latest
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 series is first in line for the January security patch
No new features and fixes added, though
Samsung makes some of the best Android phones you can buy today, and they all come with the promise of prompt software updates and security patches. Through 2022, the brand garnered appreciation from users for its timely Android 13-based One UI 5 release. In 2023, the company seems intent on keeping the streak going, starting with bumping the Galaxy Note 10 to the January 2023 security patch.
.JPG?q=50&fit=crop&w=430&h=300&dpr=1.5){kind=tracking}
Google delays August security patch for Pixel devices
One US carrier is applying a hotfix still using July's security patch
Makers of the best Android phones have their own software skins, and they push security patches and other OTA updates on their own schedules. Pixel users usually have it better in this regard — as the platform's lead player, Google releases Android security patches on the first Monday of every month like clockwork. However, the update for August seems to be delayed.
Samsung’s February 2022 security patch starts arriving for more phones in the US
Now available for the Verizon Tab S7 and S7+
Read update
Samsung is no stranger to speedy update rollouts. The company started releasing the February 2022 security patch to eligible devices internationally at the tail end of last month, and we've already seen the likes of the Galaxy Note20, Galaxy S20 series, and Galaxy A50s receive the new software. Now the update's hitting the US, beginning with Note10 carrier models.
Samsung's fiery update pace continues internationally with the February 2022 security patch
Now available for the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and several other phones
Read update
Samsung has managed to stand out as one of the fastest Android OEMs to bring monthly security updates to its devices for quite a while now. When Google was still fumbling with December and January patches for its flagship Pixel 6 series, Samsung was already working wonders, sending out security updates to eligible phones. While we’re expecting the Pixel 6 series to get the February update at the tail end of next week — and keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn't break anything as it arrives — Samsung is already forging ahead, beginning to release its own February patch.
Leaked Samsung update commitment is just what Google should've offered with the Pixel 6
Can anyone catch Samsung now?
It all started in August 2020, as Samsung had just finished unveiling the Galaxy Note20 series, the Tab S7, and the Watch3. It followed the announcements with a surprise, promising up to “three device generations” in OS updates. At the time, we weren’t too sure if the term “generation” was the company’s attempt at using wordplay to have its way with consumers, but the rest is history. New leaks suggest a similar occurrence at the next Unpacked event, but this time the company is adding another year of OS upgrades — and no, they haven’t changed the wording.
Google details the Pixel 6's recent update while the Pixel 3 is left behind
We've got a changelog for Pixel 6 and 6 Pro's day-one update, but it's the end of the line for the Pixel 3 series
Read update
Google has released the November update for its Pixels — which the Pixel 6 series got a bit early last week. Changes included in that update are finally documented, though, including a few specific fixes for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Unfortunately for Pixel 3 owners, that phone has just reached end of life, and though Google tells us a final wrap-up update is planned for next year, it isn't included in this month's updates.
-1.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=430&h=300&dpr=1.5){kind=tracking}
Google is only giving the Pixel 6 three years of Android OS updates
That five-year promise is just for security patches, which is good, but also lame
Google's big five-year update promise for the Pixel 6 isn't quite as good as we'd hoped it would be. Somehow, the company found a way to drop the ball on that promise to make things just that little bit more awkward now that the dust has settled. See, Google promises five years of updates, but just for security patches. Actual OS-level major version updates will only be guaranteed until October 2024, meaning you get three years of OS updates and are only guaranteed to get Android 15.
The international Galaxy S21 is finally getting the June 2021 update after a delay
The camera is buttery smooth now
Read update
Samsung started updating its phones with the June security patch before May was out, but the S21 series seemed to be having issues. Now things seem to be back to normal as the update is rolling out widely.The June patch first appeared for Korean S21 users on May 27th, but instead of rapidly spreading to more regions, things went quiet. Another June update rolled out a short time later but, like before, failed to reach any other countries. Whatever problems or bugs were plaguing the update seem to have been squashed, with the US S21 getting it yesterday and it reaching the UK today.As well as the usual security fixes, the cameras have gotten a significant improvement. Until now, switching lenses in the S21 camera app was far from smooth, stuttering, and lagging as it zoomed in and out. That's finally been fixed, and switching between the cameras is smooth and buttery.I got it on my UK S21 Ultra today, carrying G998BXXU3AUF6 as the build number and weighing in at 477MB. Hopefully, it will arrive in other regions soon.As always we'll continue to update this post as new devices get updated.
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 discontinues security updates for 2017 Galaxy A series
Samsung's 2017 budget phones have their last hurrah
Read update
Samsung's software strategy has improved significantly over the past few years, turning the company from one of the worst OEMs for updates to one of the best. Last year, Samsung announced most of its devices would get three years of Android OS updates, and now it has updated its list of supported devices with a few additions and removals.
Five-year-old Galaxy Tab S2 receives October 2020 security patch, proving Samsung has truly changed its ways
Meanwhile, the Nexus 9 hasn't seen an update since 2017
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab S2 in July 2015, a time when Android tablets still mattered, and there was much more competition. Sporting a luxurious new design based on the Galaxy S6 and a beautifully bright AMOLED display, it represented the best Android tablets had to offer. But why are we talking about it five years later? Because it just received the October 2020 security patch, and that's incredible.
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.
More Samsung Galaxy flagships are already getting May's security update
Greased lightning, oh greased lightning
As a long-term Samsung user, I've witnessed first-hand the Hollywood-style comeback Samsung has made in terms of how its phones get updates. Gone are the days of waiting almost a year for significant version changes, or being several months behind on security patches. Not only have Samsung devices been receiving updates faster than ever before, in some cases, Samsung has even beaten Google to the punch. It's now done so again, with Samsung starting its rollout of May's security patch for the S20 series.
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.
May security patches for Google's Pixels are now available, though Samsung beat Google to the punch this month. For some reason, Google has elected not to publish functional patch notes for its Pixels as part of this month's updates, but images are available and the update should be rolling out via traditional channels soon.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge stop receiving security updates
The Galaxy S7 active is still eligible for updates, though
The Galaxy S7 hasn't seen a new Android version in a long time, but until now, Samsung at least had been pushing security updates whenever it deemed them necessary. According to the company's security updates timeline, that's changing: The company won't release new patches for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge any longer, though the S7 active is still supported.
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.)
For some, the snazzy new face unlock system on Google's latest Pixel 4 is a whole lot less convenient than it should be. Reports over the last couple of months indicate that the face unlock process is simply failing for a handful of Pixel 4 and 4 XLs, even after re-enrolling their faces or resetting the phone. Thankfully, the issue doesn't sound too widespread.
December's monthly security patches are here for Google's Pixel phones — or, at least, most of them. While the 2016 Pixels are getting what Google previously claimed would be their very last update after the two phones missed November's patches, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are curiously late to the party, with no images posted just yet. Most confusingly, though, Google is apparently breaking out its Pixel-specific functional patch notes this month, which often describe useful or noteworthy feature changes and tweaks.
Nokia's first salvo of Android phones debuted at MWC all the way back in 2017, with the company initially committing to two years of updates for its new devices. Well, it's been a bit over two years since those phones were released, and Nokia has decided it doesn't want to give up on them so easily. The Nokia 3, 5, 6, and 8 will continue to get quarterly security updates for an extra year, into 2020.