Samsung has announced that it will no longer provide security updates for the original Samsung Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Fold 5G after years of continuous support. What are the reasons behind this decision? We will discuss it in this article. Also, we will provide some alternatives now that these devices are no longer eligible for security updates.
Introducing The Samsung Galaxy Fold and Fold 5G
The original Galaxy Fold was launched in February 2019 and was the first mainstream foldable mobile phone. It had design and durability issues, and a revised model was released later that year. The Galaxy Fold’s last major operating system update (Android 12) came two years ago. Since then, it has been receiving security updates. However, these security updates will stop coming as well. Samsung has removed the original Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Fold 5G from its list of devices that get security patches. This means that there will be no further updates expected for these devices.
Reasons why Samsung Galaxy Fold and Fold 5G are no longer getting updates
South Korean manufacturer, Samsung, offers three years of major updates and five years of security updates for its mobile phones. This includes its flagship foldable phones. Since the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Fold 5G were released in 2019, they have exceeded their update cycle. Their 2019 launch date means that they stopped getting major updates in 2021. As for security updates, these mobile phones got it for five years including 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Samsung has removed the original Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Fold 5G from its list of devices that get security patches. This removal is not coming as a huge surprise because the company makes known its update cycle. So, users of these devices know that they have three years for major updates and five years for security updates. The decision by Samsung to discontinue security updates for the original Galaxy Fold reflects the natural progression of technology, with newer, more advanced devices being released.
Gizchina News of the week
Other devices from 2019 are also losing security update support
Other devices from 2019, like the Galaxy A20s, Galaxy A30s, Galaxy A50s, Galaxy A70s, and Galaxy Tab Active Pro, will also no longer receive any security updates. Samsung has been generous in providing four years of full Android OS upgrades and five years of security patches for its devices.
For those who still have the original Galaxy Fold, it is recommended to move on to a newer device. This is because, without updates, the device may be exposed to attacks. The Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Fold’s successor, still has another year of updates left.
Samsung Galaxy Fold and Fold 5G alternatives
There are several alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Fold 5G. Here are some of the best options:
1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
4. Huawei Mate X
5. Samsung Galaxy Note10+
6. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
7. Samsung Galaxy S10
8. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
10. Google Pixel Fold
11. Motorola Razr+
Note that all the alternatives above are newer devices and are still receiving security updates.
Some of these alternatives are cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Fold 5G, while others are newer models with better features. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Z Fold2 5G, and Z Fold5 are all newer models that offer similar foldable designs to the original Galaxy Fold. The Huawei Mate X is another foldable phone that offers a unique design with a foldable screen that wraps around the outside of the device. The Samsung Galaxy Note10+ and S20 Ultra 5G are traditional smartphones with large screens that offer similar features to the Galaxy Fold. The Google Pixel Fold and Motorola Razr+ are also foldable phones that offer unique designs and features.
