Enterprise Galaxy devices do not get special software update treatment

Samsung announced the launch of the Enterprise Editions of the Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy A40, Galaxy A50 and Galaxy Xcover 4s in the UK today, and it seems some publications have focused on the part that says ‘4 years of regular firmware updates' in their coverage, making some folks question why the same courtesy is not extended to the standard editions that Samsung sells to customers. Well, if you read Samsung's announcement carefully, you will realize the customer editions do get the same software support.

In the footnotes at the end of its press release, Samsung mentions this: “S Series and Note Series updates are available monthly for the first three years, then quarterly for the final year. A Series and XCover 4S updates are available quarterly for the full four year term.” If you have following your recent coverage, you probably know that the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge were shifted to a quarterly update schedule when they entered their fourth year on the market, after getting monthly updates for the first three years. That's exactly what Samsung will do for the Enterprise Edition devices, instead of giving them special treatment.

The enterprise variants of the mid-range devices, meanwhile, will get quarterly updates from day one. That is actually worse than the support their regular consumer variants get, at least for the Galaxy A50 and Galaxy Xcover 4s, which are eligible for monthly security updates. Enterprise and consumer editions are also on an equal footing as far as major Android OS updates are concerned. Both get two OS upgrades, although that's one aspect we keep hoping Samsung will change at some point now that its flagship offerings have broken the $1000 barrier and even reached $2000 when you consider the Galaxy Fold.