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Security updates

154

Android security update tracker, January 2021: Rankings for popular smartphones
We researched which phones get updates the fastest so you don't have to

Corbin Davenport Corbin Davenport
Android security update tracker, January 2021: Rankings for popular smartphones

This story was originally published and last updated . 

Major updates 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.

Unlike app and API updates, the security patches can't be delivered directly to devices — phone manufacturers have to integrate the changes into their own flavors of Android, and release them as system updates.

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41

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

Zachary Kew-Denniss Zachary Kew-Denniss
Five-year-old Galaxy Tab S2 receives October 2020 security patch, proving Samsung has truly changed its ways 

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.

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14

Samsung ends security patches for Galaxy S7 Active and Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016)
Other changes include 6 downgraded devices and 1 added

Caleb Potts Caleb Potts
Samsung ends security patches for Galaxy S7 Active and Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016)

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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56

More Samsung Galaxy flagships are already getting May's security update
Greased lightning, oh greased lightning

Zachary Kew-Denniss Zachary Kew-Denniss
More Samsung Galaxy flagships are already getting May's security update

This story was originally published and last updated . 

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.

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Samsung halts monthly Galaxy S8 updates, moves phone to quarterly releases
Joined by other A-series mid-rangers from this year

Karandeep Singh Karandeep Singh
Samsung halts monthly Galaxy S8 updates, moves phone to quarterly releases

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.

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44

Google delivers May update for Pixels, no functional patch notes this time

Ryne Hager Ryne Hager
Google delivers May update for Pixels, no functional patch notes this time

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.

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5

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge stop receiving security updates
The Galaxy S7 active is still eligible for updates, though

Manuel Vonau Manuel Vonau
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge stop receiving security updates

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.

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61

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)

Ryne Hager Ryne Hager
March Pixel update OTA and factory images are live (Update: Missing images for Pixel 3 and 3a)

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.)

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139

Pixel 4 face unlock is broken for some, may be caused by recent patches

Ryne Hager Ryne Hager
Pixel 4 face unlock is broken for some, may be caused by recent patches

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.

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150

December Pixel updates land: 2016 Pixels get last patches, Pixel 4 conspicuously absent (Update: Image and OTA downloads)

Ryne Hager Ryne Hager
December Pixel updates land: 2016 Pixels get last patches, Pixel 4 conspicuously absent (Update: Image and OTA downloads)

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.

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