What you should know
– Google promises seven years of OS and security updates for the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, surpassing Samsung‘s four years of OS updates and five years of security updates for their Galaxy S21, S22, and S23 series.
– Samsung is looking to expand the number of years of software support for its upcoming flagship Galaxy S24 line, potentially matching the seven years of security updates offered by Google.
– Samsung currently updates over 1 billion Galaxy devices each month and over 10 billion each year, releasing security updates before Google’s monthly update to the Pixel line.
– While Samsung may not match Google’s seven years of OS updates, they could potentially match the seven years of security updates for the Pixel 8 series.
Full Story
Google has recently made headlines by promising seven years of OS and security updates for its new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. This move has been seen as a response to criticism from Pixel owners who were dissatisfied with the company’s previous three-year update guarantee. By offering longer software support than even Apple, Google has raised the bar for smartphone manufacturers.
As expected, this has put pressure on Samsung to up its game. Currently, Samsung provides four years of OS updates and five years of security updates for its Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Galaxy S23 series. However, the company is reportedly looking to expand the number of years of software support for its upcoming flagship Galaxy S24 line. This development comes as no surprise, considering that Samsung updates over 1 billion Galaxy devices each month and has become known for releasing security updates before Google does.
During Samsung’s recent developer conference, Shin-Chul Baik, the Principal Engineer and Technical Program Manager of the Mobile eXperience Security Team, revealed that the company has been discussing increasing security update support for longer than five years. Samsung has invested significant resources in delivering timely security patches to over 150 Galaxy devices worldwide, showcasing its commitment to user safety.
While it remains to be seen whether Samsung will be able to match Google’s impressive seven-year OS update guarantee, it is possible that the company could provide seven years of security updates for its smartphones. This would certainly be a significant improvement and address the growing demand for longer software support among smartphone users.
In conclusion, Google’s decision to offer seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 8 series has set a new standard in the industry. Samsung, known for its extensive global reach and commitment to security, is now under pressure to respond with its own improved software support. As smartphone users increasingly prioritize longer software updates, it will be interesting to see how other manufacturers adapt to meet these expectations.
