Samsung Committing to Give Devices 3 Generations of Android Updates - But There's a Catch...

[WelshDdraig]

Edit: Just as a heads up - there was an update to The Unpacked Thread by @zeusthemoose that I did not see stating the new 3 Android Generation commitment cycle, however, exact device list was not noted.
Link: 

Summary:

During its recent "Unpacked Event" - Samsung promised three generations of Android Updates. This starting with their current flagship, the Note 20 Ultra.

Recently, a list has come out containing the devices that Samsung are now extending that support to - and it's bad news for some previous flagship holders that refuse to update (like myself and Linus, who are both using the Note 9 - I'll cut to the chase, It ain't on that list chief.)

 

(credit: Samsung - https://www.samsung.com/uk/smartphones/galaxy-note20/)

 

Quotes

Quote

Generally, Samsung will provide three years of updates for all of the Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy Z devices released in 2019 and 2020. That includes the S10 and S20 line of phones, and also more niche devices like the Galaxy Fold, which was recently retroactively added to be part of Samsung’s Galaxy Z line of foldable devices.

Samsung is being touted as doing this because people are holding on to their phones for longer as they typically do everything they need or have features they like (cough Headphone jack). As such, they are trying to extend the software support line for older devices. A cool thing to note (ha pun intended) is that now Samsung has committed to a 3 Generation cycle of Android updates - that now puts them equal to Google's commitment to the Pixel line of phones.

 

But here is that catch I mentioned in the title - That's 3 generations of updates and not 3 years - which is what most people would assume. An example is the current flagship, the Note 20 Ultra. It comes pre-loaded with Android 10, so we should see it get updates to at the minimum Android 13 (when ever that gets announced in the future).

 

Here is the full list of devices Samsung has committed to giving 3 Cycles of Android updates to:

• Galaxy S series: Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, S20 Ultra, S20+ 5G, S20+, S20 5G, S20 in addition to S10 5G, S10+, S10, S10e, S10 Lite and upcoming S series devices
• Galaxy Note series: Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 5G, Note20, Note10+ 5G, Note10+, Note10 5G, Note10, Note10 Lite and upcoming Note series devices
  • I'm seeing a lack of Note 9 in this list  
• Galaxy Foldable devices: Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Z Fold2, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip, Fold 5G, Fold and upcoming Z series devices
• Galaxy A series: Galaxy A71 5G, A71, A51 5G, A51, A90 5G and select upcoming A series devices
• Tablets: Galaxy Tab S7+ 5G, Tab S7+, Tab S7 5G3, Tab S7, Tab S6 5G4, Tab S6, Tab S6 Lite and upcoming Tab S series devices

 

 

My thoughts

Not going to lie, I am kind of disapointed my Note 9 won't be getting the same treatment for the update cycle. Does that mean Samsung are going to stop updating it soon? Is it effectively EOL now for a still perfectly capable smartphone? Will it get the Android 11 update or not? So many questions I have (mainly because of my personal device).

 

Overall - I think it's a good thing that Samsung is committing this cycle, however - some flagships are very capable and some re-assurance they wont be forgotten about less than 3 years in their cycle would be nice.

 

Your thoughts - please leave them down below

 

Sources

Gizmodo UK: https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/08/here-are-all-the-samsung-devices-getting-3-generations-of-android-upgrades/

[mr moose]

Does any modern phone even last 3 generations anymore? 

 

 

[Orangeator]

You can always install a custom OS/ROM onto older devices, such as the Galaxy 8 and 9 series. 

[silberdrachi]

1 minute ago, mr moose said:

Does any modern phone even last 3 generations anymore? 

 

 

Define: Lasts

 

I have have a few phones that are older than 3 generations. They still call, access the internet, can do almost anything in the playstore other than modern games. I have them doing things like being a remote for plex/kodi, home automation, entertainment systems.My current phone i think is coming up on 2 years and its battery still lasts 2 days of moderate use (6hr screen on with 50% brightness).

 

If youre willing to replace your battery (not hard for most phones) 3 years is a joke. You can keep a modern smartphone alive until they shut off the 4g antennas for 8g or whatever. They are only just now shutting off 3g that came out in 2002.

 

"Planned Obsolescence" and "Forced Upgrades" are a social thing, not a technology issue.

[mr moose]

1 minute ago, silberdrachi said:

Define: Lasts

 

I have have a few phones that are older than 3 generations. They still call, access the internet, can do almost anything in the playstore other than modern games. I have them doing things like being a remote for plex/kodi, home automation, entertainment systems.My current phone i think is coming up on 2 years and its battery still lasts 2 days of moderate use (6hr screen on with 50% brightness).

 

If youre willing to replace your battery (not hard for most phones) 3 years is a joke. You can keep a modern smartphone alive until they shut off the 4g antennas for 8g or whatever. They are only just now shutting off 3g that came out in 2002.

 

"Planned Obsolescence" and "Forced Upgrades" are a social thing, not a technology issue.

Physically, before the battery shits, the screen breaks, something in an update causes it to shit the bed.

 

Apple or google decide the app you're using and paid for no longer conforms to "their" policy so is terminated.

 

[silberdrachi]

1 minute ago, mr moose said:

Physically, before the battery shits, the screen breaks, something in an update causes it to shit the bed.

 

Apple or google decide the app you're using and paid for no longer conforms to "their" policy so is terminated.

 

All those things are mitigate-able by choices made at purchase of the phone i think. User replaceable battery and screen isnt nearly as difficult as most people make it out to be, and costs a fraction of what even going to a store to replace it would cost. Updates that cause a phone to shit the bed.... well im not sure that has ever happened unless a you lost power in a bios flash? but choosing a phone or a brand that has good enough public support on something like XDA isnt hard. And rooting and flashing (on android) is easier now more than ever id say.

 

Now.... being reliant on the app stores? That is a choice. Choosing to use and apple phone means you agree to whatever shit show that apple lets you run. Choosing to use the play store just means you dont care enough to find another store, or just the apk yourself.

 

I mean i hate that companies make 1.2k USD phones, and then wash their hands of them in 3 years. I hate that google takes a fucking year to roll out a major update. But i also understand that people looking for both those things, are in the minority. With the vast majority of the public really only caring that their phone works and costs somewhere between 300 and 600 dollars.

[AnonymousGuy]

18 minutes ago, Orangeator said:

You can always install a custom OS/ROM onto older devices, such as the Galaxy 8 and 9 series. 

Not really.  You may never get unlocked bootloader, it will probably trip Knox or Enclave or whatever the fuck they call their security shit nowadays.  So then you're forever locked out of Pay tools or ever running corporate apps.  And then whatever custom ROM will probably break half the features of your phone because it's made by some douchey xda-dev in his spare time cobbling a bunch of shit together thinking he's god.

[dizmo]

This was made clear when they did their press event for it. There were even several outlets that made it clear that this was simply generations, not years. Though, really, that's basically the same thing. So. I don't really see any kind of issue with it. What people will likely be upset about is that I believe the release that comes out in the fall will be considered one of the generations. It's not that bad though. They still give you security updates well into the 3-4 year mark.

 

Haha, I think hoping your Note9 would make it was a bit hopeful

Not sure why you'd think your phone is EOL. Just because it doesn't get the newest Android doesn't mean it's dead.

 

24 minutes ago, mr moose said:

Does any modern phone even last 3 generations anymore?

I've used phones that are quite old without issue.

[Orangeator]

5 minutes ago, AnonymousGuy said:

made by some douchey xda-dev in his spare time cobbling a bunch of shit together thinking he's god.

But hey, for a spare time project, some of them are really good lol. But yes, I get your overall point, its not a guarantee that every series 8 and 9 owner can simply switch to another ROM, which is problematic. Personally, I have been successful with it, but many others might not have such knowledge and luck. 

[mr moose]

5 minutes ago, silberdrachi said:

All those things are mitigate-able by choices made at purchase of the phone i think. User replaceable battery and screen isnt nearly as difficult as most people make it out to be, and costs a fraction of what even going to a store to replace it would cost. Updates that cause a phone to shit the bed.... well im not sure that has ever happened unless a you lost power in a bios flash? but choosing a phone or a brand that has good enough public support on something like XDA isnt hard. And rooting and flashing (on android) is easier now more than ever id say.

If you have to use a spudger and or screw driver to change the battery then it is not a consumer friendly option.  Just because a handful of tech oriented people can doesn't mean the general consumer knows anything about it or wants to.  Even more so when it comes to replacing screens.   If the battery can't be swapped out l with no tools like they used to then it is not user replaceable. Just a simple google search will show you that many times basic updates cause phones to brick,  it is common with all phones.

 

5 minutes ago, silberdrachi said:

Now.... being reliant on the app stores? That is a choice. Choosing to use and apple phone means you agree to whatever shit show that apple lets you run. Choosing to use the play store just means you dont care enough to find another store, or just the apk yourself.

BS,  both apple and google kicked out fortnight.  If you had bought stuff for that game you can now no longer advance in it, if you are lucky you will still be able to play with what you have.

 

The only options most people have are the app store and the play store and they are tied to the policies of those stores.  

 

 

5 minutes ago, silberdrachi said:

I mean i hate that companies make 1.2k USD phones, and then wash their hands of them in 3 years. I hate that google takes a fucking year to roll out a major update. But i also understand that people looking for both those things, are in the minority. With the vast majority of the public really only caring that their phone works and costs somewhere between 300 and 600 dollars.

 

I want a phone that is built to last and is supported by the maker (both OS and hardware).  This whole 'you used it wrong"  "you need to work out how to sideload" and "you shouldn't have bought an iphone if you wanted that app to stay the same, just swap it for an android" are all the result of people allowing companies to dictate end usage and quality and do nothing about it.

[AnonymousGuy]

5 minutes ago, Orangeator said:

But hey, for a spare time project, some of them are really good lol. But yes, I get your overall point, its not a guarantee that every series 8 and 9 owner can simply switch to another ROM, which is problematic. Personally, I have been successful with it, but many others might not have such knowledge and luck. 

You can probably guess I'm salty about a S7 (or maybe it was S6?) where I tried a custom ROM and got absolutely fucked on it

 

I then switched to iOS, also because I was tired of Samsung abandoning device support 3 months after launch with half assed "updates" that took a year to show up on the actual device and would then be minor security things or Android.1 update.  And that's how I went from buying a Galaxy S phone every year to using my 7 Plus four years after buying it new.

[WelshDdraig]

12 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Haha, I think hoping your Note9 would make it was a bit hopeful

Not sure why you'd think your phone is EOL. Just because it doesn't get the newest Android doesn't mean it's dead.

I know it was being hopeful, just would have been nice for a flagship that's not too old to not be forgotten.
And I don't think my phone is EOL, quite the opposite. I was trying to make a point of how many more feature updates would it get before Samsung drops it for just security updates - as it is still quite the capable phone. (not planning on getting a new one when my contract runs out - this does everything I need and is plenty fast enough for myself).

[dizmo]

43 minutes ago, WelshDdraig said:

I know it was being hopeful, just would have been nice for a flagship that's not too old to not be forgotten.
And I don't think my phone is EOL, quite the opposite. I was trying to make a point of how many more feature updates would it get before Samsung drops it for just security updates - as it is still quite the capable phone. (not planning on getting a new one when my contract runs out - this does everything I need and is plenty fast enough for myself).

I mean the phone's almost 3 years old. Not many phones get Android updates after that, and sometimes IIRC it has to do with Qualcomm, not the OEMs.

[WelshDdraig]

Just now, dizmo said:

I mean the phone's almost 3 years old. Not many phones get Android updates after that, and sometimes IIRC it has to do with Qualcomm, not the OEMs.

Eh - still don't like the fact that support gets dropped so soon though.
My phone has the gimped Exynos chip that's worse than the equivalent Qualcomm chip - so I'm dependent on Samsung with this one. (although I had no idea Qualcomm had a say in cycle support - considering the only Qualcomm chip phone I had was a Sony Xperia Z3 (got 1 update out of it before Google mandated the next Android was 64-bit only).

[dizmo]

29 minutes ago, WelshDdraig said:

Eh - still don't like the fact that support gets dropped so soon though.
My phone has the gimped Exynos chip that's worse than the equivalent Qualcomm chip - so I'm dependent on Samsung with this one. (although I had no idea Qualcomm had a say in cycle support - considering the only Qualcomm chip phone I had was a Sony Xperia Z3 (got 1 update out of it before Google mandated the next Android was 64-bit only).

If they don't give drivers for the SoC there isn't really much you can do IIRC.

[Belgarathian]

2 hours ago, mr moose said:

Does any modern phone even last 3 generations anymore? 

 

 

iPhone...

• Mum 6S+ - History: 3GS
• Dad 7+ - History: 6, 4+, 3GS
• Brother 7+ - History: 4+
• Partner X
• Me Xr - History: X, 7+, 6

 

Not an iPhone, but I still daily drive an iPad Pro 1st gen

[Dabombinable]

2 hours ago, mr moose said:

Does any modern phone even last 3 generations anymore? 

 

 

Some are still shipping with Android 7.1.1 (eg. my 2018 J2 Pro)...so technically yes. That phone had it's last update towards the start of the year, since Samsung killed the J series

[mr moose]

5 minutes ago, Belgarathian said:

iPhone...

• Mum 6S+ - History: 3GS
• Dad 7+ - History: 6, 4+, 3GS
• Brother 7+ - History: 4+
• Partner X
• Me Xr - History: X, 7+, 6

 

Not an iPhone, but I still daily drive an iPad Pro 1st gen

lucky is all i can say.  I've seen more broken screens in the last 5 years than I have over the entirety of smart phone history (2003).

[TetraSky]

Considering they've been guilty of shipping phones with an outdated version of Android, putting out the update within weeks of release and then providing an update to the next android version a year later... The usual two gen of android updates are over within a year and a bit.

So three generation is good. It means we actually get the same amount of updates as others who don't ship with an outdated version of Android when the newest version has been out for months by that point.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Just now, mr moose said:

lucky is all i can say.  I've seen more broken screens in the last 5 years than I have over the entirety of smart phone history (2003).

I thought you were referring to support and overall usability at first. I don't see why phones can't last more than 3 years unless you're the type of person who literally washes their hands with oil. Studies should be done on why people like Linus can't resist dropping every single atom they get their hands on. 

[Belgarathian]

6 minutes ago, mr moose said:

lucky is all i can say.  I've seen more broken screens in the last 5 years than I have over the entirety of smart phone history (2003).

We all use glass screen protectors of which we've broken plenty, but the only screen that got destroyed was my brother's when he ran over it with a tractor.

[mr moose]

1 minute ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

I thought you were referring to support and overall usability at first. I don't see why phones can't last more than 3 years unless you're the type of person who literally washes their hands with oil. Studies should be done on why people like Linus can't resist dropping every single atom they get their hands on. 

There is literally a screen repair shop on every corner and several popups in every mall.  Phones should not break anywhere near as much as they do.

 

 

 

[Arika]

Finally 

[mr moose]

9 minutes ago, Belgarathian said:

We all use glass screen protectors of which we've broken plenty,

 

So without the protectors the phone would have need new screens. shouldn't have to buy protection, the device should be built better like they used to be.

9 minutes ago, Belgarathian said:

but the only screen that got destroyed was my brother's when he ran over it with a tractor.

 

I can't blame the phone or maker for that.

[Belgarathian]

2 minutes ago, mr moose said:

So without the protectors the phone would have need new screens. shouldn't have to buy protection, the device should be built better like they used to be.

 

I can't blame the phone or maker for that.

Agreed, but equally if someone was going to offer me the indestructible crappy touch screens from 2003 or a modern phone that I need to spend $20 on a protector for, I'd take today's phones all-day every-day.