Key Takeaways:
- Samsung has discontinued security updates for the Galaxy A51 5G, A41, and M01.
- These phones launched in 2020 and have received regular updates for four years.
- While unlikely, critical vulnerabilities may prompt Samsung to issue a one-off update in the future.
Samsung recently unveiled the June 2024 security patch for its Galaxy devices. However, along with the patch details came a sobering update to the list of phones eligible for future security updates. As of June 2024, the Galaxy A51 5G, A41, and M01 will no longer receive these crucial security patches.
Launched between March and June of 2020, these phones have enjoyed a commendable four-year run of consistent security updates. The Galaxy A51 5G, in particular, benefited from a generous upgrade path, receiving three major Android OS updates. It debuted with Android 10 and currently runs the latest Android 13. The Galaxy A41 and M01, on the other hand, received two major Android OS upgrades, transitioning from Android 10 to Android 12.
While these phones are no longer slated for regular security updates, there’s a slight chance they might receive a one-off patch if a critical vulnerability surfaces in older Galaxy devices. However, such instances are uncommon, and these phones will likely remain on their current software versions indefinitely.
This news underscores the importance of considering software update policies when purchasing a smartphone. While these phones served their users well for four years, the lack of ongoing security updates exposes them to potential vulnerabilities in the future.
