Samsung will provide 4 years of security updates to Galaxy devices from 2019 and later


    Samsung

    For the past 18 months, we’ve been complimenting Samsung for its much-improved focus on providing timely software updates to its smartphones and tablets. It’s not unusual these days that Samsung beats Google to the punch when it comes to rolling out security patches either. And there’s yet more to laud Samsung for because the brand has announced that it will provide 4 years’ worth of security updates for that launched from 2019 onwards.

    This means that more than 130 smartphones and tablets will receive four years’ worth of security updates across every Galaxy series. It was only during 2020 that Samsung promised 3 years of security updates from the Galaxy S10 series onwards (although Verizon’s Galaxy S8 recently received a security update). For perspective, it’s two more years than Google requires its OEMs to support security patches.

    The eligible Galaxy devices include the following:

    • Galaxy Foldable devices: Fold, Z Fold2 5G, Z Flip, Z Flip 5G
    • Galaxy S series: S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, S10 Lite, S20 5G, S20+ 5G, S20 Ultra 5G, S20 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
    • Galaxy Note series: Note10, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, Note20 5G, Note20 Ultra 5G
    • Galaxy A series: A10e, A20, A50, A11, A21, A51, A51 5G, A71 5G
    • Galaxy XCover series: XCover FieldPro, XCover Pro
    • Galaxy Tab series: Tab Active Pro, Tab Active3, Tab A 8 (2019), Tab A with S Pen, Tab A 8.4 (2020), Tab A7, Tab S5e, Tab S6, Tab S6 5G, Tab S6 Lite, Tab S7, Tab S7+

    Frankly, it’s a ludicrously fantastic promise from Samsung. As consumers keep hold of their handsets for longer before upgrading, the promise of extended support in the form of security patches for a period of 4 years can only enhance their loyalty to Samsung.

    Now for the ranty section.

    As fantastic as this news is for owners of Galaxy devices made from 2019 onwards, Samsung’s announcement has exposed Google for its unwillingness to enforce the mandatory 2-year period of support from OEMs.

    It also shames other OEMs who chuck out a new phone every two months and perhaps give it a single OS upgrade and five or six security updates at most. It’s time that Google called out these OEMs and pressured them into fulfilling their obligations in providing timely software upgrades and security patches. It’s time to do better.


    He’s been an Android fan ever since owning an HTC Hero, with the Dell Streak being his first phablet. He currently carries an OPPO Find X2 Pro in his pockets, a Galaxy Tab S5e in his backpack, and thinks nothing of lugging a 17-inch laptop around the world. When not immersed in the world of Android and gadgets, he’s an avid sports fan, and like all South Africans, he loves a good Braai (BBQ).




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