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December’s prime time for gift-giving, and earlier this month we learned about a special treat arriving for Google’s Pixel phones, with the announcement of the latest Pixel Feature Drop. At least, that was good news for owners of the Pixel 3a through 5a, but Google told us we’d be waiting at least another week before distribution got underway for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. This afternoon Google finally makes good on its promise, with updates for the 6 and 6 Pro alike headed out presently.
Android 12 gets a surprise release today alongside the Pixel 6 debut
Got a Pixel 3 or later? Download it now
As it officially introduces its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones, Google has also released final OTA and factory images of Android 12 for existing Pixel devices.
Asus isn't the quickest at piping along Android updates, but it does offer them on a consistent basis and is always able to gin up a beta program for its new phones when the next big update comes along. So far, the company has been running a flash-only Android 12 preview program for the Zenfone 8, but it appears we're finally coming down the home stretch.
The Asus ROG Phone 3 gets its long-overdue Android 11 update
you'll have to download and flash it manually, but I doubt that'll bother owners too much
Owners of the Asus ROG Phone 3 have been waiting for an Android 11 upgrade almost since the phone was released late last year. The update dropped yesterday, without a formal announcement from Asus, but it was spotted by a few users and confirmed to be working with a download. You can grab it now and flash it manually, if you're not patient enough to wait for an over-the-air update.
OnePlus 7, 7 Pro, 7T, and 7T Pro updates are here with May security patches
It also fixes some camera bugs and Google Fi issues
All four of the phones in the OnePlus 7 series are getting updated this weekend, patching the build of OxygenOS to 11.0.1.1. While this is mainly a series of bug fixes, the biggest change is upgrading the Android security patch to May 2021. The update is rolling out to the OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, and OnePlus 7T Pro now.
Samsung's Galaxy Buds Pro borrow a handy feature from their predecessor
Carried forward from the Galaxy Buds+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are simply among the best truly wireless earbuds you can get for your Android phone. However, as David noted in his review, the double and triple-tap controls were a bit inconsistent. While Samsung doesn't appear to have fixed that (if it even can), it is introducing a new way to control the volume with a new software update.
The Galaxy S21 series is starting to arrive at the doorsteps of those who ordered or pre-ordered, but in Europe, some new owners are experiencing strange bugs. There are reports of phones not receiving OTA updates and issues with Samsung Pay. The problems seem to be particularly widespread in the UK and Italy, and they appear to be related to some phones being set up with the wrong CSC (Country Specific Code).
Android 11 rolls out widely to US unlocked Galaxy S20 series
One UI 3.0 for Samsung's main 2020 flagships
Slowly but surely, Samsung is rolling out its Android 11 update (also known as One UI 3.0) across its product lineup. In the United States, most carrier variants of the Galaxy S20 series started receiving the OS upgrade in December, and now the carrier-unlocked models are joining the party.
OnePlus Nord gets December security patches in latest update
Indian buyers also get a new 'OnePlus Store' app
OnePlus updates most of its phones on a bi-monthly schedule, but even in months where a certain model does receive security patches, the OTA usually comes in a month (or more) after Google publicized the fixes. Sure enough, the OnePlus Nord is now receiving its December 2020 security patches with only a few days left before January.
The OnePlus 8T was only released this month, but it has already received a few updates with new features and bug fixes in tow. The OxygenOS 11.0.1.2 upgrade added a new Always-on Display option and fixed several bugs, and now v11.0.2.3 is here with even more fixes.
OxygenOS 10.5.6 for the OnePlus Nord brings image stabilization and battery improvements
The Nord's camera gets better and better
For a phone that's only been out since the beginning of the month, the OnePlus Nord sure has received a lot of updates. This latest OxygenOS update, which comes only a few days after the last one, makes some more improvements to the camera, plus some improvements in the system, power, and Bluetooth categories.
OnePlus 7 and 7T series receive update with Buds support and July security patch — now with download links
OnePlus is still lagging with security updates
The OnePlus 7 and 7T series had fallen behind in updates over the past few months, as the OP7, 7 Pro, 7T, and 7T Pro remained stuck on the May security patch. Thankfully, all phones are receiving an OxygenOS update with newer security fixes and a few small features.
It's the first week of the month, and you (probably) know what that means — it's security patch time! A few days after Samsung started rolling out the July security update to its Galaxy S20 models, Google is now delivering the patch to all supported Pixel phones.
There have already been several Developer Previews of Android 11, and Google planned to release the first beta-quality build during an online 'Beta Launch Show' on June 3rd. That event was cancelled last week, due to widespread protests in the United States, but that hasn't stopped Google from rolling out the first Android 11 Beta to some Pixel owners — perhaps unintentionally.
OxygenOS 10.3.3 rolling out to OnePlus 6/6T after Open Beta — manual download links now available
It includes the April 2020 security patches and minor changes
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OnePlus just announced the end of the OxygenOS Open Beta program for the 6 and 6T, but the company promised that regular stable updates would continue. Sure enough, both phones are now receiving a new system update, containing a handful of bug fixes and security patches.
Sony released the mid-range Xperia 10 and 10 Plus phones slightly over a year ago, and the devices were set to receive Android 10 sometime in "early 2020." I'm not sure if May counts as early in the year, but regardless, Sony is finally rolling out the OS update to the Xperia 10 series.
Nokia 6.2 gets Android 10 update after a slight delay
It was supposed to come last month, but better late than never
Slowly but surely, HMD Global has been rolling out Android 10 to its portfolio of Nokia-branded smartphones. The Nokia 3.2, 4.2, 8 Sirocco, and 2.3 have all received updates this month, and the next phone to get Android 10 is the Nokia 6.2.
March Pixel update OTA and factory images are live (Update: Missing images for Pixel 3 and 3a)
Not all Pixel Feature Drop changes are present for everyone (yet)
Google has posted images for the March Pixel update to the usual spots for manual installation, if you're too impatient to see it roll out via the traditional means. However, although this month's update is supposed to correspond to the latest Pixel Feature Drop, some of the new features don't seem to be live in the March update just yet. As we noted in our prior coverage, some things may require app updates or server-side changes before they work. (Update: Though they're almost all live for me as of around two hours later.)
Until recently, the words "Samsung" and "timely updates" were never uttered in the same sentence, unless you were emphasizing the contradiction between them. The Korean behemoth had a reliable, albeit very leisurely update schedule, pushing Android users who valued prompt access to security patches and new features away. With Android 10, things changed drastically, and Samsung has been impressing us more and more, with both major OTA rollouts and monthly security patches. Whether it's due to a different strategy, new team or leadership, Android's Project Treble, or some magical potion, Samsung is quickly becoming the OEM to beat for Android updates and we can't help but applaud its recent efforts.
If a recent sighting on Android Gerrit is to be believed, the process of installing updates on Android devices could be receiving a significant speed boost. The listing discusses a new feature called “Resume on Reboot” which would allow certain phones to complete the update process without requiring a manual unlock.