Verizon releases security update for Samsung's flagship phones... from 2015

Android OEMs aren’t known for keeping devices up to date over time. While most Android smartphones will receive updates for about 18-24 months after their release, they still lack the long-term support that’s seen on the iPhone. That’s why it’s surprising, then, that Verizon just released a new Android security patch for a few Samsung smartphones that were released over two years ago.

The Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Note Edge will be receiving individual updates from the nation’s largest carrier over the next few months. In addition to patching some security holes, the updates will fix bugs experienced during phone calls. There are also a few other bug fixes included.

The Galaxy lineup from 2015 did receive an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow last year but has since been left to the wayside by Big Red. It is nice to see a mobile carrier respond to customer needs and push out an update to admittedly old hardware, especially since updates from Verizon are notoriously slow to roll out (if they ever do).

If you have a Galaxy S5, Note 4, or Note Edge on Verizon, you can find the update either via an OTA notification or by going into the “About Phone” settings menu and selecting “Check for Updates.”  

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