I've never owned a Samsung smartphone until recently, just played with a couple here and there over the years. After reading this stuff, I might hold out on setting my new Z Flip 3 up until after they get this update mess straightened out (which has been going on with the Android 12 update for too long now). I'd rather not use it than have an update nightmare, or even worse a brand new bricked phone. I've personally never had a bad os update on any phone I've ever had. And that covers low end to mid range to flagships.
Samsung always seems to struggle with updates in every area... with the premium price and brand recognition they have, I wonder how many resources they're actually investing in making their update situation work like it should? They really need to make it a priority if they're going to present themselves as the best phones money can buy. Amazing hardware isn't much good if it gets the same quality and quantity of software update support as phones half the price.
I think a huge problem for Samsung is they have WAY too many phone models they're trying to support... either support the phones you make properly, or make less phones so you can focus on supporting the phones you do make properly.
Shoving as many different phone models as you can out the door to make more money, while supporting them like crap, will become counterproductive when you develop a reputation for extremely buggy, slow, and minimal updates... especially to your flagships
I know they've tried to improve their update situation, but they still have a long way to go to match the prices they ask for their phones in general, and their premium phones in particular.
When people are scrambling to protect their $1000+ phones from phone breaking bad updates, and updates this late in the game are getting pulled, it's not a good look for the company.. and sure doesn't build confidence in the customers
