by Although Samsung has just launched the Galaxy S23 series, the Korean company has not forgotten its predecessors. A growing number of Samsung Galaxy devices are getting the February 2023 Android security update – here’s the full list.
Samsung February 2023 Security Update – Here’s What’s New
Every single month, Google releases a generic or generalized Android security bulletin. This is publicly available and indicates any software fixes for potential security issues affecting Android and core parts of the mobile operating system.
Patch notes are also provided by Samsung, as the updates for own devices include a number of Galaxy-specific fixes. The Korean tech giant has now revealed the details of the February 2023 security update that is now slowly rolling out to a number of Galaxy devices. The February patch notes direct from Samsung list 5 “Critical” severity bug fixes, 43 “High” and no “Moderate” fixes.
Fixes within the OTA include fixes for WindowManagerService vulnerabilities. This could allow attackers to take a screenshot without user notification. This security update fixes another issue that could allow hackers to access Secure Folder and take previews of the app without consent.
With the launch of the Galaxy S23, the new One UI 5.1 build is part of the package. If you have an older device, you can grab the OTA with a number of tweaks and features included. That’s a significant update at nearly 2GB. Previously confirmed by Samsung, One UI 5.1 will be available for the following phones in the coming weeks: Galaxy S20, S21 and Galaxy S22, as well as Galaxy Z Flip, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip 3, Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 2 , Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Devices with Samsung February 2023 Security Update
The exact order in which Samsung updates phones seems to vary from month to month, but generally there is a loose pattern that the company often follows. Typically, each month’s new security update comes for premium devices like the Galaxy S flagship or Galaxy Z foldable hardware.
This will be followed by a rollout of affordable handsets including the Galaxy A series, M series and F series, although this is highly dependent on global markets and availability. Similarly, Samsung tends to release updates to newer devices before older ones. Despite often being the roadmap, this is a fairly loose guideline that doesn’t always hold true, so be sure to check the full list below for your own device(s).
This list will include a note about where the update first debuted and whether it is also available in the US. As usual, the latest additions will be marked in bold.
Galaxy S series
The Galaxy S series represents the best of the best when it comes to Samsung phones, and is often seen as the pinnacle of Android. The sales figures also support that. Being at the top of Samsung’s totem pole means that the Galaxy S series phones are likely to make up the bulk of the February 2023 security update list in the opening weeks.
What is interesting is that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G was the first such handset to receive the February 2023 security update this month. The early 2022 handset will launch from February 7 and is technically a cheaper version of the 2021 flagship Galaxy S21. It comes in a few flavors, as the Exynos 2100 variant is the first to be updated in select regions, including Brazil. It is not clear when the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 version will be updated at this stage.
While 5G has been around for nearly 5 years at this stage, not every global region has access to super-fast network connections through wireless carriers. In these cases, Samsung often offers 4G LTE phones and separates the S series.
A good example is the Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra. This trio usually comes with 5G as standard, but in some regions only 4G options are available for purchase. Because of that, the rollout is often a bit confusing since on February 9, both variants of the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra have started receiving the February 2023 update in South America.
A massive rollout of One UI 5.1 is now underway for a number of Samsung Galaxy devices, with the update also coming with the February 2023 security patch by default. For many in Europe, One UI 5.1 is now available for Galaxy S20, S21 and S22 devices after being spotted on Reddit.
Due to the differences between the Exynos global models and the North American Snapdragon equivalents, there was a minor delay in the rollout of unlocked US Galaxy S22 devices. It took nearly 24 hours for the February update to reach North American shores, but this update includes the full-fledged One UI 5.1 upgrade.
As part of the wider One UI 5.1 rollout, the Galaxy S20 FE or “Fan Edition” and Galaxy S21 FE are now starting to receive the substantial (nearly 2GB) OTA update. In regions where the February update has not been made fully available, One UI 5.1 brings this together with all the system-related features.
- Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra 4G — G98xFXXSFGWAD (released first in South America)
- Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra 5G — G98xBXXSFGWAD (released first in South America)
- Galaxy S20 FE — G781BXXU4HWB1 (released first in Asia and Europe)
- Galaxy S21 / S21 / S21 Ultra — G99xBXXU6EWAF (released first in Europe)
- Galaxy S21 FE — G990EXXS3DWAA / G990BXXU2EWAJ / G990B2XXU1EWAJ (released first in Brazil)
- Galaxy S22 / S22+ / S22 Ultra — S90xBXXU3CWAI / S908EXXU3CWAI (released first in Europe)
Galaxy Note series
Since the full merger of the Galaxy S and Note series with the Galaxy S22, the best days of the Note are long behind us. In many ways, this streamlines Samsung’s flagship efforts, but is still disappointing for longtime fans. However, several Note handsets are updated periodically.
The very first Samsung phone to receive the February 2023 security update is actually the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. This update began rolling out in Europe on February 6, with a wider rollout to US unlocked models starting later that day. Often, the Qualcomm-powered model is updated much later, so it’s a nice change of pace for the former flagship.
Although the days are numbered for the Galaxy Note 10 series, the device is still supported by Samsung. This once-great handset is one of the best that Samsung has produced, so it’s great to hear that the latest update is rolling out from February 20. Owners of the Exynos version can now be updated in Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Galaxy Note 10 / Note 10+ — N97xFXXS8HWA5 (released first in Central America/South America)
- Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra — N98xBXXS5GWB1 / N89xU1UES3GWA3 (released first in Europe)
Galaxy Flip and Fold
Although not explicitly confirmed as such, the Galaxy Fold and Flip series are undoubtedly the future of Samsung’s mobile efforts. We’ve seen foldable smartphones slowly become more and more mainstream since the debut of the Z Fold back in 2019. Since then, the Korean tech giant has improved almost every aspect of its hardware, with the Z Fold 4 being a particularly brilliant piece of technology. .
With the One UI 5.1 update confirmed by Samsung, those with the Z Flip 3, Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 4 can now grab the February 2023 security update as long as they’re in Europe and have an unlocked handset. This update brings a number of new features, but mostly tweaks to improve your One UI experience.
Released alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Flip 4 is now getting some love thanks to the One UI 5.1 update. As part of this super-fast rollout, Samsung is also packing the latest February 2023 security update. It started rolling out on February 14th to those in Europe, but we expect a wider rollout very soon.
While the original Galaxy Fold was fraught with issues, Samsung finally addressed the durability issues and relaunched one of the first consumer-ready foldable phones in September 2019. The forerunner of modern foldable Android phones is still technically supported until the end of 2023 and that means it should receive regular monthly patches. Samsung appears to be pushing the February 2023 update for the original Fold in parts of South America and Latin America, including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Panama.
- Galaxy Z Flip 3 — F711BXXU4EWB1 (released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Z Flip 4 — F721BXXU1CWAC (released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Fold — F900FXXS6HWA2 (released first in South America, Latin America)
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 — F926BTBU3EWB1 (released first in Europe)
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 — F936BXXU1CWAC (released first in Europe)
Galaxy A series
The Galaxy A series is one of the most popular new smartphone series that Samsung has introduced to the market in recent years. Utilizing many features of the S Series along with cheaper materials and a lower entry price has been a recipe for excellence. Throw in extensive upgrade plans and it’s not hard to see why cheaper devices have sold so well.
One of the best in recent years has been the Galaxy A52 5G, this mid-ranger is the first Samsung A-series handset to receive the February 2023 security update. Launching on February 8, this OTA update is slowly becoming available in European regions.
The Galaxy A72 is a bigger, better and bolder alternative to the Galaxy A52. Although it was released at the same time, it is getting the latest update only now. Owners of the handset in India should now be able to take the update from February 14. Unfortunately, this does not include the One UI 5.1 update that has been rolling out to several previous flagship Galaxy phones in recent days.
- Galaxy A52 5G — A526BXXS2DWAB (released first in Europe)
- Galaxy A72 — A725FXXS5CWB2 (released first in India)
Galaxy Tab series
Samsung’s healthy product lineup even includes some of the best Android tablets you can buy right now. The current flagship tablet is the Tab S8 series. With large screens with high resolution and a high refresh rate, these are premium products with the power to burn. The good thing about Samsung tablets is that you are also eligible to get regular monthly patches for added peace of mind and security.
The Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and S8 Ultra are the first such devices to be updated starting February 20. European models are the first to be updated, but we expect that to change over the coming weeks as the rollout continues.
- Galaxy Tab S8 / S8+ / S8 Ultra — X70xBXXU3BWB4 / X80xBXXU3BWB4 / X90xBXXU3BWB4 (released first in Europe)
How to check for the latest OTA on your Galaxy device
If your Samsung device should have been updated already, but the January update has not reached you personally, you can try to update manually. Just open the Settings app, tap “Software Update” and select “Download and Install.”
This article was first published on February 7 and last updated on February 20.
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