Bad News: No More Updates for Samsung Galaxy S10 Series
Samsung's Galaxy S10 series, which included the S10, S10+ and S10e, were released in early 2019 and were the company's flagship Android phones until the release of the S20 series in 2020 However, Samsung has now ended software support for these devices, leaving users without any future updates
The Galaxy S10 lineup, comprising the Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e, was introduced by Samsung in early 2019, and remained the company's top-tier Android smartphones until the S20 series was unveiled in the following year. However, the disappointing news is that all three models have now reached the end of their software support cycle.
Initially, Samsung had only promised two years of major Android OS upgrades and an additional year of security patches for the Galaxy S10 series. This fell short compared to Apple's software support for iPhones, prompting Samsung to gradually extend the support period to the current pledge of four years of OS updates and five years of security patches. While Samsung did extend the software support for the Galaxy S10, it was not on par with what their current devices receive. In 2022, the Galaxy S10 series received its third major update, Android 12, marking the end of software support for the phones.
The S10 series has reached the end of its software support, leaving users vulnerable to security risks as Google's monthly security updates will no longer be available on these devices. While certain apps and services may continue to function for a while, the lack of updates increases the risk of malware and other issues. Additionally, the absence of unlockable bootloaders in the US S10 series means that users cannot turn to custom ROMs for continued security updates. The only viable solution is to purchase a new phone, with Apple offering the best long-term software support for phones. Samsung's latest flagship and mid-range devices will receive 5 years of security patches, starting from their release.
Built-in Google Play Protect on Galaxy S10 phones can protect against most app-based malware, even if you cannot upgrade your device at the moment. Additionally, Google Chrome and other browsers continue to support Android 12, the latest update for the S10 series, ensuring protection from web vulnerabilities. Chrome also supports older OS versions, such as Android 7.0, as of version 112.
