Joe Maring / Digital Trends
We ’re just two week into 2024 , but it ’s already time to mouth about three of the bounteous smartphone releases of the intact year . Samsung has formally announced theGalaxy S24family , including the typical trio of phones . This year , it ’s the Galaxy S24 , S24 Plus , and S24 Ultra .
There ’s plenty to hash out with these phones — from the refined designs to Samsung ’s newfangled Galaxy AI features . But there ’s another item I require to shine the spot on , one that was barely mentioned during my pre - briefing with Samsung . We ’re peach about software system updates .
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The intact Galaxy S24 serial gets a significant boost for software updates , and it ’s a varlet taken straight from Google ’s playbook .
Samsung’s new software promise for the S24
Software updates have been a strong suit of Samsung ’s for a few years now . In 2020,the company committedto “ three generations of Android operating system upgrades ” for legion devices in its Galaxy S , Galaxy Note , and Galaxy A smartphone lineup — plus some foldables and tablets . In 2022,Samsung up its gamewith a promise of “ four generations ” of Android updates for some of its devices .
Now , co-occur with the launch of the Galaxy S24 series , Samsung has confirmed that the S24 , S24 Plus , andS24 Ultrawill all take in seven years of major OS upgrades and security maculation . This ensure all three phones will keep getting update through January 2031 .
It ’s unclear if / when Samsung will extend that seven class of support to other phones beyond the Galaxy S24 . I think it ’s secure to assume Samsung wo n’t retroactively bring it to older models , but I also would n’t be surprised if other releases throughout this year and beyond get like treatment .
Copying Google in the best way
If that seven - twelvemonth promise sounds familiar , that ’s because it ’s the same one Google harbinger last class for theGoogle Pixel 8andGoogle Pixel 8 Pro . It was a promise that Pixel fans had been hold off ages for , and it hand the Pixel 8 French telephone a legitimate vantage over their competitors . Now , Samsung has completely copied it .
I ’m certain Google ’s Pixel team is n’t thrilled with this sudden news program from Samsung , but I could n’t be happy .
software program updates have been a regular pain point for almost all Android headphone for far too long . Smartphone software update are n’t worth suds at the mouth for , but they are a very authoritative part of the whole software . When you pass one C ( if not thousands ) of dollars on a telephone set , you should be able to trust that it ’ll be update for eld and year to follow .
Three days of update was a unspoilt offset a few old age ago , and four years was even better . But promisingseven yearsis huge . That mean seven year of getting the latest Android versions , the fresh features , and the most important security updates . advanced smartphone chips are also considerably equipped to care farsighted - term update than they were a few days ago , so update you get in 2028 or 2029 on your Galaxy S24 should run just all right .
More of this, please
With Samsung and Google now offering nearly a decennary of promised updates for their modish Android phones , I need to see other company follow in their footsteps .
TheOnePlus 11is promised four major Android update , while honest-to-god OnePlus phones get just three . Motorola ’s more expensive phone — like theMotorola Edge Plus ( 2023 ) — are guaranteed three years of Android upgrade . lot of Motorola ’s meretricious phones get just one Android OS update before Moto telephone it quits .
I do n’t expectevery singleAndroid earpiece to get seven - year update guarantees , but there ’s understandably elbow room to better . Google and Samsung have the correct idea , and there ’s no reason Motorola , OnePlus , and other fellowship ca n’t offer monovular warrantee for their upcoming flagship phones .
computer software updates have never been the flashiest or most exciting affair to spill the beans about . But they also should n’t be miss , and I ’m glad Samsung is n’t doing that with the Galaxy S24 series . It ’s another stiff instance of the correct direction to handle update , and I hope Samsung ’s competitors take note .
