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Samsung Promises 'At Least Four Years' of Security Software Updates for Recent Galaxy Devices

mi7chy said:
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.
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Well in that vein my iphone 4 and ipad 2 is still usable.
mi7chy said:
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.

iphone-ads-in-phone-jpg.1724886
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I'm actually happy these UI ads are there because I signed up for ATV and AC+ due to the ads.
 
I7guy said:
Well in that vein my iphone 4 and ipad 2 is still usable.
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In your dreams, I had both and they both suffered from premature obsolescence due to insufficient 512MB DRAM causing excessive app reloads, lag, constant gear spinning with just single Safari browser tab, etc.
 
I commend Samsung for the effort. Security updates is becoming more important than version/feature updates Imo.

The problem with Samsung is, most of their devices don't get those security updates in a timely manner. Only the recent flagships get monthly updates. The rest, such as the Galaxy A models, only get quarterly updates, and that is not even consistent. For example, my A71, is still on November 2020 security patch. Worse, it will only get Android 11 in May 2021. That's not a good experience for a premium mid range when even a lesser A model gets a more recent security updates.

I want Samsung to push security updates per Google's schedule on all their models. Google has mad eit easy to apply security updates, and gave them to OEMs a month in advance, so there's really no excuse, unless it's intentional. Imagine if Dell restrict Windows updates on their cheaper laptops to only get security updates less often than Microsoft's own schedule. There would be an uproar.
 
nikaru said:
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.
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Agree and disagree. Agree that Samsung releases a ton of lower end A and M models, with some variants like F models in some markets. But that's Samsung's decision. It's their own decision to have a messy lineup.

Besides, Google has made it very easy OEMs to apply the monthly security patches. We are not talking about OS upgrades (which Google also has made it easier with project treble, etc). Google gave the security updates to OEMs a month in advance as well. So it's a choice by the OEM not to push those security patches in a timely manner.

Having said all that, Samsung is the "better" one amongst the rest of Android OEMs. OEMs like Oppo or Vivo don't even bother giving one OS upgrades on their mid to low end models.
 
SactoGuy18 said:
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."
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Yes. It's more of Google's effort in a sense that make things easier for the OEMs, and only now Samsung decided to put marketing in it.
 
Shanghaichica said:
Not true. Security updates are monthly, even for Samsung devices and OS updates are now for 3 years, going back to the S10 series.
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Monthly security updates only on select models, which are mostly flagship models. The rest of Samsung phones like the Galaxy A models get security updates only quarterly, and that's not even consistent. My A71 is still on November security patch, which was released this January. Yes, Nov 2020 patch released on Jan 2021. That's how inconsistent things are for the non flagships.
 
Souponastick270 said:
Lol meanwhile my 7 Plus is 5 years old this year and will most likely be getting iOS 15 taking it up to 6 years old... the fact that this is ‘news’ is laughable
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This is news and unprecedented in Android world. It's good marketing for Samsung against the likes of Oppo or Vivo, which are way worse in terms of updates.
 
Suckfest 9001 said:
If I could take security iOS updates without the artificial slowdowns on my older devices I absolutely would.
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bobob said:
What makes you think that the slowdowns are "artificial"?
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Suckfest 9001 said:
The fact that very minimal software changes occur for the performance penalty that comes with the update :)
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I'm surprised that independent researchers haven't documented this scandalous tampering and that when they revealed the facts, that the media hasn't capitalized on yet another Apple "-gate". Those clicks would be worth a lot of money.
 
ian87w said:
This is news and unprecedented in Android world. It's good marketing for Samsung against the likes of Oppo or Vivo, which are way worse in terms of updates.
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I get what you're saying, that this is good from Samsungs point of view against other Android makers but it's double edged.

It highlights how little life you get out of an Android device if you can spend $1700 on a Fold and only get 2 years of security patches, that's just bad value for money. So yeah 4 years is great but it's pathetic that its taken to 2021 to give you more than 2 years of life*.

*Obvs the product will still work past those two years no issue, but given the amount of personal data on these devices I personally wouldn't be using it if it wasn't getting security patches
 
Romeo_Nightfall said:
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!
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It’s superior for YOU. Google may have ire capabilities and features yet half of them are at best half baked. I rather go back to using a windows phone or palm pre or the original blackberry os before I ever use another android.

Windows is superior to macs yet I will never buy another pc again. Simple. Having more features doesn’t make it a better Os when you have to
Announce in 2021, you’re going to support your devices for 3 years something Apple has done from the start.

also it’s 2021, fanboy wars are so last decade.
 
The thing that Apple got right, that Android still fails to do.. Apple told carriers, if you want to carry our phone, then Apple gets complete control over updates. None of this "carrier locked updates" garbage that had plagued phones.

If Android was "manufacturer agnostic", Google could roll out updates to every android device themselves and not be stuck with restrictions from Samsung and other device manufacturers that merely package Android on their devices.
 
Updates, who really cares?
Vast majority of Apple/Android users dont give a **** about updates, they update because the phone suggested them
Only fanboys will debate about updates
I dont care if my iPhone will last until iOS 18/19 blabla, my phone will die before (battery) or be sold (i had iPhone SE for 3 years, battery was worn, it wasnt worth it to change it and i bought new iPhone 12 Mini)
Vast majority here are hypocritical, we often buy the latest iPhone, iPad, Airpods, Apple Watch, Macbook?
Be honest guys, dont talk about updates longevity when you buy new device almost every year
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Ursadorable
Ursadorable said:
You must leave your doors unlocked at night too, huh?
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I dont get it, nobody in real life cares about updates as much as i ve seen here or any other forum/social network related to Apple
I see updates, i click on it and install it
I dont see updates, i dont even get mad or whatever
You wont see any casual (which is the main audience for both iPhone and Galaxy devices) complaining about updates
They dont install iOS Beta or install newer and tweaked ROM to get the latest Android updates
 
bubulol said:
I dont get it, nobody in real life cares about updates as much as i ve seen here or any other forum/social network related to Apple
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People don't expressly care about updates, like "hey bud, have you updated yet?". But that doesn't lessen the importance of updates in keeping your hardware secure and fixing things that do break. Do you have updates turned off on your Mac/Windows computer? Of course not, you expect things to continue to run smoothly without someone trying to maliciously steal your information, or worse.

I care when people or companies get in the way of people getting their updates, like carriers or in android's case, device manufacturers. This is why I stated it was so wise of Apple to tell carriers to get out of the way of updates.
 
Welp, Samsung just like to disappoint us.
9to5google.com

Samsung clarifies that its extended 'regular' Android updates only arrive twice a year

During the fourth and final year that Samsung supports its Galaxy devices, they'll get bi-annual updates, two times per year.
9to5google.com 9to5google.com

That 4 year update? Well, apparently it will be just 2 updates in that last year. It's better than nothing, but biannual security updates is a joke. Really really disappointed.
 
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