Samsung‘s 2020 mid-range Galaxy M51 is getting the January 2023 Android security patch. The new security update for the phone is live in a host of Latin American countries, including Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, and Panama. The rollout should reach other markets in the coming days. The device wasn’t released in the US, but Samsung did sell it in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Users there can expect to receive this update soon.
The January SMR (Security Maintenance Release) for the Galaxy M51 comes with firmware version M515FXXS4DWA3 (via). The device isn’t getting any new features or changes with this release. Samsung is only seeding the latest vulnerability fixes to the phone.
There are plenty of those fixes in this month’s SMR, though. The Korean firm’s official SMR tracker mentions more than 70 patches for January 2023, including over 50 patches from Google. All of Google’s ASB (Android Security Bulletin) patches for this month were labeled “high-severity”.
These flaws affect the entire Android ecosystem. The other 20 patches from Samsung, which are called Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) and only affect Android-powered Galaxy devices, were of varying severity.
The Korean behemoth patched an issue with the Knox security service where improper handling of insufficient permissions or privileges allowed attackers to access the device’s SIM PIN.
Samsung also fixed a Secure Folder vulnerability caused by an improper implementation logic. It kept the Secure Folder unlocked under certain conditions. Other SVE items patches this month affected systems apps and components like Wi-Fi Service, NFC, and the Telecom Application.
The Galaxy M51 is not eligible for the Android 13 update
Samsung launched the Galaxy M51 in August 2020 as a premium mid-range model in its Galaxy A lineup. The device shipped with Android 10 onboard. The Korean firm’s support policy promised only two major Android OS updates for the phone. Those updates have already arrived in the form of Android 11 and Android 12. The handset is not eligible for Android 13, which has already reached more than 70 other Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
The Galaxy M51 will continue to get security updates, though. These updates will come once every six months or so until September 2024. One of those releases is now on the way. The rollout may currently be limited to Latin America, but it’s only a matter of time before Samsung covers units globally. If you’re using this phone, you can navigate to Settings > Software update on your phone and tap on Download and install to check for updates.