Software Updates (Unlocked Phones, S22 Ultra)

[mustang7757]

Samsung support confirmed that unlocked phones will take longer to patch than carrier versions. Looks like I'm shipping mine back. Stopped buying Samsung 6 years ago because of their lack of patches and support. Thought they were finally getting better about it but it looks like they fooled me again.

Thats not true , ive been unlocked version for some time majority of the time they get it before carrier and thats not a good reason to return a phone in my opinion.

 

[bhatech]

Samsung support confirmed that unlocked phones will take longer to patch than carrier versions. Looks like I'm shipping mine back. Stopped buying Samsung 6 years ago because of their lack of patches and support. Thought they were finally getting better about it but it looks like they fooled me again.

Lol as if Samsung support has any clue what they are talking about .. they probably don't even have clue about difference between unlocked and carrier models.

If you need info on updates best bet is to get from actual users in the forums who buy those models. There are many instances when US unlocked models have got updates before carrier model. It depends some months it may get sooner and some months later. But at the end all the US models (unlocked and carrier) kind of get updates within the same timeframe of few days here and there.

 

[Cherenkov]

That's what their support chat just quoted me. For me, it's not an acceptable risk to have a device patched weeks after critical exploits are announced. That gives bad actors that much more time to compromise my device before Samsung gets around to updating it. I can't gamble $1000 on a new device praying that this time around Samsung is different and holds up their promise to post regular updates.

But that's just me. I'm sure Samsung will update the phone regularly. I'm sure for most people that will be plenty. It seems like a really nice phone. I might buy one through a carrier so at least it'll be updated regularly.

 

[mustang7757]

That's what their support chat just quoted me. For me, it's not an acceptable risk to have a device patched weeks after critical exploits are announced. That gives bad actors that much more time to compromise my device before Samsung gets around to updating it. I can't gamble $1000 on a new device praying that this time around Samsung is different and holds up their promise to post regular updates.

But that's just me. I'm sure Samsung will update the phone regularly. I'm sure for most people that will be plenty. It seems like a really nice phone. I might buy one through a carrier so at least it'll be updated regularly.

What happens if carrier version doesn't updated weeks after the unlocked ? It can go both ways

 

[Cherenkov]

Then I guess I'll have to stick with my ugly AF Pixel (man do I hate the new UI). Or go back to iPhone.

Again I'm not advising or criticizing anyone else. If what you're saying is correct then Samsung is not a good brand for me, and that's fine. That's why I'm checking all this while I'm still within my return window.

 

[mustang7757]

Then I guess I'll have to stick with my ugly AF Pixel (man do I hate the new UI). Or go back to iPhone.

Again I'm not advising or criticizing anyone else. If what you're saying is correct then Samsung is not a good brand for me, and that's fine. That's why I'm checking all this while I'm still within my return window.

I hear you , same goes pixels some carrier don't put out same day as Google launches it unlocked version or not , Verizon for example had this happen. Either way I'm sure you'll enjoy the device you stick with both are great.

 

[Cherenkov]

I've had pixels since the 3 and all of them have been updated first Monday of the month like clockwork. The Pixel 6 is the first in a long time to have updates delayed, and even then it was only the 6, the other models all got their updates on time. When the 5a came out it wasn't updated until the following first Monday, but we did get those patches that day. But I've always used them unlocked so I can't speak to carrier delays for the Pixels.

 

[mustang7757]

Yeah pixels are more you know what day to expect but things happen, let us know which way you go .

 

[bhatech]

I've had pixels since the 3 and all of them have been updated first Monday of the month like clockwork. The Pixel 6 is the first in a long time to have updates delayed, and even then it was only the 6, the other models all got their updates on time. When the 5a came out it wasn't updated until the following first Monday, but we did get those patches that day. But I've always used them unlocked so I can't speak to carrier delays for the Pixels.

I only buy unlocked devices and have had every unlocked Nexus/Pixel and even they require carrier certifications. It has nothing to do with unlocked vs carrier at least in the US, unless you are Apple who puts the carriers in their right place.

There are many instances when my google store unlocked pixel with T-Mobile sim hasn’t received update on the first Monday of the month because useless T-Mobile hasn’t certified it. Most of the times I have seen T-Mobile is the worst in certifying on time. Though I just side load or put in an inactive Verizon or another carrier sim which has update certified to pull the update through. Workarounds are there and those workarounds apply to Samsung phones as well.

But in general yes if updates are important then Pixel is the way to go still even though Samsung in recent times has been matching or many times outclassing Pixels with updates especially on the flagship Samsung phones.

 

[Gary02468]

That's what their support chat just quoted me. For me, it's not an acceptable risk to have a device patched weeks after critical exploits are announced. That gives bad actors that much more time to compromise my device before Samsung gets around to updating it.

I respect your concern. But just for perspective, are there any known instances in the US of a phone being hacked because of a major vendor's delay in releasing a security update? Of course, even if not, it could still happen in the future, but so could a zero-day attack even if all updates are on time.

I can't gamble $1000 on a new device praying that this time around Samsung is different and holds up their promise to post regular updates.

Samsung does post frequent updates, but sometimes with delays. My unlocked S21 Ultra, released 13 months ago, has had 20 firmware updates.

 

[theobject]

I've had pixels since the 3 and all of them have been updated first Monday of the month like clockwork. The Pixel 6 is the first in a long time to have updates delayed, and even then it was only the 6, the other models all got their updates on time. When the 5a came out it wasn't updated until the following first Monday, but we did get those patches that day. But I've always used them unlocked so I can't speak to carrier delays for the Pixels.

Bottom line is what is your risk acceptance. If you expect vendors of mobile device to patch as quickly as say Microsoft that is not going to happen. As Gary02468 said how many instances of mobile devices being compromised have occurred? You can add extra protection by installing 3rd party security software.

 

[pags11]

Samsung has to release an update here soon for U.S. unlocked devices?

 

[Cherenkov]

Samsung just suffered a major security breach. 190GB of data including source code and security algorithms are in the wild. I don't know what the real life threat of this is for now or if it'll delay the patches even further. I'm putting in my return request. I'm sure at some point Samsung will release patches to deal with this. I have no idea how long it will be until then or the severity of the risk until they do. Since nobody on their support team can give me a straight answer I have a hard time trusting them.

 

[Will_T]

Yes, all US S22 Ultras, carrier or unlocked, are on the originally installed AVA6 firmware, which is at the Jan 1 security patch level. You can always look that up on sammobile.com.

I am a bit confused. My Verizon does indeed seem to still be on the January version, (screenshot 1 below), even though it tells me the phone has the latest update. But when I look at the sammobile site it shows the version for my model Verizon phone as the March 3 version?

Edit: Another screen (3rd photo below), seems to show a late Feb version so maybe not the March 3 release. But why would my phone still show January 8th and say it is up to date?

My Phone:



Sammobile



Sammobile

 

[mustang7757]

I am a bit confused. My Verizon does indeed seem to still be on the January version, (screenshot 1 below), even though it tells me the phone has the latest update. But when I look at the sammobile site it shows the version for my model Verizon phone as the March 3 version?

Edit: Another screen (3rd photo below), seems to show a late Feb version so maybe not the March 3 release. But why would my phone still show January 8th and say it is up to date?

My Phone:
View attachment 342730


Sammobile
View attachment 342731


Sammobile

View attachment 342732

What's the last 4 of your build number in setting >about phone >software page

 

[Will_T]

What's the last 4 of your build number in setting >about phone >software page

AVA6! Thanks. So even though that 1st screen above says Jan 8th, and the Android security patch leven on the phone says January 1st, it appears I do have the latest build? It gets confusing to a novice trying to parse out all these different versions of this stuff.

 

[mustang7757]

AVA6! Thanks. So even though that 1st screen above says Jan 8th, and the Android security patch leven on the phone says January 1st, it appears I do have the latest build? It gets confusing to a novice trying to parse out all these different versions of this stuff.

Welcome!

Yeah that looks to be what everyone else on , my unlocked version is also on that.

 

[bhatech]

AVA6! Thanks. So even though that 1st screen above says Jan 8th, and the Android security patch leven on the phone says January 1st, it appears I do have the latest build? It gets confusing to a novice trying to parse out all these different versions of this stuff.

Just don't worry about it, you'll get an update pushed when it's available. And yes you have the latest build, just know that Samsung software updates depends on country, carrier and many other factors. Just because some other international model has update doesn't mean we have the update. Just wait and it'll be pushed to your phone when available.

 

[Will_T]

Just wait and it'll be pushed to your phone when available.

I remember when I first got my Pixel 2XL how pleased I was with the fast updates. But I came back to Samsung as I was not a big fan of either the Pixel 5 or 6. And it seems like Samsung has maybe gotten better and faster with updates since years ago. But I remember that Verizon was a big part of the delay back then also.

 

[pags11]

Word is we may have an update tomorrow morning.