latest
Looks like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 might not be going crease-less like the Oppo Find N
The screen has been described as looking smoother, though
Foldables have come a long way from their early days of feeling like clunky, unpolished, and experimental products to ones that can be confidently carried around — and dare we say, even used as roughly as regular phones. But while strides have been made in other aspects, the glass covering the internal display remains a tough nut to crack, particularly when it comes to the dreaded crease. Choosing between durability and aesthetics must be quite the dilemma for engineers, but last year's Oppo Find N handled it like a champ, doing away with the crease (almost) completely and without compromise. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold4 would look like it'd be headed down the same road but, as a new report suggests, that may not be the case.
.JPG?q=50&fit=crop&w=430&h=300&dpr=1.5)
Samsung's likely to stick with a side fingerprint sensor for the Galaxy Z Fold4
Patent filings don't mean a thing
After seeing last year's foldables and this year's non-folding flagships, expectations are understandably high for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4. Rumors have already suggested that in addition to obvious upgrades like a new processor, we might also see considerable improvements in the camera department, and maybe, just maybe, a fancy new S Pen. But not every corner of these phones is being reinvented, and for those of you planning to pick up the Fold4, it's increasingly looking like an in-display fingerprint sensor won't be on the menu.
Samsung's older foldables are now getting One UI 4
The Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip are next in line for some Android 12 love
Samsung got started with its foldable phone lineup in 2019, with the Samsung Galaxy Fold, after showing off its folding display tech for a few years prior. Since then, these phones have significantly matured in terms of durability and features, to the point a foldable phone is now an option average folks can consider. Of course, being among its most expensive phones, they're high on Samsung's list for the ongoing One UI 4 rollout. After its newest foldables began receiving their respective Android 12 updates, the older ones are now next in line.
Samsung ships October 2021 security patch to more international models, Z Flip3 gets pet portrait mode
The update is also available for the Galaxy S10 lite and several A series phones
Read update
It didn't take Samsung much time at all to start bringing a fresh security update to some of its phones. The company began with a handful of devices internationally, including the Galaxy S21 series, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3, and it's continued to come to more phones over the last few weeks.
Older Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones get new features in the latest update
The update is also available for the Galaxy S21 and A52 5G
Samsung released One UI 3.1.1 alongside the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3, adding plenty of upgrades for its foldable lineup, like enhanced flex mode, drag and split, and the new taskbar. Thankfully One UI 3.1.1 is now available for all of Samsung's folding handsets, past and present, with some behind-the-scenes optimizations also making their way to Samsung's more conventional smartphones.
Samsung's August 2021 update arrives for the Galaxy S10 series and the Galaxy S20 on T-Mobile
Just in time for September's update
Read update
Every month Samsung continues to impress with its commitment to timely security updates. Right now, the August 2021 security patch is rolling out to a number of high-profile Galaxy phones in the US, less than a week behind international models.So far the update is available for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra on all three major carriers, as well as the unlocked S20 and Note20 series and several A-series phones. It contains the usual bug fixes and security improvements. We'll keep this post updated as other phones receive the August patch.
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
Read update
Samsung's July patch is rolling out to the international Galaxy Tab S6 Lite — here are all the updated devices
The update is also available for a number of A-series phones
Read update
Samsung has consistently been ahead of the curve with security updates this year, and that continues now as the July 2021 patch hits the Galaxy devices series internationally. As the month rolls on, we're seeing it hit more and more devices.
Samsung's One UI 3.1 update reaches the Galaxy A50 and A51 in the US — here's the complete list of devices
The update is also hitting the Sprint Tab S6 and several budget phones
Read update
One UI 3.1 has been rolling out to older Galaxy devices quickly in the last few months. Despite only being an incremental upgrade over 3.0, it carries over several useful features from the Galaxy S21 to its older siblings. Over the last few weeks, One UI 3.1 has arrived for several mid-range devices and some T-Mobile variants.
Samsung's May 2021 security patch comes to more phones on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon — here's the complete list
Now arriving for the Galaxy S9 on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Read update
Samsung was ahead of the curve again this month when it released the May 2021 security patch for the international Galaxy S21 before anyone else. That continues now as several devices on T-Mobile receive the same update, even as the June security patch arrives for several devices.
Samsung's May 2021 update arrives for the Galaxy Tab S6, Note8, and more — here's the full list
Bringing improved Quick Share to more flagships
Read update
Samsung has been trying to improve its image in software lately, especially when it comes to security updates for Android devices. What better way than to release an update several days early? That's the case with the May security update, which is already rolling out to several devices, with new features coming to select flagships.
Read update
We've clearly got a little bias on the subject, but Android has a long and storied history filled with its own triumphs and pitfalls. It's been well over a decade now since that first HTC G1 landed, the inaugural Android smartphone, and things have changed drastically since then. Being "first" might make you think the G1 was the most influential Android phone — but was it, really?
Samsung releases March security patch for the Galaxy Note 9, A90, and Tab S4
The March update continues to reach more devices
Read update
Samsung has really been owning it when it comes to the Android security patch game. Continuing that impressive track record, Samsung is already releasing the March 2021 update for several devices, even though we're still in February. As well as keeping our devices secure, we're also seeing some new features land, as the Galaxy Tab S7 picks up some new iPad-inspired capabilities.
Read update
It was only last week that Samsung started pushing out Android 11 to the Galaxy Z Fold 2. However, early adopters of the first foldable phone from the South Korean giant will be pleasantly surprised as they're also getting the One UI 3.0, and it's coming earlier than expected.
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.
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.
Samsung December patch now reaching Tab S6, Tab S4, and S8 Active
Our continuously updated roundup of all Samsung phones getting the December patch in the US
A bunch of Galaxy phone users got a bit of a head start on the December 2020 security patch when Samsung released the update two weeks ahead of schedule. While that update was meant for some international beta users testing out One UI 3.0, Samsung kick-started the stable rollout of the latest patch in the US at the beginning of the month. The first device to get bumped to the December 2020 level was Verizon’s Galaxy S20 FE, most recently followed by the Tab S6, Tab S4, and the S8 Active.
The biggest question when it comes to folding devices is long-term durability. If and when things do go wrong, Samsung's customer support isn't quite as "premium" as the company claims. But adding fuel to that fire are a few new reports claiming screens are cracking due to cold weather.
The Verizon Galaxy Z Fold2 receives Samsung’s November security patch
Here's our continuously updated Samsung security patch roundup
Read update
The November security patch is slowly coming to more carrier-locked Samsung phones while handsets around the world have already started getting the update in October. This time around, the Verizon Galaxy Note20 series and the AT&T Galaxy Fold were the first carrier-locked devices in line to receive the patch, most recently followed by the Verizon Galaxy Z Fold2.
A bunch of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 features are rolling out to the original Fold in the US
Now if only it got a bigger exterior screen via a software update
Read update
Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold2 a while back, packed with a slew of features that make it significantly better than the company's first attempt at a foldable phone. But the company hasn't forgotten about the first-gen Fold just yet. It's inheriting a few Z Fold2 capabilities via a firmware update that's now starting to roll out in the US.