The 2022 Samsung unpacked event is here, and it isn’t the announcement of devices that takes the cake this time. Rather, it is the announcement that its top line of mobile devices will get 4 major software updates and 5 years of security patches.
In other words, according to the current cycle, they will get 4 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of monthly security updates. Impressive, when you consider that Google’s own Pixel devices get only 3 major software updates.
In the last two years, Samsung has stepped up the game with respect to Android updates. They have gotten faster at it than any other brand besides Google. And in the case of monthly security updates, sometimes they have been faster on the draw than Google.
It is very impressive to see. As a matter of fact, I wonder how the team at HMD Global are taking this development. Nokia and Samsung are age-long rivals, and now it looks like the latter have swallowed up the former’s lunch completely.
The unique selling point of Nokia Android smartphones is guaranteed 3 years of major software updates. With Samsung going for 4 years (albeit not for all their models), one wonders how unique that proposition is now. Yes; Nokia still offers stock Android, so that’s something, I guess.
These are the Samsung smartphones and tablets that are getting 4 major software upgrades and 5 years security patches
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22+
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21
- Samsung Galaxy S21+
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Impressive effort by Samsung. Of course, it isn’t anything close to what Apple does. iPhone models get software updates for you to 7 years after their releases. Samsung has taken a step to bridge that gap a little more.
Let’s see how the rest of the industry responds. Over to you, Google, Nokia, OnePlus, Motorola, and Xiaomi.