Google introduced monthly security updates in August 2015 as one way to ensure that Android devices are always safe and secure. To lead by example, the search giant releases these updates for owners of Google Pixels on the first Monday of every month.
Other Android vendors can also pick up the update and integrate the new changes into their ROMs and distribute as OTAs, but not every one of them is committed to this course.
Several device makers are doing a pretty decent job keeping their devices up to date, however, only a handful have a clearly defined software update roadmap. Samsung, as you may have expected, is one of them.
The Korean tech giant has three categories based on how frequent software updates are released. The first category gets updated on a monthly basis while the second gets security updates on a quarterly basis. There’s also a third category of others where updates are random.
The top models like Galaxy Note 10 series, Galaxy S10 series, Galaxy S9 and Note 9 and even the aging Galaxy Note 8 and S8 duo are guaranteed monthly security updates. The Galaxy A5 2017 and A8 2018 are also in this category.
As for the rest of the Galaxy A, J, and M devices that have been around for less than a couple or so years, they get quarterly updates. The story is also true for the much older Galaxy S7 family as well as the newer Galaxy tablets. Yea, including the Galaxy Tab S6.
In order to compete with its closest rival, Huawei also keeps a similar list of devices and how frequent they receive Android security patches. Like Samsung, the top models like Huawei P30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro and even the older Mate 10 series, including the Lite, are on monthly security updates.
Interestingly, the equally impressive but affordable Honor View 20 is a class below the Huawei P30 and co. In the updated list, the View 20 is scheduled to receive quarterly security updates. What’s even more interesting is that its predecessor, the Honor View 10, still gets monthly patches.
It’s even more mind-altering to see the likes Mate 20 Lite, Mate 10 Lite, P20 Lite, Huawei P Smart 2019, Nova 3e, Nova 2i, Honor 10, Honor 9N, Honor 9i, Honor 9 Lite, and even the entry-level Honor 7X receiving monthly security patches while the Honor View 20 gets a quarterly treat.
But then again, scrolling further down the same page reveals a rather confusing scenario. Under the quarterly security updates section, the Honor View 20 is somehow joined by the Honor 10 and Nova 2i from the monthly updates’ section. I want to believe this is an error that will be rectified.
Whether the Honor View 20 featuring under the quarterly security updates section is also an error is quite hard to tell at the moment. But again, I’d want to believe the same too.
Besides the View 20, other high-profile smartphones that will also be receiving quarterly security updates are the Honor Play, Nova 3 and Nova 3i. These three are quite popular in India, but that didn’t help them either way.
NOTE: We have more Honor-related coverage in this section. You can also check out more Huawei-related stuff on this page.
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Hillary Keverenge
2097 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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