The latest wave of Samsung Galaxy phones is receiving the most recent December 2022 security update. Here’s just how the Korean tech giant is handling the rollout.
Samsung December 2022 security update – here’s what’s new:
Each and every month, Google and its partners push a new Android security patch that provides resolutions to known issues with the mobile operating system. The security patch that you’ll receive on your Galaxy phone includes a number of fixes from the December 1, 2022, bulletin and the previous November 5 bulletin. Between the two, there are 43 fixes marked as “high” severity and just one marked as “critical.”
Patch notes are provided by Samsung, as the updates for its own devices include a number of Galaxy-specific fixes. According to the company’s official patch notes, the December update for Samsung phones adds a further 93 security vulnerabilities including five that are marked as “critical.”
Samsung has continued the rollout of Android 13 with One UI 5.0, which continues this time around. This update is fairly minor compared to what we see on Google Pixel phones. That said, there are still a number of changes and tweaks that you can see in our full hands-on video below:
Table of contents
Devices with the Samsung December 2022 security update
In most cases, Samsung generally gives priority to its most premium phones when it comes to new updates, with a major focus on the Galaxy S and foldable Galaxy Z series. From there, Samsung usually rolls out updates to its newer devices before older ones, generally speaking.
This list will include a note on where the update first debuted and if it is also available in the United States. As usual, the latest additions will be marked in bold.
The peak of the Samsung lineup is the Galaxy S series. As you’d kind of expect, this series is often first to get the latest OTAs. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes other devices do get preferential treatment but mostly the S series is first in line.
In a strange move, Samsung pushed the December update to the Galaxy S20 series first. The entire Exynos lineup is already starting to see the patch in vast swathes of Europe including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the Baltic region, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Android 13 has been bundled in with the update for Galaxy S20 models in the United States. One UI 5.0 for carrier-locked US devices is fully stocked with latest patch and plenty of under-the-hood improvements plus enhancements for your daily exprience.
For whatever reason Samsung released an LTE-only Galaxy S20 FE model. In our mind it makes no sense why anyone would have chosen this specific model, it is probably great to hear that it is getting the December 2022 security update. The patch has been rolling out in Europe for a few days already and expected to hit more shores very soon.
Last year’s flagship Galaxy S21 series is only the second S-series device to see the latest patch. Unlocked Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra devices powered by Exynos processors are starting to receive OTA notifications in Switzerland. As is often the case, we expect to see this expand to more regions over the coming weeks.
After hitting European shores first, the entire Galaxy S21 series including the FE can now grab the OTA update in the United States — provided you’re using Verizon’s network. The December update is rolling out for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra while the region is the first to grab the Galaxy S21 FE 5G update.
Although the Galaxy S10 is now in its final year of regular support, it will continue to get semi-regular updates for a little while longer. If you own the biggest and best Samsung phone from 2019 and live in Europe, then you should be able to grab the December 2022 security patch for Exynos 9820-powered versions of the S10e, S10, and S10+. The patch has been confirmed as rolling out in a multitude of European countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Southeast Europe, Switzerland, the Baltic region, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the Nordic region.
Surprisingly, the Galaxy S22 series is only now starting to get the December 2022 update despite being Samsung’s biggest and best flagship to date. This OTA is rolling out in India, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, and Vietnam. The good news here is that because Qualcomm units are also being updated, US owners should see the patch on their S22 models very soon.
- Galaxy S10e / S10 / S10+ — G97xFXXSGHVL1 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra — G98xBXXSFGVK7 / G98xUSQS3GVKA (Released first in Europe)
- Available in US: Carrier-locked
- Galaxy S20 FE (LTE) — G780FXXSAEVL1 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra — G991BXXU5DVKF / G991USQS5DVL3 (Released first in Switzerland)
- Available in US: Verizon
- Galaxy S21 FE 5G — G990USQS4DVL1 (Released first in the United States)
- Available in US: Verizon
- Galaxy S22 / S22+ / S22 Ultra — S908EXXU2BVKM (Released first in India, Europe, Middle East, Asia)
While the Galaxy S series is often sold as the biggest and best Samsung phone lineup, the secret star of Samsung’s devices is undoubtedly the Z series. The future is foldable and the Korean tech giant is the market leader in this new form factor. The Z Fold is the spiritual successor to the now defunct Note series. This means that features are slowly being enveloped into the Z-series with each device revision.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was updated early in the month with devices on AT&T in the US able to grab the OTA file on their folding smartphones. At around ~400MB, Samsung’s December update is fairly large for a monthly patch, but this includes all of those important fixes and vulnerabilities.
Alongside the Fold, the Flip lineup has grown year-over-year. It was not until the third-generation Galaxy Z Flip 3 that we could give the device a full seal of approval. Samsung’s smaller foldable is still a fantastic device that gives the benefit of compact folded form with a full-sized unfurled device. The 2021 device is now starting to receive the December 2022 security patch as of 12/8. As of 12/19, the flip phone has started to gain the OTA update on Verizon’s network in the United States. Unlike the Galaxy S series, Samsung only offers Qualcomm-powered foldables, which makes this delay a little frustrating.
You can also grab the latest security patch for the former flagship Galaxy Z Fold 3. Despite being a year old, it is still an impressive smartphone that leverages the best of Samsung but with the added mini-tablet form factor. The patch began rolling out simultaneously with the Z Flip 3 update in European regions. Carrier-locked units in the US are also now able to get updated after the patch began heading out to Z Fold 3 devices on the Comcast network and now has rolled out to Verizon units.
While the Fold series has existed for around three years at this stage, the Fold 2 often feels a little forgotten already. It’s no longer a flagship device but as is customary, you’ll get updates for a little while longer. If you happen to have the second-generation Z Fold series handest and live in the United States, you’ll likely be pleased to hear that Verizon-locked models are now getting the latest security patch. It’s not the only new addition as this even includes One UI 5.0 which is the full-fat Android 13 build complete with a whole host of new functions and features.
- Galaxy Z Fold 2 — F916USQS2IVK7 (Released first in the United States)
- Available in US: Verizon
- Galaxy Z Flip 3 — F711BXXS3DVKB (Released first in Europe)
- Available in US: Verizon
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 — F926BXXS2DVKB / F926USQS2EVK7 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 — F936U1UEU1BVKB (Released first in the United States)
- Available in United States: AT&T
Samsung has confirmed that we’re unlikely to see any future Note devices. As sad as that is to hear, we’ve already started to see many Note functions like the S Pen make the jump to the Galaxy S lineup. The advent of foldable Samsung phones were a warning sign that the Note days were numbered. That said, there is still a sizable fanbase and the final Samsung Galaxy Note handsets are still supported for a little while longer.
The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are one of the few to be eligible for monthly patches. Samsung has pushed the December security update to the duo, which were released back in August 2020. If you have either phone, you’ll still receive monthly patches for a further year before quarterly updates become the norm. The update is rolling out now in Europe with the US also starting to get the patch for Qualcomm-powered Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra handsets. At present, this is limited to Verizon-locked models but we’re expecting a wider expansion very soon.
A precursor to the “Fan Edition” series of phones was devices like the Galaxy Note 10 Lite. This effectively offered S Pen stylus support and similar internals to the full-fat Note 10 series but with some cost-saving changes alongside a lower entry price. The final One UI update rolled out just a few weeks ago, but the latest OTA is now bringing the December patch to Exynos-powered versions of the device in Europe.
- Galaxy Note 10 Lite — N770FXXS8HVL1 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra — N98xxXXS5GVK9 / N981USQS3GVKA (Released first in Europe)
- Available in US: Verizon
Although not the cheapest of Samsung’s smartphone endeavors in all regions, in many parts of the world the Galaxy A series offers affordable prices but with some flagship functionality. The A-series is offered at a number of price points, and this means that you can pick and choose features without stacking cost to you.
The first A series phone to get the December 2022 security update is the Samsung Galaxy A90 5G. This device saw a limited release and is not available in all regions. Devices in Australia and New Zealand are starting to see the patch, but this does lack the One UI 5.0 upgrade.
Hot on the heels of the A90, the Galaxy A52s 5G is now starting to get the December update in selected European regions including Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic. We’re expecting a wider rollout over the coming days as this update has hit carrier-locked and unlocked devices in those aforementioned areas.
Last year’s impressive Galaxy A52 (sans ‘s’) is also now starting to see the One UI 5.0 update with the December 2022 security patch also present. This Snapdragon 750G-powered device has a lot to like including a 120Hz AMOLED screen, plenty of RAM, and a solid camera system. The OTA update will help breathe a little extra life into the device with this patch already confirmed rolling out in Germany and Kazakhstan.
That’s not all as One UI 5.0 is now rolling out for the previous generation Galaxy A51. This sizeable upgrade includes all manner of software tweaks but with the mid-December rollout, it luckily includes the latest patch too. If you have the 2020 device, you should already be able to get One UI 5.0 and Android 13 in Europe.
Just after pushing Android 13 and One UI 5.0 to the A51, Samsung is now seeding the update to Galaxy A71 5G units in selected regions. This comes just nine months after the device received Android 12 and One UI 4.0. That’s not all as this similarly includes the Samsung December 2022 security update. Those in the United Arab Emirates are first in line to grab the sizeable OTA, but it is expected to spread to more regions over the coming days.
- Galaxy A51 5G — A516BXXU5EVL2 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy A52 5G — A525FXXS4CVK4 (Released first in Germany)
- Galaxy A52s 5G — A528BXXS1DVL2 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy A71 5G — A716BXXU6EVL2 (Released first in the United Arab Emirates)
- Galaxy A90 5G — A908BXXS5EVK4 (Released first in Oceania)
Samsung’s huge product portfolio also encompasses Android-powered tablets such as the Galaxy Tab series. Although less prone to issues, the Korean tech giant still offers regular security patches and software updates for the Tab lineup. In December, that now includes European LTE-capable versions of the Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra. We’re expecting Wi-Fi versions to get the patch soon too.
- Galaxy Tab S8 — X706BXXU3BVL2 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Tab S8+ — X806BXXU3BVL2 (Released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra — X906BXXU3BVL2 (Released first in Europe)
Samsung makes a ton of smartphones for all kinds of prospective buyers. Certain handsets are specifically designed for industry or rugged terrain use. This also expands to POS terminals and far more that we don’t have room to list here. All of those devices that run Android will be eligible for certain levels of cover, which means security updates and support.
The Galaxy Xcover 5 is a prime example. This is a rugged device that has been designed to withstand true abuse day-to-day. Launched back in March 2021, it’s eligible for even more support over the coming years. If you do happen to have the device, the December patch is now rolling out in Europe.
- Galaxy Xcover 5 — G525FXXS5CVL4 (Released first in Europe)
How to check for the latest OTA on your Galaxy device
If your Samsung device is slated to have been updated already, but the December patch hasn’t arrived for you personally, you can try updating manually. Simply open the Settings app, tap “Software update,” and choose “Download and install.”
This article was first published on December 7 and most recently updated on December 20.
Author: Damien Wilde
Source: 9TO5Google
