When purchasing a new Android smartphone, not all devices will have the same operating system, version, and available options. Except for Google, which uses pure Android on its Pixel smartphones, other companies employ customized Android layers, allowing them to differentiate from one another. Samsung is the most popular brand in the Android world, and although it has refused to switch to the A/B update system, it will be forced to do so, as Google will only support this type of update.
If you have searched through dozens of different mobile phone models and brands, you have likely encountered various versions of Android. All phones come with Android 11, 12, 13, or even Android 14 in some form, but there are differences between the various models. For instance, purchasing a Xiaomi phone will feature a modified version of Android called MIUI. MIUI reached version 14 before Xiaomi discontinued it a few months ago to launch its new HyperOS operating system.
Google demands that Android use only A/B updates, compelling Samsung and other brands to follow suit.
In the case of Samsung, there is also a customized Android version called One UI. The South Korean company strives for further customization and has made some controversial decisions. For example, the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 phones have added advanced AI features compared to other devices. However, the focus of today’s news is Samsung’s reluctancy to adopt A/B, or “Seamless Updates.”
A/B updates allow Android phones to install system updates in the background, letting users continue using the device until they restart the phone to apply the update. For unknown reasons, Samsung has resisted implementing this update type. However, Google has warned that it will become mandatory and the only update option for Android.
A/B updates download while using the phone and offer the possibility of reverting them.
The downside of these updates is that the total time spent downloading and installing after a restart is longer than a direct installation. However, the benefits include providing users with the flexibility to continue using the phone and installing the update whenever convenient. The updates also have a revert option, which many will find useful.
Additionally, Google has announced improvements in the installation speed of these updates, as observed in the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro released months ago. Now, Samsung and other smartphone OEMs that continue using the traditional update system will have to switch to Seamless Updates. If Samsung refuses, the only remaining option for the company is to develop its own update system.
The entry “Google warns its Android partners: traditional updates are over, only A/B updates will be available to improve security” first appears on El Chapuzas Informático.
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