This week, Samsung has rolled out updates to a good number of handsets across the globe and the latest to join the party are those in the U.S.
The Korean company, in conjunction with the two biggest carriers in the country, is rolling out new software updates to a bunch of devices that include last year’s Samsung Galaxy S7 and the 2015 Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. Both Verizon and AT&T have OTA updates for the S7 and S7 Edge, but it’s the former that is rolling out the latest monthly security patch for the month of December. Those on AT&T are getting last month’s patch, which is a bit of a disappointment.
In addition to installing new security patches, the updates also bring a slew of performance and stability improvements. However, there’s more for those on AT&T, which is evidenced by their slightly bigger file sizes of about 400MB. After the update, both Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will now support Mobile Hotspot APN. You’ll also get improved network performance and call quality as well as a fix for AirWatch Enterprise users. Note that these two phones are still based on Android Nougat, but both carriers are expected to update them to Android Oreo when time comes, probably in Q1 2018 or towards Q2.
Apart from rolling out new software updates to Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, AT&T is also seeding new updates for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. Both handsets are getting similar updates to the carrier’s S7 family where a new November security patch is installed alongside support for Mobile Hotspot APN.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ users will also be getting a new fix for KRACK and Blueborne vulnerabilities, hence the significant file sizes of more than 400MB. Other non-Samsung devices getting the same treat on AT&T include ZTE Maven and Maven 2 as well as LG K10. Where the Maven 1 and Maven 2 are getting November’s security patches that also install fixes for KRACK, those using the LG K10 are receiving October’s Android security patch that not only fixes the KRACK vulnerability, but also the Blueborne bug.
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 5, these budget phones are getting significantly smaller file sizes of less than 50MB, with others getting a mere 19MB. Still, don’t ignore them. If the OTA notification hasn’t hit your phone, you may want to try a manual update via Settings menu, but it’s also a good idea to relax and wait for the OTA.