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Samsung‘s Galaxy S20 series may not be eligible for the Android 14 update but the 2020 flagships are still receiving monthly security patches. The company has just released the November security update for the phones. It patches more than 60 vulnerabilities.
The Galaxy S20 series gets the November security update
As of this writing, Samsung is pushing the November SMR (Security Maintenance Release) to the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra in Taiwan. The phones are picking up the update with the firmware build number G98*0ZHS7HWK1. It appears to be just a security patch with no additional goodies. Since the lineup is still receiving security updates every month, the latest release should soon reach more markets, including the US.
This month’s security release from Samsung patches 65 vulnerabilities. About 50 of those are Android OS patches coming from Google and partners. The Android maker confirmed five vulnerabilities as critical security flaws, potentially allowing an attacker to remotely take control of an affected device. The remaining 15-odd fixes come directly from Samsung. These vulnerabilities don’t exist on Android devices from other manufacturers.
If you’re using a Galaxy S20 phone, you will receive these security fixes with the latest update in the coming weeks. You can wait for a notification about the OTA (over-the-air) release or manually check for updates from the Settings app. Under the Software update menu, tap on Download and Install to see if an update is available. If you don’t see any updates today, wait a few days and check again.
No Android 14 for your aging Samsung flagship
Your Galaxy S20 may be working fine but it will no longer receive feature updates from Samsung. Debuted in early 2020, the lineup shipped with Android 10 onboard. The Korean firm only offered three major Android OS updates for its flagships back then (four updates for the Galaxy S22 series and newer models). The Galaxy S20 phones have already received those three updates—Android 11, Android 12, and Android 13.
Going forward, the devices will only get security patches. As you can see on Samsung’s official website, the 2020 flagships are still eligible for monthly security releases. The updates will come at least until February 2024. Whether the Korean behemoth decides to update the Galaxy S20 series beyond four years, only time will tell. Meanwhile, if you are looking to upgrade to a new Samsung phone, the company has the Galaxy S24 series coming early next year.