The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are receiving the new update with firmware version G93FXXU8EVG3. The OTA (over the air) package for the duo weighs a modest 31MB, a screenshot shared by GalaxyClub shows. This is the first update for the phones since November 2020 when they picked up the September 2020 security patch. The latest release doesn’t bring a new patch. And, of course, the phones aren’t getting a new Android version either. Debuting with Android 6 Marshmallow in early 2016, they ended their life on Android 8 Oreo. This GPS update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ bears the firmware version G95FXXUCDVG4 and weighs much more at 420MB. But, these phones aren’t getting a new security patch or Android version either. They remain on the April 2021 security patch and Android 9 Pie. The duo debuted with Android 7 Nougat in March 2017. The official changelogs for these updates don’t go into detail about what has been fixed or improved with the GPS. But it appears important enough for Samsung to roll out new software updates to phones that we all have sort of forgotten about. Perhaps, more of these forgotten Galaxy smartphones may receive this GPS update in the coming days, the new report suggests. The Galaxy S6 series from 2015 could be the next in the pipeline. We will let you know when the rollout begins.
Samsung continues to surprise with its software support
Samsung inarguably offers the best software support in the Android space, even better than Google. The Korean firm promises four major Android OS updates for its flagships and select mid-range models. It extends their lifetime by providing security updates for one more year. While Google also promises five years of security updates to the Pixel 6 series, it limits to just three generations of Android OS updates to the phones. If this long-term support isn’t enough, Samsung also regularly beats every other Android OEM in releasing the latest security patches. On top of it all, the Korean behemoth regularly releases these kinds of surprise updates as well. Of course, anyone holding a Galaxy J7, Galaxy S7, or even a Galaxy S8 phone seriously needs to upgrade to a newer device as they are vulnerable to security threats. But, Samsung is doing its part by releasing important updates to the long-discontinued phones.
