Samsung has announced a big step forward with regard to its device updates, at least where security is concerned. In fact, even much older devices from as far back as 2019 can expect to see regular security updates. And those updates will arrive for a minimum of four years from the initial device release, Samsung says.
Samsung hasn’t provided many details about how it is tackling the new policy. But it does indicate that, like a certain other company’s recent update news, the announcement comes down to partnerships. Namely, its ongoing effort with more than 1,000 partners on both the OS and chipsets. In addition to more than 200 carrier partners and others.
Which devices will benefit from the new Samsung updates for security?
Now, this promise from Samsung will ultimately ensure updates will be delivered quickly to billions of devices. The company shipped, by some estimates, just under 300-million devices in 2020. And, with consideration for 2019 — and for phones that it will ship in the future — the figure cited by Samsung seems reasonable. But which older Samsung devices, exactly, will see these security updates? Samsung has listed them all out for convenience.
Of course, the flagship handset from the Galaxy Foldable, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy S line-ups will be included. So the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Fold 5G, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 2 5G, Z Flip, and Z Flip 5G are covered. As are all devices from the Samsung Galaxy S10, S20, and S21 lines — including the Lite and FE variants. The Note series, from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, follows suit.
None of that is necessarily surprising since Samsung Flagships already see a higher-than-average number of and speed of updates. However, other devices, including those from more budget-tier handsets and tablets are part of the news here too. More surprising, is that the Galaxy A series, from the Samsung Galaxy A10 through the Galaxy A71 5G and including the ‘e’, ‘s’, and ‘5G’ designations are going to see four years of updates. As are the M series devices from the M10s through the M51.
Samsung Galaxy XCover series devices, including the XCover 4s, XCover FieldPro, and XCover Pro, as well as Samsung Galaxy Tab devices will see four years of security updates too. That includes the Galaxy Tab Active Pro, Tab Active 3, Tab A 8 Tab A with S Pen, Tab A 8.4, Tab A7, Tab S5e, Tab S6 variants, and Tab S7 variants.
In effect, as long as the device was released in 2019 or later, it will see four years of updates for security. Giving Samsung Galaxy devices just one more perk to help keep them at or near the top of the collective pile.
And how often?
Now, the timeline for when devices will see the updates is less certain. But Samsung indicates that devices will receive updates from monthly to quarterly. And that will vary on a per-device-model basis. Presumably, with flagships seeing updates more frequently and quickly than others.