  • No ultra-wide camera
 
KEY SPECS
Display 5.81-inch
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Front Camera 8-megapixel
Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel
RAM 6GB
Storage 128GB
Battery Capacity 3140mAh
OS Android 10
Resolution 1080x2340 pixels
NEWS

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Specifications Leaked in Full
  2. Top OTT Releases of the Week: Kantara Chapter 1, Lokah Chapter 1, Idli Kadai, and More
  3. Xiaomi 17, Poco F8 Series and Redmi Note 15 Certified, Could Launch Soon
  4. Apple Tipped to Launch iPhone 18 Pro in Three Entirely New Colours
  5. Samsung Might Be Working on a 'More Slim' Version of the Galaxy S25 Edge
  6. Lava Agni 4 Teased With Dual Rear Camera System Ahead of Launch
  1. Lava Agni 4 Teased to Come With Dual Rear Camera System; Certification Site Listing Reveals Battery Specifications
  2. Microsoft Announces Latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build With Ask Copilot in Taskbar, Shared Audio Feature
  3. Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Specifications Leaked in Full; Major Camera Upgrades Tipped
  4. iPhone 18 Pro Tipped to Launch in Burgundy, Coffee, and Other New Colour Options
  5. SpaceX Revises Artemis III Moon Mission with Simplified Starship Design
  6. Rare ‘Second-Generation’ Black Holes Detected, Proving Einstein Right Again
  7. Starlink Hiring for Payments, Tax and Accounting Roles in Bengaluru as Firm Prepares for Launch in India
  8. Google's 'Min Mode' for Always-on Display Mode Spotted in Development on Android 17: Report
  9. OpenAI Upgrades Sora App With Character Cameos, Video Stitching and Leaderboard
  10. Samsung's AI-Powered Priority Notifications Spotted in New One UI 8.5 Leak
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.