New week, a new beginning, and brand new updates from the OEM industry. From Samsung to Google, the big guns in the industry have been running busy just like usual. Stay tuned as we unfold the "headlines" from the past week. But before diving deep into the facts and numbers, let's peek into the list of devices.
Devices Lined Up or Today
Samsung
Galaxy S21, S22, A32, A51
Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, Pixel 3a XL and 3a
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Prepares for May 2022 Android Security Patch
Samsung evolved as the first smartphone company to launch a brand-new Android safety patch. It started implementing its Galaxy S22 lineup's Android safety patch a few days back. In fact, now the Samsung Galaxy S21 series is getting the new Android safety patch from the corporation of South Korea with the latest software update.
The brand-new frame comes with a firmware version of G991BXXU5CVDD. In Italy, it is sowing for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21. However, we expect the launch to extend to other European nations in a couple of days, pursued by the rest of the world.
Suppose you're an Italian resident and haven't obtained the latest update yet. In that case, you can simply scrutinize it manually by going to your smartphone's Settings and then the Software update menu.
Samsung is all set to Bring Galaxy S22 Camera Features to its older S21, S20, Z-series, and Note20 Phones
The Samsung Galaxy S22 series rolled out with various camera enhancements. The company has declared that it's including back some of them to Galaxy Note, S, and Z flagships. The news was first published on the forums of South Korea as the updates will launch on home territory first.
Remember, not all improvements are available on every model; here is a breakdown of which models get which improvements:
- Added/improved auto-framing function: Galaxy Z Flip 4G/5G, S21 series + S21 FE, Z Fold3, and Z Fold2.
This feature helps keep up to 10 people in the frame (who are standing at a distance of up to 5m away) by zooming in and out and panning around. The feature is already available on the Samsung foldable; however, the company has polished its performance. It's an added feature of the S21 models.
- Improved nighttime portraits: Galaxy Note20 series, Z Fold3, Z Fold 2, Galaxy S21 series, and Galaxy S20 series.
The nighttime portrait processing (or as the company calls "Nightography") of the Galaxy S22 series enables the telephoto camera while clicking pictures in Portrait mode for night photography.
- Auto-framing effects for video calls: Galaxy Z Flip 4G/5G, Z Fold3, Z Fold2, and S21 series + S21 FE.
Some of the selected smartphones can activate the auto-framing feature at the time of video calling. That's a great feature because you can freely move around without worrying about readjusting the frame.
- Improved effects for video calls: Galaxy Note20 series, Galaxy Z Flip3, Z Flip 4G/5G, Galaxy S20 series + S20 FE, and Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Fold2.
Remember, Galaxy Note10 series + Note10 Lite and S10 series + S10 Lite support is coming in the first half of 2022.
The feature co-operates with third-party apps and adds mic controls and background replacement to your video calls. Its support apps are Google Meet, Messenger (Meta), WhatsApp, BlueJeans, KakaoTalk, Knox Meeting, Zoom, Duo, Microsoft Teams, and Webex Meetings.
- Improved camera quality for third-party apps: Galaxy Z Flip3, S21 series + S21 FE, and Z Fold3.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 series has included support for the advanced processing features of the camera on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. And thanks to the new update, this feature is also available on the earlier models.
Galaxy Z Fold3 improvements: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 will support the Expert RAW app starting this month, which can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store. Moreover, its primary camera's "Pro mode" now works with the telephoto camera.
All these updates are launching in Korea; however, we're sure they'll be soon available globally. So, don't forget to check out the change-log for the new update you get.
Samsung Galaxy A32 is bringing Android 12 with One UI 4.1
Last month (April 2022), the company launched the new Android 12-based One UI 4.1 software update for the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. And now, the company is all set to give its 4G model a flavor of Samsung's new trade Android skin.
The latest update comes with a firmware A325FXXU2BVD6 version and puts forward new features and a refreshed UI to the Galaxy A32. The update even bumps up the phone security patch group to April 2022; however, we're hoping to launch the May security patch soon. That's because some Samsung phones have already received it.
Currently, the One UI 4.1 software update is sowing in India. So, if you're from India and haven't received the update yet. You can check it out manually by navigating to your Samsung Galaxy A32's Settings and the Software update menu.
Samsung Galaxy A51 gets Android 12 with One UI 4.1
One of its best-selling smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A51, is receiving the Android 12 update in Africa and Saudi Arabia right now. That's a part of an extensive launch of Android 12, which began in the United States and Europe in April 2022. Additionally, the update is soon coming out for South America and Asia users.
The company has vowed to launch at least two updates per year to the Samsung Galaxy A51, and that's a big one in terms of literal size and features.
The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have Finally Received a May Update with a fix for weak haptics
This week, Google has launched a new Android software update, mainly to Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The May update, of course, includes the usual security patches; however, it also consists of some Pixel-specific stuff.
The most prominent of those updates have to be with the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and their haptics. After the previous month's update, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro owners noticed that their notification vibrations were lower than before. With the new update, this should be fixed.
Furthermore, the May update brings a fix for the issue where "occasionally the devices cause the display to wake with no user interaction", also a fix for the problem where "the launcher crashes after getting the device restarted in specific conditions". These issues apply to all of the Pixel devices that are still supported.
As usual, the over-the-air launch of Google might take a couple of days (or even more) to reach out to all the devices in the world. The brand-new build number for all supported models is SP2A.220505.002.
Google's Pixel 3a XL and 3a will be Receiving their new Update by July
The May update that the company launched recently should've been its last one. Still, like always, Google is offering bonus updates to its devices arriving at end-of-life (more precisely, software-wise). The company will deliver a new update to the Google Pixel 3a XL and 3a by July 2022.
However, suppose you possess a Google Pixel 3a or 3a XL by July. In that case, you'll get its previous software update; therefore, it's high time to look for an alternative phone to purchase and use. The 3a and 3a XL were the first Google Pixels to take up the mid-range region, and their story is nearly coming to a conclusion.
A Quick Round Up
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Prepares for May 2022 Android Security Patch
- Samsung is all set to Bring Galaxy S22 Camera Features to its older S21, S20, Z-series, and Note20 Phones
- Samsung Galaxy A32 is bringing Android 12 with One UI 4.1
- Samsung Galaxy A51 gets Android 12 with One UI 4.1
- The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have Finally Received a May Update with a fix for weak haptics
- Google's Pixel 3a XL and 3a will be receiving their new update by July
Additional News
- Samsung releases Android 12 update for Galaxy F41 in India
- Samsung S20 LTE gets May 2022 security patch
Wrapping Up
And with that, we're done discussing the OEM industry hotshots that have been beeping the whole week. Similar to many other instances, the week majorly revolved around Samsung and its One UI 4.1 firmware. At the same time, Google released a couple of updates for its Pixels.