Highlights
- Google raises industry standards by offering seven years of OS and security updates for its Pixel 8 series.
- Samsung currently provides four years of OS updates and an extra year of security updates for its Galaxy devices.
- Over 10 billion Samsung Galaxy devices will receive updates annually.
In the cutthroat world of smartphones, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve.
With Google recently upping the ante by promising a whopping seven years of OS and security updates for its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices, other major players in the industry are feeling the heat.
One such company is Samsung, the South Korean tech giant known for its Galaxy series.
Google’s Bold Move
Traditionally, Google, which manages both Pixel hardware and Android software, committed to three years of OS updates.
However, this year marked a drastic shift in their approach. Google extended its software support, promising seven years of updates for the Pixel 8 series.
This move was even more significant considering it outstripped Apple’s offering for its iPhones, despite the latter also being in control of both hardware and software aspects of their devices.
Samsung’s Response
Samsung, currently offering four years of OS updates and an additional year of security updates for its Galaxy S21, S22, and S23 series, is now facing pressure to revisit its software support strategy.
The Galaxy series has a wide global reach, with over 1 billion devices updated monthly and a staggering 10 billion updated annually.
In terms of security updates, Samsung has managed to outpace even Google, pushing security patches to its flagship and mid-range Galaxy models even before Google updates its Pixel lineup.
However, the game has changed with Google’s recent announcement. The pressure is mounting for Samsung to extend its software commitment, especially for the anticipated Galaxy S24 flagship line.
A Glimpse into Samsung’s Plans
During Samsung’s annual developer conference in San Francisco, Shin-Chul Baik, the Principal Engineer and Technical Program Manager of the Mobile eXperience Security Team, shed light on Samsung’s perspective.
He mentioned that discussions have been underway about prolonging security update support beyond the current five years.
Baik emphasized Samsung’s dedication, highlighting the efforts put into delivering timely security patches for over 150 Galaxy devices across the globe.
FAQs
How long does Google promise to provide OS and security updates for the Pixel 8 series?
Google has committed to seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 8 series.
What is Samsung’s current software support commitment for its Galaxy series?
Samsung guarantees four years of OS updates and an additional year of security updates for devices like the Galaxy S21, S22, and S23 series.
How has Samsung’s software update delivery compared to Google’s in recent times?
Samsung has been pushing security updates to its flagship and mid-range models even before Google releases updates for its Pixel devices.
Were there any indications from Samsung about extending its software support timeline?
Yes, during Samsung’s annual developer conference, discussions about extending security update support beyond the current five years were hinted at.
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