Enough is already known about the Galaxy S10 to confirm it will be a game-changer (for several reasons). But now new information reveals Samsung is also set to address the worst thing about its premium Galaxy phones…
Thanks to a great spot by the (ever vigilant) GalaxyClub.nl, we learn Samsung is secretly working to deliver much faster Android updates to its phones. And the change has major implications for the Galaxy S10.
The giveaway comes from GalaxyClub digging into the database of popular benchmarking software GFXBench. It discovered Samsung is already testing Android 9.0 Pie on the Galaxy S9 Plus less than a month after the software was released by Google.
To put this in context: it took Samsung until November to even start beta testing Android 8.0 Oreo on the Galaxy S8 (three months after release) and it didn’t reach Galaxy S8 owners until March 2018, seven months after the platform launched. In fact, Google had even launched the first public beta of Android 9.0 Pie a week earlier.
Should we doubt this leak? No. While GalaxyClub notes GFXBench describes the update as “invalid Android Samsung ss Edition”, this actually helps prove it is genuine. Samsung’s heavy customisation of stock Android causes this reaction from GFXBench and historically it can even be used to track Samsung software development.
But why would Samsung suddenly change its (famously awful) software update strategy just before the Galaxy S10 launches? Because there’s both a carrot and a stick.
The carrot is how Google has made upgrading Android easier for third parties via Project Treble which separates the core operating system from third-party upgrades. And this process has been further refined in Android Pie.
The stick is Samsung has little choice. The launch of Google’s ‘Android One’ program promising stock Android and instant updates, has been embraced by Samsung rivals including LG, Motorola, Nokia and big Chinese threats: Huawei and Xiaomi. Google’s growing Pixel brand also promises the same.
Suddenly, Samsung can’t afford for its software to lag behind. Especially following lackluster Galaxy S9 sales.
Consequently, Samsung’s already impressive Galaxy S10 hardware - including 5G, true 3D facial mapping and an in-display finger reader (even for the new budget model) - looks set to be matched by equally up-to-date software. Truly, this could be a 10th anniversary Galaxy S to remember…
Thanks to a great spot by the (ever vigilant) GalaxyClub.nl, we learn Samsung is secretly working to deliver much faster Android updates to its phones. And the change has major implications for the Galaxy S10.
The giveaway comes from GalaxyClub digging into the database of popular benchmarking software GFXBench. It discovered Samsung is already testing Android 9.0 Pie on the Galaxy S9 Plus less than a month after the software was released by Google.
To put this in context: it took Samsung until November to even start beta testing Android 8.0 Oreo on the Galaxy S8 (three months after release) and it didn’t reach Galaxy S8 owners until March 2018, seven months after the platform launched. In fact, Google had even launched the first public beta of Android 9.0 Pie a week earlier.
Should we doubt this leak? No. While GalaxyClub notes GFXBench describes the update as “invalid Android Samsung ss Edition”, this actually helps prove it is genuine. Samsung’s heavy customisation of stock Android causes this reaction from GFXBench and historically it can even be used to track Samsung software development.
But why would Samsung suddenly change its (famously awful) software update strategy just before the Galaxy S10 launches? Because there’s both a carrot and a stick.
The carrot is how Google has made upgrading Android easier for third parties via Project Treble which separates the core operating system from third-party upgrades. And this process has been further refined in Android Pie.
The stick is Samsung has little choice. The launch of Google’s ‘Android One’ program promising stock Android and instant updates, has been embraced by Samsung rivals including LG, Motorola, Nokia and big Chinese threats: Huawei and Xiaomi. Google’s growing Pixel brand also promises the same.
Suddenly, Samsung can’t afford for its software to lag behind. Especially following lackluster Galaxy S9 sales.
Consequently, Samsung’s already impressive Galaxy S10 hardware - including 5G, true 3D facial mapping and an in-display finger reader (even for the new budget model) - looks set to be matched by equally up-to-date software. Truly, this could be a 10th anniversary Galaxy S to remember…
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