question on Samsung app updates

[jskinvest]

After reading about One UI and the faster Android updates for Samsung flagships I am considering the Galaxy S11 for next year. I haven't been with Samsung since the Galaxy S6. I have been a Pixel user ever since, now on the Pixel 3XL.

Anyway my question is this: How frequently does Samsung update and improve their apps? I am talking apps like the phone dialer, messages, Gallery, Camera etc....

Also will Google apps have the same functionality on a Galaxy phone as they do on the Pixel? For example are Android messages smart replies the same on both devices? Google photos for example added background blur option to all photos. Would that still be available on Google photos running on a Galaxy device?


Any input is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[dendron01]

After reading about One UI and the faster Android updates for Samsung flagships I am considering the Galaxy S11 for next year. I haven't been with Samsung since the Galaxy S6. I have been a Pixel user ever since, now on the Pixel 3XL.

Anyway my question is this: How frequently does Samsung update and improve their apps? I am talking apps like the phone dialer, messages, Gallery, Camera etc....

Also will Google apps have the same functionality on a Galaxy phone as they do on the Pixel? For example are Android messages smart replies the same on both devices? Google photos for example added background blur option to all photos. Would that still be available on Google photos running on a Galaxy device?


Any input is appreciated. Thank you.

Being off and on Samsung over the years, my general impression with their built-in, main system apps is minor tweaks and updates are bundled with system updates, not via Playstore or the Samsung store. You may or may not see a major update to the most current Samsung system apps with a full letter Android upgrade. That should happen twice over the entire life of the phone.

I will say this...between system, Playstore, and Samsung store apps there are a LOT more apps on a Samsung and many can only be disabled, not removed. So if bloatware is an issue for you Samsung might not be the optimal choice.

 

[jskinvest]

Being off and on Samsung over the years, my general impression with their built-in, main system apps is minor tweaks and updates are bundled with system updates, not via Playstore or the Samsung store. You may or may not see a major update to the most current Samsung system apps with a full letter Android upgrade. That should happen twice over the entire life of the phone...

How often are the system updates? Are they included with the monthly security patches?

 

[dendron01]

How often are the system updates? Are they included with the monthly security patches?

Many of them are bundled so it's hard to tell. Usually the monthly security patch will come with a generic description. Sometimes it will make mention of bug fixes or improvements but won't go into any detail. Aside from when the camera received a major update, I don't recall anything more detailed every being mentioned. In most cases the only way to know for sure would be to monitor the version numbers of the apps themselves, before and after the monthly patches.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Pretty much the same as you'd have in Pixel minus hardware specific patches. And expect to see a few whenever a new phone comes out specific to it.

Watch Android news sites like Sammobile and also XDA.

 

[Rukbat]

Samsung usually publishes updates - version and/or security - 4 times a year. Apps are updated as needed - if there's no reason to update an app, it's not updated. If an app is updated but has a major bug, the update to fix that bug might come out the same week.

As far as "Google apps", that's up to the app, not the phone manufacturer, unless the phone lacks the hardware for the app to perform an action it was written to perform. That's whether Google develops the app or someone else does. Software does what it's developed to do if the hardware is capable of it - Android, Windows, MacOS - it makes no difference. An app doesn't stop a particular function from working because it's on a different device unless the device is incapable of performing the function. (That's not saying that Windows software works on Android phones, but a phone is a computer, the same way a laptop or desktop is a computer, and it follows the same rules.)

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Samsung, and Google, post Project Treble are no longer on quarterly updates. That's over.

Camera, fingerprint sensor and recognition do get software improvements. Firmware can patch microcode and overcome issues found in cpu and hardware.

Sammy is on a yearly OS release. What happens during the year with the operating system is anyone's guess.

 

[jskinvest]

Samsung usually publishes updates - version and/or security - 4 times a year. Apps are updated as needed - if there's no reason to update an app, it's not updated. If an app is updated but has a major bug, the update to fix that bug might come out the same week.

As far as "Google apps", that's up to the app, not the phone manufacturer, unless the phone lacks the hardware for the app to perform an action it was written to perform. That's whether Google develops the app or someone else does. Software does what it's developed to do if the hardware is capable of it - Android, Windows, MacOS - it makes no difference. An app doesn't stop a particular function from working because it's on a different device unless the device is incapable of performing the function. (That's not saying that Windows software works on Android phones, but a phone is a computer, the same way a laptop or desktop is a computer, and it follows the same rules.)

From what I read though it seems for example that the blur photo option in Google photos was added in a Pixel Feature Drop which would mean to me that it was exclusive to Pixels. Am I right or is that function now also available on Google photos on a galaxy or any other phone as long as the app is updated?

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

From what I read though it seems for example that the blur photo option in Google photos was added in a Pixel Feature Drop which would mean to me that it was exclusive to Pixels. Am I right or is that function now also available on Google photos on a galaxy or any other phone as long as the app is updated?

I believe it is pixel only.

 

[jskinvest]

I believe it is pixel only.

You are correct. I just found this article:

https://www.express.co.uk/life-styl...-Photos-update-portrait-mode-feature-released

So it seems like switching to a Galaxy in March may not be a great idea since I'd be giving up some great software features exclusive to pixels. Thoughts?

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

You are correct. I just found this article:

https://www.express.co.uk/life-styl...-Photos-update-portrait-mode-feature-released

So it seems like switching to a Galaxy in March may not be a great idea since I'd be giving up some great software features exclusive to pixels. Thoughts?

It is a personal choice, but you would lose pixel-specific updates. Plus call screen (if in the US) and the new assistant on device.

 

[jskinvest]

It is a personal choice, but you would lose pixel-specific updates. Plus call screen (if in the US) and the new assistant on device.

Understood. Call screen I don't really care about and I'm still on Pixel 3 XL so I don't have on device assistant.