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How long will my Google Pixel get updates?
Google's Pixel phones are some of the longest-supported Android phones
While there are many reasons to buy a Google Pixel phone, software support determines how long it will be secure. After security support expires, your Pixel phone becomes vulnerable to malicious actors. This affects every Pixel phone, from the flagship Pixel 8 Pro to the budget Pixel 7a, the best value Android phone.
Google just hit send on February's Android security update for Pixels
The update fixes over a dozen vulnerabilities, including one critical CVE
Even though Google gave up on a fixed day for Pixel updates back in October 2023, the company has still dropped security updates every month since — and February 2024 is apparently no exception. When announcing its industry-leading promise of seven years of updates for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, the company said it would deploy updates "as soon as they’ve completed the necessary tests" rather than on a specific day. Yet here we are on the first Monday of the month, and like clockwork, Google is rolling out its next Android update for Pixel devices.
Google publishes April Android Security Bulletin, but Pixel updates are once again missing
Now we know what's broken, but we still need the fix
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Google usually sticks to a pretty tight schedule when updating its Pixel phones, but it seems the company has been hitting the snooze button lately. We normally see security patches on the first Monday of each month, but the March 2023 security update for most Pixel users didn't come until the second Monday, and Pixel 6 owners even had to wait an extra week on top of that. Now, the April 2023 security update is apparently delayed too.
Google shares March Android Security Bulletin, but Pixel updates are running mysteriously late
Several critical vulnerabilities in Android System and Qualcomm chips were patched
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Almost like clockwork, Google releases security patches for Android and its Pixel phones shortly after 10 a.m. Pacific on the first Monday of every month. This month’s update has been hotly anticipated by Pixel owners since it contains the QPR2 Pixel Feature Drop where Google seeds fun new features to its devices. The trouble is, 10 a.m. Pacific came and went hours ago and there’s no update in sight — but there has at least been some movement now.
Samsung’s July 2022 security patch is available for the Galaxy S20 series and more in the US
Big Red has also updated the A71 5G and Note 9
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Less than a week ago, Samsung started rolling out the July 2022 security update to international markets, starting with its home country South Korea. It arrived right on cue, as has been the case for years, but on the midrange Galaxy A32. While we wonder at the oddity of the tech giant beginning with a midranger and not a flagship phone, the update is already making its way to US devices, starting with the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Samsung's April 2022 security update is arriving for the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 internationally
It's also available for several S and A series devices
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Samsung is not about to keep its smartphone users waiting for their latest security patches, and the manufacturer has a well-deserved reputation for rolling out monthly updates right on cue — or even slightly earlier than scheduled. Some phones got the March 2022 security update a few days early, just as we saw with the February patch before that, and most updates going back the past few years. Following that trend, the company’s releasing the April 2022 security patch for international Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra before we're even flipping over the calendar.
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.
Google says it will give Nest devices longer software support than Pixel phones
Five years of bug fixes and security updates, at the very least
Software updates are important for all electronics. But for smart home equipment, it's the difference between having a working, cohesive system, and a big collection of useless hunks of plastic. Perhaps aware of some recent high-profile issues along those lines, Google has promised software support for all Nest devices for at least five years after purchase.
If you have a Galaxy S9 or S9+, Samsung will be updating your phone less often now
Galaxy Tab S3 updates will stop entirely
Samsung customers hoping to hold the company to its promises of software updates are keeping a close eye on the update schedule page, and so are we. The latest change to the constantly-updated list features a few additions, a few subtractions, and a significant change for a former flagship, the Galaxy S9. The S9 and its bigger brother the S9+ are now getting quarterly updates, a downgrade from the monthly schedule.
Android security update tracker, March 2021: Rankings for popular smartphones
We researched which phones get updates the fastest so you don't have to
es of Android don't matter as much as they used to. Many components of the operating system are updated through the Play Store, so even if you're on Android 8 or 9, you can still access most of the same apps and features as someone on the latest release of Android 10. However, the security updates that Google releases on a monthly basis are still critical to keeping your phone or tablet safe. Dozens of security flaws are discovered in components of Android each month, which is why Google releases monthly security patches.
Samsung rolling out February security patch to Galaxy S9 outside the US
The update is also showing up on more Galaxy S21 phones
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Even though each Android security update has a specific month in the name, the patches are usually provided to manufacturers a week or two in advance, so phone makers can have the system upgrades ready in time (or not). Samsung has been known to pull the switch before the first day of a given month, and that's happening again for the February 2021 patches.
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.
Samsung adds Galaxy Note20, Fold2, and Tab S7 to its security update schedule
Combined with the three-year promise, things are looking good for Samsung update-wise
Updates used to be a sore talking point for Samsung, but that's no longer the case. The company recently committed to OS updates for three device generations, and it's been shooting out updates for its latest phones left and right. In the same vein, Samsung has just added some of its latest devices, including the Note20, Fold2, and Tab S7, to its security update schedule.
The AT&T Galaxy Note9 is receiving the July security patch
Following the update for the unlocked models
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Shortly after the Galaxy S20 series started receiving the July security patch in Korea and Europe, all kinds of unlocked US Galaxy phones started receiving it, too, as 9to5Google and Redditors reported. And now, the update is also available on the Galaxy Note9 on AT&T.
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.
Google has gotten a bit stricter with requiring OEMs to add Android's security updates over the years, but that doesn't mean companies are actually on board. LG's Software Update Center may be running at full power, but everything from last-minute bugs to carrier certification can hold up Android updates. It's almost July, but LG's new dual-screen capable device is only now receiving the May security patch.
OnePlus 7 Pro gets OxygenOS Open Beta 9 with January security patch
Stable OxygenOS for the 7 Pro is several months behind on security updates
OnePlus is usually on the ball with system updates, but the last few months have been rough across the board — Android 10 for the OP6 and 6T was continuously delayed due to bugs, and several of the company's phones are months behind on security updates. Now the 7 Pro is finally getting a newer security patch, but only for owners willing to use beta software.
Essential is in a strange place right now as a company. Its latest phone is still its first model, the 2017 PH-1, with no direct replacement in sight. Still, Essential is keeping its remaining users happy, as it has once again rolled out monthly security patches at the same time as Google's Pixel phones receive the OTA.
Every once in a while, Google mistakenly rolls out software not meant for the public. These dogfood builds contain experimental features the company wants to test internally even before letting them loose on beta users. It seems that such a confidential OTA update rolled out to some Pixel 3 and 3 XL users over the last couple of hours, as we've received word that people already got the November security patch accompanied by a note saying "CONFIDENTIAL INTERNAL ONLY."
OnePlus is pushing out updates for its latest flagship basically every week, and today brings us yet another new version of OxygenOS for the 7 Pro. The update to v9.5.8 includes May's security patches, further touch sensitivity improvements, better call audio quality, better compatibility with third-party USB Type-C headphones, and other fixes.