New software update policy:
At the Galaxy Unpacked event on August 05, 2020, Samsung announced that it will be providing at least three major Android OS updates to its flagship smartphones. The new software update policy starts with the newly launched three flagship smartphones — the Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 2. This is applicable to the device launched with Android 9 or later.
Samsung’s latest phones, the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 series will get updated to Android 13. While the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series, which will get updated to Android 12.
This is fantastic news and something everyone (including me) wanted the company to do. For the longest time, most Samsung Galaxy flagship devices get two major OS updates and two years of regular monthly security patches, and quarterly patches in the third year.
Join our Samsung RPRNA channel on Telegram
My opinion:
When Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 Ultra for $1300 we all were expecting that Samsung will give at least three years of software support but we did not get it.
At the Galaxy Unpacked event, on August 5, Samsung announced that it will give three major Android OS update to its smartphone starting with the Galaxy S10 series (the device launched with Android 9 or later). This is a welcome move by Samsung, this will definitely increase the sales number of its smartphones and makes every user happy.
on June 7, 2020, I gave my opinion in one article with the title “Using a $1000 Samsung Galaxy phone? You deserve 3 years of software updates”.
After the Unpacked event, I am glad to know that my Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G ($1600) is going to receive at least three major Android OS updates.
This also turned my mind to buy the newly launched Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G. The Note 20 Ultra is currently running Samsung’s One UI 2.5, which is based on Android 10. As per the new software update policy, my device will get Android 11, Android 12, and android 13.
I paid $1300 for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G in Mystic Bronze color, along with the unique S Pen, the device has a massive 6.9-inch display, 12GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, Snapdragon 865+ chipset, 4500mAh battery, pro-grade cameras, and impressive design.
Samsung makes good smartphones with durable hardware (I mean Snapdragon variant, sorry Exynos users) and great software features.
At this moment, the 3 years of major Android OS update policy is only for the flagship smartphones. We are likely to see three-years of Android OS update policy to come for mid-range smartphones in the future. This will definitely help Samsung to gain mid-range smartphone markets in countries like India where Samsung is the second-biggest smartphone seller at this moment. Just for the information, Apple is giving five major platform update to its $400 phone.
The only disappointment with the announcement is, Samsung excluded the Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S9 series from the three major OS update policy. These two devices are still compatible (because of their hardware) to run Android 11. Both the devices have received the Android 10 update and currently running the One UI 2.1, also based on Android 10.
READ MORE: Here’s the list of eligible Samsung devices that will get the One UI 3.0/Android 11
By providing three major platform update to flagship Galaxy devices, Samsung is now on the same table with Google and OnePlus, they have been giving three major platform updates to their smartphones. In addition, by giving three major Android OS update to its flagship smartphones, Samsung definitely going is to earn some users from Apple‘s bag.
This was the long awaiting decision we all were expecting from Samsung. So now, what’s your opinion? Are you happy with the decision? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.
This article is written by Robin Williams.
[About Robin Williams (@SamsungCentral1)]
