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In recent years, OnePlus has slipped down a few notches in both quantity and quality of software updates. Last year, buyers of the Nord N10 5G and the N100 were a let down with just one Android update to the already-released OxygenOS 11 and two years of security updates. This year things are looking a little bit better for the Nord N200 5G, but still disappointing overall.
ZenFone 8 software support is off to a surprisingly great start
Asus has included a 'new' Android security patch with this feature-packed update
The new ZenFone 8 comes closest to the mini Android flagship we've been longing for, even though it’s nothing like its big brother with its radical flipping camera mechanism. Both 2021 ZenFone flagships are barely a week old, but the company has already released a big software update, which comes with a slew of new features and general improvements.
Google's May Android security update for Pixels is ready to go
We're not seeing a Widevine fix just yet
Pixel device owners, start your Wi-Fi radios. The monthly security update for Pixel phones has been posted by Google. The updates are available as both direct download of the firmware and OTA files, but it should be showing up on at least a few phones starting today.
Here's yet more proof that Samsung is getting serious about updates
No more ambiguity on how often certain devices will get security updates
Samsung has managed to surprise its staunchest skeptics by becoming exceptionally agile with software updates of late. Not only has it kept its promise of delivering Android 11 to its devices, but it's also showcased its commitment by offering four years of security updates for most of its devices launched from 2019 onward. Further straightening up its act, Samsung is now removing some ambiguity around how often a few of its devices will get security updates.
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.
The Android security update situation is confusing and messy despite Google's best efforts, such as mandating companies to provide at least two years of security fixes. Samsung, the largest Android device maker in the world, has just modified the list of devices it supports with security updates, and there's been some shuffling around with a few phones getting kicked off.
Essential has a habit of beating even Google when it comes to rolling out updates, and that trend continues today. An OTA including the December security patches for Android is rolling out to PH-1's everywhere as we speak, download at your leisure.
The cycle of monthly security updates continues. As expected, Essential has just pushed out its November patch OTA on the same day as Google. There is a twist this time around, though: Essential's changelog includes notes that reveal the Audio Adapter HD could be coming soon.
Even though a May report suggested that Essential has canned its second-generation phone (an assertion the company didn't fully contradict), the first Essential Phone remains a cult favorite. In large part, that's because the company pushes out Android updates in near tandem with Google — and that was no exception with the September 2018 Android Pie update released today. Within minutes of it surfacing, Essential tweeted that customers could update to grab the bundle of patches, including Bluetooth audio and accessibility fixes, by simply heading to their settings and checking for the update.