Samsung’s latest security update is here—but there’s a serious catch
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Updated June 6 with new reports on Samsung vs. Apple support.
Samsung has just released the details of the June software update for its flagship devices. The release addresses Android and Galaxy vulnerabilities, including a critical patch that needs to be installed as soon as possible and, more importantly, some that are missing
While Samsung’s bulletin excludes three patches from Google’s own update—one already made available and two not applied—that’s not the real issue for users.
The June Android update includes three critical Qualcomm fixes that aren’t yet listed in Samsung’s version. This could change, but it could also mean a delay in getting these fixes to Samsung devices – as we’ve seen in recent months. In previous months, component updates were not given until the following month’s release.
Qualcomm distributes patches directly to OEMs, and while it says they are “strongly recommended to deploy those patches to released devices as soon as possible,” Samsung warns that “some patches to be received from chip vendors may not included in this month’s security update package. They will be included in future security update packages as soon as patches are ready to be delivered.”
Where component updates are really critical, it would be nice to include them within a release, even if it delays it by a few days. The second part of the Android update is not officially released until June 5, including the Qualcomm updates. We’ll see if they roll out a revised version of Samsung in June.
Delays are a common byword when it comes to Samsung’s monthly release, largely due to the patchwork schedule that sees different devices, regions and carriers—with different locked/unlocked status—updated separately.
Where Samsung triumphs over Apple is the longevity of its support offering — at least according to recent headlines, as reported by Android Authority“Apple finally confirms how long it will support iPhones, and it’s less than Samsung… Apple will support the latest iPhones for at least five years, less than the seven years guaranteed by Samsung and Google.”
The update comes courtesy of Apple’s filing to comply with the UK’s new Product Safety and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulations. Apple’s iPhone 15, he says, will be supported for a “minimum of 5 years from the first supply date.”
That said, it’s kind of hard to praise Samsung’s 7-year PR campaign bid against Apple’s regulatory filings. iPhones often receive security updates well beyond the five-year mark, and there’s no reason to assume that will change.
like 9 to 5 Mac commented following these latest reports, “iPhones have a strong history of use and support from Apple for very long periods past this five-year warranty. For example, iOS 15 shipped a security update this March that works on the iPhone 6s, a device that is nearly nine years old.”
Although the site also pointed out that “it’s strange that Apple wouldn’t commit to matching Samsung and Google’s seven-year warranties, but iPhone users don’t have to worry about their devices missing out on security updates at the five-year mark. Apple’s track record shows it’s better than that.”
More critically—and as I’ve said before, in a world where Apple and Google can update all users in the same direction, it would be nice if Samsung started doing the same. Oddly enough, some lower-end and cheaper Galaxy devices are still getting the May update even now. And these optics aren’t particularly good when it comes to safety.
Although nothing stands out in the June release other than the critical ones currently missing from Qualcomm’s patches, Google warns that a number of its high-severity vulnerabilities “could lead to local privilege escalation without the need for additional privileges of execution”. This means that an attacker will need physical access to your phone, as opposed to something that can be executed remotely. Thus the assessment.
Samsung’s high-severity patches this month are similar in nature.
With Android 15 currently in beta, heavily focused on security and privacy improvements and features, and set to go head-to-head with iOS 18 in the fall, Samsung’s rolling update approach will continue to stand out, especially as its A.I. Galaxy fights Apple’s new. iPhone AI at the premium end of the market.
As I said last month, the optics for Samsung when Apple could update all iPhones twice in two weeks—although its mistake led to the unscheduled second update—makes it seem like the schedule has gradually had its time. .