Samsung's Galaxy S7 line has had a good run with four years of security updates – but you'll want to trade yours in now
- Reference: 1586293328
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/04/07/samsung_pulls_galaxy_s7_security_updates/
- Source link:
As spotted by [1]DroidLife , neither handset appears on [2]Samsung's list of supported phones , which received monthly updates until March 2019, followed by a quarterly patch schedule as the devices drift from mainstream circulation.
This will no doubt be a huge blow for those still hanging on to their S7s. The phone was a huge hit for Samsung, with 55 million units from the S7 series sold within the first quarter of 2016. The [3]Galaxy S7 also briefly outsold the [4]iPhone 6S , per figures from [5]Kantar World Panel .
Although it has since been superseded by other, more capable models, the phone continues to be sold by refurbished and second-hand outlets, with the UK's popular second hand electronics shop CeX offering the entry-level S7 for £145 and the S7 Edge for £210.
Samsung's dogged determination to continue supporting the S7 is commendable, considering many manufacturers fail to provide more than a year's worth of software and security updates. Even phones certified under the Android One programme only receive three years of patches. Still, it's undoubtedly disappointing news for some.
One Samsung S7 series phones remains supported, however: the Galaxy S7 Active. This was effectively a ruggedised version of the S7, keeping the same innards and optics, but adding a thick protective outer shell.
The S7 Active hit shelves in mid-2016 so it wouldn't be surprising if support was withdrawn in the coming months. Then again, given that it was primarily aimed as a work tool for the industrial and professional sectors, it's entirely possible Samsung might give it a bit more leeway.
This all coincides with the release of [6]Samsung's April's security updates , which address a series of troubling critical high-risk vulnerabilities, both in the underlying Google Android software and Samsung's own bloat. ®
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[1] https://www.droid-life.com/2020/04/06/samsung-pulls-plug-on-galaxy-s7-updates-four-years-later/
[2] https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb
[3] https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/22/samsung_galaxy_s7/
[4] https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/29/review_apple_6s_and_6s_plus/
[5] https://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Apple-versus-Samsung-is-so-over
[6] https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb
[7] https://go.theregister.co.uk/tl/1936/-8552/how-to-accelerate-brilliant-digital-experiences-with-low-code?td=wptl1936
Re: I'd love to see a law...
I know I'm not the typical punter
Well you're not alone.
My S7E got an update a few days ago, or was it last week. Anyway the kernel's date is 10th March 2020 and the Android security patch level is the 1st of March 2020. So perhaps that's the last.
Re: I'd love to see a law...
I'd be interested to see test cases:
- If an unpatched security bug counts as a fault.
- If a "reasonable" lifetime for the software can be agreed (The hardware is probably fine)
IANAL, but the UK Consumer Rights Act indicates that you can make a claim against the retailer for up to 6 years after purchase.
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-do-i-do-if-i-have-a-faulty-product#how-long-do-i-have-to-return-a-faulty-product
Re: I'd love to see a law...
"If a "reasonable" lifetime for the software can be agreed..." But the OP said "...forced to support products for a minimum of 5 years"
The product is the phone , the combination of hardware and software. Terminating support for the enabling software *is* terminating support for the 'product'.
Turning my purchases onto the subscription model after the fact will definitely influence my purchasing decisions in the future.
Even worse for profits than waiting 5 years for customers to come back, is waiting forever for customers to come back.
Just be grateful
Just be grateful your partner didn't hit you sooner. You must have done something wrong to make Samsung angry. Be nice to Samsung and buy another and they won't hit you for a while.
I only got rid on my S7 Edge last month after getting it at launch time. A truly excellent phone.
Well I say "got rid", I still have it and will definitely hold on to it as a backup.
Oddly enough just read this on my venerable S7, through the Google maps screen burn in from using nav 2x per day, 5x per week for 2 years.
Will it, now?
This will no doubt be a huge blow for those still hanging on to their S7s.
Will it, now? While I can see that some folks might get all up in a lather about "its not supported!!" (ref Windows 7), I simply don't believe, nor do I want to support, 1960's-style planned obsolescence of these rather expensive, and still-highly functional devices. I suppose some folks just have to chase the shiny. But you don't have to; the headline blaring "but you'll want to trade yours in now" is, in my mind, complete marketing bullshit.
And frankly, I'm a bit surprised that El Reg would be shilling for Samsung.
"but you'll want to trade yours in now" is, in my mind, complete marketing bullshit
That depends. Are you happy to use a phone knowing it's not getting security updates? Probably depends on what you use it for.
huge blow?
unlikely.
I ran my Galaxy Note 3 up until less than a year ago(daily driver). Still on Android 4.4.x too (Android 5.x was a downgrade in my opinion). It was my first Android device, prior to that I used WebOS. VERY reluctantly switched to Galaxy S8 Active(still new) last summer as the phone I thought sucked "the least" of any phone on the market.
I have two Note 3s and one Note 4.
I'm taking every precaution I can to try to ensure it lasts as long as it can. Including having a backup phone, having replacement OEM batteries(though I dread the thought of having to get the battery replaced), and invested in two devices called "Chargies", which sync with bluetooth to my phone to ensure the device doesn't go beyond a given charge level (for me that level is 79%), provided it is connected to a charger with Chargie connected. Add Accubattery to that list as well.
I happily replaced the batteries in my Note 3s (one of which is still in daily use, though uses Android 5, it's really only used to view slack) every year because well it was easy. I never needed user replaceable batteries on a daily basis but being able to safely replace them myself annually was a big selling point(keeps things fresh).
Plastic back, wireless charging(I have been wirelessly charging since the original Palm Pre), flat screen were the biggest selling points for me on the S8 active. The bigger battery is nice too as that implies the life will be longer.
Currently on Android 9, which is a downgrade over 8, in fact at least for me every newer release of Android takes away more and more things and is a downgrade. If I wanted an iPhone I'd buy an iPhone.
Other than faster performance the S8 Active doesn't really do much that my Note 3 didn't do already(and in many cases better).
I'd happily drop $2k for an up to date Note 3 with plastic back, wireless charging, removable battery, flat screen, with Android 4.4.x look & feel & control.
I'd also happily pay a subscription fee to get those fancy security updates for the older OSs, so I'm not forced into upgrading to a major version of android to get fixes. But that isn't available either. I'll take no fixes and a more usable phone 100000000000000x more than the latest updates given the history of things. I am also careful about what I use my mobile devices for, no social media, no banking, and the only purchases I do are with virtual credit cards generated by my computer. Also have had the android auto download of MMS disabled for years, I do not open MMS from people I don't know (which isn't a guarantee on anything but goes some ways to improving security regarding the exploits in the android media framework). Not perfect, but at the same time I am not aware of any security incidents on my mobile devices ever (same goes for my desktop and laptop devices(mostly running linux).
Things I miss about note 3 include the stylus, user replaceable batteries, the IR blaster, Android 4.4 experience, having more control over the OS (e.g. can view cpu usage per task and kill stuff etc), MHL (not sure if the S8 active does that or not). IR blaster and MHL I only use while traveling, and I still bring at least 1 note 3 and 1 note 4 when I travel for connecting to hotel TVs for media viewing(they have big SD cards). I have yet to use the headphone jack on my S8 active, only time I've used my phone with headphones was when flying, and I used my Note3/Note4 for that. I do not own any bluetooth headphones.
I'm sure most of the android fans will hate this post so expecting lots of down votes. I prefer freedom myself, if you WANT the latest you should be able to get it, if you DON'T want it, it should not be forced on you. I can't put into words how mad I was when my S8 active upgraded to Android 9 from 8. I went to great lengths to prevent OS upgrades. I successfully blocked my Note 3 from upgrading to Android 5 for 3-4+ years. The AT&T website even specifically said you have to be connected to wifi to get the upgrade. I was traveling at the time, not connected to wifi and it downloaded the upgrade anyway somehow.. On my home wifi I have AT&T and Samsung servers blocked at the DNS level so any attempts to upgrade will fail instantly.
Hoping this S8 active lasts as long as the Note 3 did(it still works fine now just a bit slow).
I'd love to see a law...
That means manufacturers are forced to support products for a minimum of 5 years, be that with spare parts or security updates. I'm rather surprised to find that even the EU doesn't appear to have such a requirement.
I know I'm not the typical punter because I pay up front for my phones and I keep them as long as I can. I'm no "oooh, shiny shiny" waste-ard and look to minimize the amount of landfill I generate. It's a shame that Samsung will be forcing a device change on me just so I can benefit from security and other fixes in a product I bought only a few short years back...