This week, on our weekly firmware news roundup: tons of devices get November's security patch, both the Galaxy M21 and M31 get updated to One UI 2.5, and more!
What's New This Week?
vivo
- vivo announces November 19 event for the new Origin OS reveal
OnePlus
- Oxygen OS 11.0.3.4 is now here for the OnePlus 8T
- OnePlus Nord N100 gets OxygenOS 10.5.1
- The November security patch is now being delivered to Google Pixel devices
Samsung
- Galaxy Fold, Note 10 series, S10 series, S20 series, S9 series, and the Galaxy A50 are now receiving November's security patch
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra get their second One UI 3.0 beta update
- Galaxy M31 and M21 are now receiving One UI 2.5
vivo
Origin OS
vivo has already confirmed that they are replacing their FuntouchOS Android skin with a newer variant. We've already seen numerous teasers with the slogan "Brave New World" – and now there is official confirmation that vivo is going to reveal their new UI on November 19!
If you are interested in watching it, look for the VDC 2020 – vivo's developers' conference.
Rumor has it that Origin OS is going to be a mix of both stock Android OS and a more heavily-customized skin that's going to allow us to switch between the two versions with the press of a button. Maybe much like what MIUI is already doing with their themes.
That's all we know for now. But, take that last part with a grain of salt.
OnePlus
OnePlus 8T
A new update is here for the OnePlus 8T and, this time, it brings numerous fixes and improvements for the system, camera, and network as well. The changelog is as follows:
- System
- Improved system power consumption performance to reduce heating
- Improved mis-touch prevention to offer a better gaming experience
- Optimized fluidity with some mainstream games to reduce lagging risks
- Optimized user experience with Alert Slider by adding toast messages when switching among the 3 modes
- Fixed the issue that the status bar kept hovering on the screen in landscape mode
- Fixed the issue that Play Store could not install the app
- Camera
- Optimized the imaging effect to bring you with better shooting experience
- Improved camera stability
- Network
- Optimized mobile network connection to improve the network intensity with signal
- Fixed the small probability issue with network interruption while playing games
There is no mention of a newer security patch as of yet and most people have yet to receive it. So, we can safely assume that it's rolling out to a limited number of people.
OnePlus Nord
A new update is here for the OnePlus Nord and it brings Android 10 along with system, camera, network, and Bluetooth improvements. Feel free to read the official changelog down below:
- System
- Optimized the touch and interaction experience
- Improved system stability
- Camera
- Improved the shooting experience with camera
- Network
- Improved the performance and stability of Wi-Fi transfers
- Bluetooth
- Improve Bluetooth compatibility
You can currently find it in Europe for a small percentage of people. But, we can safely assume that it'll soon be available in more regions and in wider numbers.
As per usual, this is another incremental update. So, some of you are going to have to wait a bit longer before you get your turn.
Google Pixel 3 up to Pixel 5
Samsung may be the first to push security updates. But Google also often follows soon afterward – which is also the case this time with November's patch.
As we are speaking, November's patch is being pushed to all supported Pixel devices from the Pixel 3 all the way up to the Pixel 5.
And as you can see, apart from a security patch, you also get various bug fixes and small improvements. In case you are on mobile and can't look at the changelog, this is what it mentions:
- Preventative fix for inadvertent playlist removal in YouTube Music
- Fix for bug preventing phone calls while in Android Auto mode (Only Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5)
- Fix for bug causing incorrect audio routing in Android Auto mode (Pixel 4/XL/4a)
- Fix for media audio stutter during playback in certain apps (Pixel 4/XL/4a)
- Fix for bug preventing ringer audio for starred contacts in DVD mode
- Fix for bug causing the screen to wake after locking device in certain conditions
- Fix for dark screen during phone calls (Pixel 4/XL)
- Improvements for auto-brightness response in certain outdoor lighting conditions (Pixel 4a (5G))
- Improvements for screenshot access on devices with 2-button navigation (Pixel 3/XL/3a/XL)
- Fix for hidden navigation during fullscreen media playback
- Fix for inconsistent touch sound in certain conditions (Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5)
- Improvements for touch response with certain screen protectors (Pixel 4a)
Samsung
Galaxy Fold, Note 10 series, S10 series, S20 series, S9 series, and Galaxy A50
We are only one week into November and Samsung is already releasing the latest security patch for most of their flagships – including some older ones and a mid-ranger as well. To be more specific, we are talking about the:
- Galaxy Fold: Most of Europe already – Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, and more
- S9 series: Germany
- Note 10 series: Europe (Sighted in Spain)
- Note 20 series
- S10 series
- S20 series
- And Galaxy A50
As you can see, we still have limited info on what regions are specifically getting the latest security update. However, we can safely assume that most devices are going to get it on a global scale soon enough. And that's especially true for those that have already started receiving it in various parts of Europe.
With that said, don't forget that these are usually incremental updates. This means that some of you are going to have to wait a bit longer than others – even if you are living in a supported region with a supported device.
As for the patch itself, according to our sources, it fixes 5 critical vulnerabilities along with 29 high threats and 31 moderate threats in the Android operating system. And also 5 more vulnerabilities that are exclusive to Samsung devices.
Among the fixes, there is also one that fixes a flaw in Factory Reset Protection where one could bypass through the secure folder. So, make sure to install it first chance you get.
Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra (One UI 3.0 beta)
Another One UI 3.0 beta update is here for both the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. This time, it once more introduces quite a lot of bug fixes, crash fixes, and all-around a few more fixes and improvements as well.
Apart from the usual bug fixes and improvements, the changelog also mentions fixes for:
- Calendar UI does not appear when the Calendar schedule alarm is ringing
- Sound does not occur when connecting earphones after Dolby On while playing music
- The message that Bixby continues to be forcibly terminated is displayed
- After applying theme download, message app abnormal forced termination
- The brightness is maintained when switching to the home screen while the video enhancement function is set
- Half of the screen is gray when moving to the home screen after using multi-window
- Lock screen music widget operation error
- No SVC occurs while unattended, or no SVC is displayed butt data communication is normal
- Mirroring connection failure with Chromecast
That aside, the changelog also mention November's security patch while the update weighs near 700 megabytes.
Galaxy M21 and M31
Good news for Galaxy M21 and M31 owners. Both devices are now receiving One UI 2.5 and most of the features that come with it.
And we only say "most" cause none of these phones come with DeX support. Only flagships support. Thus, there is no wireless DeX for neither the M21 or the M31.
Despite that, you still get improvements in the camera, Samsung Keyboard, and the messages apps along with a newer security patch and minor UI updates. The M21 gets October's patch while the M31 gets November's.
Furthermore, you also get to use Google's new gesture-based navigation mode. But you have to use a 3rd party launcher for that.
The update is currently only available in India. However, we can safely assume that it'll soon be delivered to other regions as well.
That's all for now. Feel like we forgot to mention something important? Got anything wrong? Then let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!
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