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Samsung‘s January 2024 update is available for a few more Galaxy devices. It is rolling out to the three Galaxy S21 series flagships. The Galaxy S21 FE, which isn’t a true blue flagship, picked up the new security patch a few days back. Samsung has also rolled out the January SMR (Security Maintenance Release) to several other models, including the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, and all recent foldables.
Galaxy S21 series joins Samsung’s January 2024 update party
The latest security update for the Galaxy S21 trio is currently rolling out in Europe. More precisely, it is available for users in Switzerland with the firmware build number G99*BXXS9FWL9. A wider rollout, covering the entire lineup in other European countries as well as the rest of the world, should follow shortly. The build number may vary depending on your region but everyone will get the same update.
As Samsung’s official changelog confirms, the latest firmware release for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra is all about this month’s security fixes. There aren’t any new features or functional improvements here, which isn’t surprising. Just two months back, the devices received the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update with tons of goodies, including some UI changes.
The new update still has a lot to talk about on the security side of things. Rolling out with an OTA (over the air) file size of about 400MB, it brings as many as 80 vulnerability patches. Samsung is pushing 75 Android OS patches and 5 Galaxy-specific patches to Galaxy devices with the January SMR. One of these vulnerabilities is labeled “critical,” potentially allowing attackers to gain remote access to affected devices.
If you are using a Galaxy S21 or any other Samsung phone, you can go to Settings > Software update >Download and install to check for new updates. Note that updates are released in batches and may not be available to everyone at the same time. So, if you don’t see a pending update today, you can always check back later. You may also get a notification once the OTA rollout hits your Galaxy device.
The Galaxy S21 series will get Android 15
The Galaxy S21 phones turn three years old next week but they still have plenty of life left in them. Samsung will push four major Android OS updates to the lineup, meaning that they will get Android 15. The devices should also pick up One UI 6.1, which debuts with the Galaxy S24 series next week. If you plan to upgrade to the new flagship, you can pre-reserve it now with no commitment and get a $50 credit from Samsung when you pre-order.