I don’t understand this. Why limit security updates? Is it because the hardware won’t be able to fully function with software after 3-4 years? Maybe the reason Apple is so far ahead in CPU is to build in the headroom for a device they know they will support for at least 5 years.
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Samsung Promises 'At Least Four Years' of Security Software Updates for Recent Galaxy Devices
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Oh god imagine buying an expensive flagship on the promise of "yeah uhm at least you'll get some security fixes going forward".
Not true. Security updates are monthly, even for Samsung devices and OS updates are now for 3 years, going back to the S10 series.
Gotta say....
Samsung hardware has always been very good, I’ve usually knocked them for their lack there of security and software updates, but there are improving in areas that are trying to compete in the likes of Apple with five years of updates. But more than anything, it’s the security patches that are the most important, especially with the the vulnerabilities with android devices.
Samsung hardware has always been very good, I’ve usually knocked them for their lack there of security and software updates, but there are improving in areas that are trying to compete in the likes of Apple with five years of updates. But more than anything, it’s the security patches that are the most important, especially with the the vulnerabilities with android devices.
My guess is more that many android smartphone companies simply don't find it economical to continue supporting their handsets past a certain period of time.
Right now, there is every financial incentive for Apple to do so. Remember back in 2018 when "throttlegate" was an issue? Back then, I felt that it wasn't so much a problem of Apple trying to trick consumers into upgrading their phones. Rather, the fact that more people were noticing, and complaining, of their phones slowing down after 2 years was a sign that more people were holding on to their phones for longer periods of time.
As such, Apple has pivoted from selling iPhones, to selling to people with iPhones. Yes, iPhones cost more, but they also hold on to their resale value longer thanks to a combination of better build quality and longer software support (which in turn helps offset the cost of upgrading to a newer model in the future). That's why Apple launched the upgrade programme in the first place.
Meanwhile, even if you are still hanging on to an iPhone 7 or 8, Apple still has plenty of ways of earning your money, from apps to services to accessories, by virtue of owning the whole ecosystem. Apple doesn't need you to keep buying an iPhone every 1-2 years. They just need you to keep using one. That's why they have no qualms about supporting an iPhone 6s with iOS 14. That their chips are powerful enough to continue running smoothly even with 6 years of software patches layered on is a welcome bonus as well.
Other OEMs, even Samsung, have few ways of earning extra revenue from consumers after the sales of the initial handset. As such, the inclination to do something that isn't financially beneficial to you is naturally lesser as well.
I think this makes a ton of sense, and there’s lots of evidence to support this thinking.
It is simple. If you want the new Android OS, go buy brand new phone. The Android market is so fragmented and there are so many different devices, that Samsung cant just handle updating, optimizing and testing hundred of legacy devices with every new Android version. We always talk about flagships, but Samsung releases each year dozens of new models and then, there are also differences in hardware across different regions for each model. There are tons of specific low-end models that are not even released in some market, such as in the US and Europe. There are many different screen sizes, features and hardware versions for each model/generation so, unless they want to brick a mass number of smartphones by issuing an update that is not well tested, they just prefer not issuing any software updates at all. It is a win-win strategy for Samsung. They dont have to do the whole work of making specific update packages for each legacy device, and the customer is obligated to purchase a brand new device if he wants the latest version of Android OS.
I agree I think Samsung have only just cottoned onto to the idea of an ecosystem and getting long term customers. In the past their strategy was entirely hardware focused and on a single device. There was no up sale to different devices. All they wanted you to do was buy their latest phone and once you'd done that you were of no value to them. Their stance has changed quite a bit in the past years, I think this is due to the success they have seen Apple having. However Apple have always been about the long game. Yes they want you to buy an iphone today, but they also want you to buy other devices they sell like computers, iPads, apple watches. Then on top of that they want you to use their services. They are committed to providing the whole package so that when it comes time to upgrade your phone even if it's not for another 6 years an iphone will be the only phone you think of buying again.
I need clarification.. are we supposed to cheer Samsung devices now, or is it an indicator how pathetic they are? I can never tell when Android articles are posted on a Apple site.
One thing I don't get is, why can't Samsung just match Apple in software support? The fact that iOS is supported for so many years is often touted as one of Apple's biggest advantages over Android vendors. If Samsung committed to supporting their phones as long as Apple does, that advantage would be gone and it would be an easy win for Samsung.
Hell, hobbyist third party phone OSes are often released to bring the latest Android to older phones. If hobbyists can do it, why can't a massive company like Samsung?
Hell, hobbyist third party phone OSes are often released to bring the latest Android to older phones. If hobbyists can do it, why can't a massive company like Samsung?
I think Samsung's new policy will be three years of Android version updates and four years of security updates. More recent versions of Android (from Version 10 on) supposedly have made it easier to update even if you're using a third-party "skin."
Only people that use nothing other than iPhone would say something like this. Why would Samsung want to downgrade to iOS level where you don't even have basics like placing icons anywhere on home screen for accessibility let alone more advanced split screen multitasking, DeX, pen input, better backwards compatibility, etc.? A 2012 Galaxy Note still has more advance features than 2021 iPhone.
If I could take security iOS updates without the artificial slowdowns on my older devices I absolutely would.
To be fair the experience isn’t really the same. Yes a 2012 note has split screen multitasking but it’s an atrocious experience and has been until basically last year. Samsung crams in features without paying attention to actual usability of them. How you liking those system UI ads lmfao
So glad it took until 2021 to have 4 years of "guaranteed" partial updates available for my $900 Android phone... 
That’s not true at all. Split screen has been stable on Samsung phones for years. I used it on the S4,S5, note 3, S7 edge, note 4, note 8, S9+ and note 10+ and it worked fine. The only phone it was janky on was the original galaxy note.
It’s also ok if you say its well priced - anyways google OS is way Superior to iOS. Really in almost any category - only the icon design lacks!
Different strokes for different folks I guess. By my standards I’d never use that implementation in day to day usage
2012 Note II worked fine and is still usable to this day since it was future proofed with 2GB DRAM. Much better than iPhones and iPads released in the same year with only 1GB DRAM that suffer from frequent app reloads and have been unusable long ago.
UI ads like this? Don't recall any with previous Android devices but I'll confirm with the S21 Ultra when it arrives later this week.
No, actual UI ads like this2012 Note II worked fine and is still usable to this day since it was future proofed with 2GB DRAM. Much better than iPhones and iPads released in the same year with only 1GB DRAM that suffer from frequent app reloads and have been unusable much earlier.
UI ads like this? Don't recall any with previous Android devices but I'll confirm with the S21 Ultra when it arrives later this week.
Ads are taking over Samsung's Galaxy smartphones — and it needs to stop
When you buy a $2,000 smartphone, you shouldn't be the product
www.androidpolice.com
Did you forget googling was a thing or
Apple has radically changed the rules of the smartphone market to the extent that its now much harder for everyone else to compete. When I buy an iPhone, I am getting a complete and cohesive ecosystem. I am getting 5-6 years of software updates. I am getting exclusive apps in the App Store. I am getting great customer support from the Apple store.
It’s no longer enough for a company to simply release a cheap phone with good paper specs and call it a day. As people hold on to their phones longer, they naturally expect longer support as well. Especially for the more pricey models.
Maybe Samsung is only just learning this now the hard way.
It’s no longer enough for a company to simply release a cheap phone with good paper specs and call it a day. As people hold on to their phones longer, they naturally expect longer support as well. Especially for the more pricey models.
Maybe Samsung is only just learning this now the hard way.