Samsung ends support for select 2017 handsets

Samsung will no longer offer security updates to phones such as Galaxy J3 Pop, Galaxy A5 2017, Galaxy A3 2017, and Galaxy A7 2017.

Samsung's approach to software updates has improved  (HT Tech)

Samsung has of late improved its record of rolling out timely software updates to smartphones. Last year, the company had promised to release at least three years of Android OS updates for most of its handsets. Now, Samsung has updated the list of compatible devices as well as some notable omissions.

According to an AndroidPolice report, Samsung will no longer provide security updates to the Galaxy J3 Pop, Galaxy A5 2017, Galaxy A3 2017, and Galaxy A7 2017. The report also mentions the omission of Galaxy Fold 5G. But the official Samsung website has the foldable listed under the current models eligible for “monthly security updates.”

The report further points out that Samsung has downgraded Galaxy A8 2018 from monthly updates to quarterly. The Galaxy A8s has moved to “other regular” updates. Samsung's current Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21+ Ultra has moved to monthly updates. The Galaxy A02 and Galaxy M12 are the latest addition to the quarterly update list.

As said earlier, Samsung has improved its record of the timely software update. Just recently, the company rolled out OneUI 3 (Android 11-based) to Galaxy Note 10 Lite months ahead of the schedule. The update also features the December 2020 security patches, which is a bit interesting considering the company's recent speed at also updating its S and Note series devices with the latest monthly security patches. Also, budget Galaxy M21 and F41 have been updated to Android 11, nearly ten days after it updated another M-series sibling, the Galaxy M31.