For a number of users, the iPhone is not just a smartphone, but a fashion and a symbol of wealth and superiority. Objectively, it costs unreasonably much, it looks classic and innovations cannot be found. But where Apple excels is marketing and support. The company releases iOS updates consistently and for a long time.
One of Android’s problems is fragmentation. Samsung is one of the slowest companies to update their smartphones. Until recently, the South Korean giant, like other manufacturers, had a habit of offering two years of major updates for its devices and another year of security patches. But recently things have begun to change, and the company has moved to a four-year 3+1 update cycle, with smartphones receiving three major Android updates and an extra year for security patches.
The impossibility to increase the support period was dictated by the fact that the chipsets, for technical reasons, cease to cope with Android updates after 3 years. But Google, together with the chipmaker Qualcomm, have been working towards expanding support to 4 years.
And now it has become known that Samsung will extend the update schedule. The four-year deadline for Android updates may provide additional incentive to purchase the Galaxy S22; and Galaxy Tab S8 flagship series. More attractive new devices will make the fact that they are guaranteed to receive 4 major Android updates; and one year they will receive security patches. In other words, gadgets will be updated to Android 13, Android 14, Android 15 and Android 16; and they will receive security patches for another year.
The new 4 + 1 scheme will not only apply to 2022 flagships; but will include the Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 models will also switch to this update schedule. Will there be any changes in terms of support periods for budget and mid-range Samsung devices, we have no information at the moment.
In separate news, the Korean resource ETNews has published the cost of the Samsung Galaxy S22 flagships in the home market. The base Galaxy S22 with 128GB of storage will cost $830 in South Korea, according to the report.
The cost of the base Galaxy S22 + with the same amount of memory will be exactly $ 1,000. The base Galaxy S22 Ultra with 256GB of flash storage is priced at $1,210; while the 512GB variant is priced at $1,335. Apparently, the Galaxy S22 will be cheaper in the home market than in Global markets. Recall that the official premiere of the new products will take place very soon – tomorrow, February 9.