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Here are all the Pixel bugfixes included in the March security patch Feature Drop update
Another round of fingerprint sensor improvements for the Pixel 6, when it finally gets the update
Today is a trifecta: A Feature Drop update, security patch update, and Android 12L release day. As Pixels (excluding the Pixel 6, for now) wait to download the update, the full list of issues fixed by the update has been published, and it's huge. If you haven't gotten the update the old-fashioned way, you can also manually install it.
Germany wants to extend your smartphone's lifespan with seven years of security patches
One less reason to replace your phone, but it could just be politics at play
When it comes to smartphones, we all wish updates arrived faster and for more extended periods of time. As performance continues to improve with each passing year, upgrading to a new phone every two or three years can start to feel like an unnecessary expense. It's also an environmental concern, as many try to reduce waste created from constantly replacing gadgets. To that end, the German government has proposed a new policy that would extend the lifespan — and repairability — of your device for years to come.
Samsung's Galaxy A51 is receiving the August 2021 security patch internationally
It's also available for the Tab A7 LTE and several A series phones
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Pixels get July's updates a few days late and a few changes light
Blame the holiday for the delay, but some networks are picking up Pixel VoLTE support
July's updates for Google's Pixels are now rolling out, and functional patch notes for this (holiday-delayed) release are very light. In addition to the regular security patches, Pixel owners can look forward to precisely two extra changes: added VoLTE support for "certain" unspecified networks and a fix for "continued device reboots under certain conditions."
The brand-new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE will unsurprisingly only get quarterly security updates
Several older devices are also getting less regular updates
Samsung has continued to impress with its regular security updates lately, but while flagships and new phones tend to get monthly patches, many cheaper or older devices get them less often. Samsung updated its security schedule this week, relegating some phones and tablets to less frequent support.
Your Google Pixel is about to get a big June update
June 2021 security patches are rolling out soon with four functional fixes and Feature Drop changes
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Google's June 2021 update is now rolling out for Pixels. This is one of those big every-three-month Feature Drop updates with a whole pile of changes — you can read more about that here. But on top of new changes like astrovideography and a market expansion of existing features, there's also a handful of fixes for specific problems certain Pixel devices may have run into.
Vivo promises three years of Android updates, but only for certain phones
Meanwhile, Oppo flagships will get one extra year of security patches
Android smartphone makers are only now starting to catch up to Apple’s excellent software support. Samsung was among the first major players to commit to three years of OS updates last year (many now get four years of security updates as well), and several more brands have since made similar promises. The latest to join the list is OnePlus sister company Vivo, but its update policy isn’t as expansive as Samsung’s.
January 2021 security patch reaches international Galaxy S20 and S10 Lite
Samsung's January rollout continues
Samsung has been on fire with updates over the last couple of years. That continues into 2021 with the release of the January patch for several international Galaxy devices, including the S20, Galaxy Fold, and more.
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Samsung has been near the front of the pack when it comes to releasing monthly security updates for a while now. The December 2020 update has rolled out to several of the company's phones in the United States, and a similar schedule is now taking place with Samsung's international models.
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December updates (which include the recent Feature Drop changes) are starting to roll out for Google's Pixel phones — with one almost-expected exception. One day later, that includes the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, which are receiving their last planned update.
Pixel 5 and 4a 5G get their first monthly updates with plenty of fixes in tow
Pixel 2 series left behind as planned
November updates are rolling out now for Google's Pixels, and that includes the brand-new Pixel 5 and 4a 5G. Functional patch notes mention a whole pile of fixes for both new phones, as well as older Pixels. That includes fixes for the screen waking at certain times when it shouldn't, inadvertently hidden system navigation during full-screen playback, issues with ringer audio for starred contacts in DND mode, and resolutions for a handful of Android Auto bugs. As expected, the Pixel 2 and 2 XL have no update this month.
Pixels get October patches with plenty of bugfixes, but this is the 2nd to last update for the Pixel 2 and 2 XL
Time to consider upgrading
Like clockwork, Google has just released its monthly Pixel updates, delivering both security enhancements as well as bug fixes and other improvements. This month, we have seven changes noted in the so-called "functional patch" notes, including auto-rotation improvements, automatic brightness fixes for the Pixel 4a, a bootloop fix, and a handful of other changes. Sadly, this month also marks the end of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL's stated support lifetime. Google has since confirmed to us that the phones will only get one more update after this in December.
Android 11 update for Google Pixels includes September security patches
Plus some pretty odd build numbers
Lost in yesterday's Android 11 hullabaloo was another bit of news: Security patches for Google's Pixel series were released together as part of the Android 11 update. This month's security-oriented fixes are more numerous than usual, with plenty of "high" and "critical" vulnerabilities included, so be sure to install the Android 11 update sooner rather than later.
Samsung just announced it's committing to 3 years of Android OS updates
Unless "three device generations" means something else
Samsung just finished unveiling the Galaxy Note20 series, along with the Tab S7, Watch3, and a few other electronic gizmos. That's all par for the course in Unpacked, but Samsung also snuck in a surprise near the end of the stream. Because Samsung (apparently) supports using smartphones for longer, it now promises OS updates for up to "three device generations."
Samsung ends security patches for Galaxy S7 Active and Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016)
Other changes include 6 downgraded devices and 1 added
Samsung is usually one of the better OEMs when it comes to releasing timely security patches for its phones, even beating Google to the punch at times. But even Samsung can only afford to keep older devices updated for so long. The company has recently revised its security update list with some changes, including ending patches for the Galaxy S7 Active, as well as changing some other older devices to a less frequent schedule.
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Samsung's phones appear to have beaten Google again to deliver this month's security patches. Reports indicate that some U.S. models of the Galaxy S10, S20, and Note10 series started receiving the update early this morning, though it isn't landing on all variants at once.
Google's monthly Pixel software update is now rolling out, including June 2020's security patches and changes announced as part of this quarter's Pixel Feature Drop. The OTA should be rolling out in the traditional sense shortly, but in the meantime, you can sideload the update yourself, or peruse the huge list of Pixel functional patches — they're almost all just fixes, but there's a ton of them.
Samsung halts monthly Galaxy S8 updates, moves phone to quarterly releases
Joined by other A-series mid-rangers from this year
Samsung’s once-flagship Galaxy S8 series turned three following the recent launch of the Galaxy S20 line. While the company usually commits to two years of regular OS and security updates for its high-end models, the releases start to get a bit more infrequent after that. That's just what's happening now to the manufacturer's 2017 Galaxy flagship.
Pixel April updates land, bringing eyes-open face unlock setting to the Pixel 4
Plus the usual security patches
Google is rolling out its April security patches/updates for its Pixel phones. Although functional notes this time around simply state a handful of fixes related to Bluetooth and keyboard lag, this update also delivers an anticipated "eyes open" requirement for the Pixel 4's face unlock, which first debuted with the recent Android 11 Developer Preview 2.
First-gen Pixel and Pixel XL will predictably not get Android 11
Pixel 2 owners, enjoy your last year of software updates
We're officially on the road to Android 11, which means a whole round of developer preview builds are on the way to Pixel phones — as well as other non-Google phones likely to be announced at I/O in May that will go through their own beta stack. Unfortunately, for O.G. Pixel and Pixel XL owners, they won't be joining for the ride.