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Samsung early days within the Android ecosystem had been rocky at greatest. I nonetheless keep in mind an acquaintance who, to at the present time, will not purchase smartphones from the South Korean model due to the shortage of updates for his or her Samsung Galaxy. I’m referring to the unique, the i7500 Galaxy, which was launched method again in 2009. Guess what? 13 years later, Samsung’s replace coverage is one of the best amongst Android-powered smartphones.
Fact be informed, earlier than the MiFans level that out within the feedback, Android updates aren’t as essential as they had been within the early days when app compatibility shortly deteriorated in case your gadget was left not supported. Safety updates are much more vital these days as we cope with more and more essential data on our gadgets.
Launched with Android 1.5, the unique Galaxy telephone was up to date to 1.6 in just some international locations. / © Samsung
Nonetheless, for a corporation with a horrible observe report, Samsung actually made the trouble to enhance its picture and consolidate its place in opposition to its Chinese language rivals. That is akin to not having to juggle “motherland” ROMs with world ones, the South Koreans used their much less complicated telephone lineup—in a time when even once-darling OnePlus goes via an id disaster with dad or mum firm Oppo, issuing a number of Nord lineups within the US and EU in an effort to distinguish itself.
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Turning the tablesIt all modified in a small slide was squeezed in between the launch of the Galaxy Word 20 sequence (RIP) and the Galaxy Z Fold 2. In the course of the August 2020 Unpacked occasion, Samsung promised “three generations of Android OS upgrades” for its flagships and a few Galaxy A fashions. That promise utilized not solely to future gadgets however was retroactively utilized to telephones (and a few tablets) which had been launched 18 months earlier than, such because the Galaxy S10 line.Previous to that, Galaxy S house owners may count on two Android updates, together with an additional 12 months or two of safety updates, an replace coverage that was common amongst Android flagships and was bested solely by the Google Pixel vary.In 2022, through the Galaxy S22 launch, the South Koreans outdid themselves by asserting an excellent higher replace coverage, by extending it to 4 Android updates and 5 years of safety patches. Higher nonetheless, the announcement was made in the midst of the Android 12 rollout, when Samsung supplied a transparent roadmap for its updates whereas different manufacturers solely dedicated to beta model schedules.The 2021-2022 season additionally noticed Samsung repair one other challenge, and managed to replace its gadgets in a well timed method, having up to date all of its flagship gadgets (because the S10 line) and even the A52 & A72 mid-rangers by the second week of 2022. Previously, it was common to see a brand new Android model begin rolling out solely after a brand new Galaxy S mannequin was launched, which normally occurs in February, by the point OnePlus house owners had the model on their gadgets for greater than a month already.
The One UI 5 rollout was quicker than earlier years and is barely bested by Google and Apple. / © NextPit
Setting the instance
Android 13
Android 12
Android 11
Google Pixel
August
October
September
Galaxy S22
October
n/a
n/a
Galaxy S21
November
November
n/a
Galaxy S20
November
December
December
Galaxy A53
November
n/a
n/a
Galaxy A52
November
January
n/a
Galaxy A51
December
March
February
After an earlier Android 13 launch in August, and admittedly smaller modifications in Google’s working system, Samsung managed to enhance its observe report, and set a brand new benchmark in Android updates for 2022-2023. Earlier than the tip of the 12 months, not solely all of the supported flagships had been up to date, even low-end gadgets just like the Galaxy A22/M22 (from 2021), A13 (from 2022), and even the best-selling Galaxy A51 mid-ranger from 2020 weren’t neglected of the equation.After all, that’s nonetheless inferior to Google’s or Apple’s observe report, which up to date the Pixel 4a and iPhone SE (2020) on the identical day because the flagship telephones, respectively. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless higher than each different Android producer, with solely OnePlus/Oppo coming remotely shut, with the previous having already up to date its flagships, whereas the latter is starting to replace some 2022 mid-range telephones.
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On the time of penning this story, the one 2022 launches from Samsung which can be nonetheless ready for Android 13 are those working One UI Core (the sunshine model of the common Samsung pores and skin), and market-specific fashions such because the Galaxy M13 and M23. In these circumstances, the M fashions are scheduled to be up to date in January, whereas the A04s and A04 with One UI Core 4 ought to be up to date by February.Xiaomi, in the meantime, only in the near past introduced its MIUI 14 with Android 13, with no single gadget up to date up to now. Simply to make issues worse, The superb value-for-money proposition and bestseller Redmi Word 9, launched in April 2020 4 months after the Galaxy A51 (and already working Android 13), will not be slated to get Google’s newest working system…
Even tremendous area of interest gadgets just like the XCover 6 Professional are already receiving Android 13. / © Samsung
Nonetheless room for improvementAs standard, not every little thing is nice in the case of One UI updates. Samsung nonetheless makes use of a three-tier system in the case of safety updates, with the beforehand talked about Galaxy A51 scheduled to obtain solely biannual safety updates, whereas previous flagships from the S10 line are solely getting quarterly patches. Just some latest flagship fashions and “Enterprise” fashions are at present scheduled for month-to-month updates. At the least Samsung clearly outlined what to anticipate from its most up-to-date fashions, with an internet site highlighting its present tiers. Fortunately, initiatives like Android Enterprise have compelled different manufacturers to observe go well with, with related pages from Xiaomi, Nokia, and even Sony.One other vital factor is that the rivals aren’t standing nonetheless, with OnePlus additionally promising 4 Android upgrades with 5 years of safety updates for its flagship and noteworthy gadgets, matching Samsung.Now the stage is ready for enhancements throughout, let’s hope that Oppo, Vivo, and particularly Xiaomi and Motorola observe go well with and provide higher software program assist to a minimum of match OnePlus and Samsung within the subsequent launches, one thing that will get more and more extra vital as gadget costs hold rising and the sustainability phrase will get thrown round by the advertising groups in most launches. Sadly, my each day driver, a Galaxy S9 (which I’ve to swear to some colleagues I nonetheless use) wasn’t a part of the renewed Samsung replace coverage, however a minimum of the traditional telephone nonetheless acquired a couple of safety fixes 4 years after its launch. What about you? Do you additionally care extra about safety patches than full Android updates? How does your smartphone model fare within the replace sport?
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