In 2016, Google revolutionized the Android experience by debuting seamless updates, a background software update installation system that eliminated the need for device reboots, thus allowing users uninterrupted access during updates. This innovative approach utilized a secondary system partition for installing updates, which the device would switch to upon the next restart. By alternating between the primary and secondary partitions with each update, this method not only reduced downtime but also increased safety by providing a backup partition in case of installation errors.
Efficient Update Process Encounters Storage Hurdles
Despite the benefits of seamless updates, the additional space requirements on the device’s internal memory have stymied their implementation by some manufacturers. Among them is Samsung, which has refrained from adopting this feature for its Galaxy line, leading to speculation on whether the tech giant might embrace this method in the foreseeable future.
Google’s Stance on Mandatory Seamless Updates
Mishaal Rahman, a tech expert, indicates Google’s move towards exclusively supporting A/B updates in Android’s core. However, Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and tablets are unlikely to change update methodologies, as Google has not mandated the adoption of seamless updates by third-party manufacturers. The integration of such updates would only become obligatory if specified in the Google Mobile Services (GMS) license, which is essential for manufacturers to include Google’s proprietary apps on their devices.
Google previously attempted to make seamless updates a compulsory feature but settled on it being a recommended practice, not a requirement—a decision that Samsung has taken advantage of and is expected to continue doing so. This latitude benefits Galaxy users by conserving on-device storage space—a critical consideration given the substantial software size on Galaxy devices.
Moreover, update complications on Galaxy devices are seldom, and the primary drawback of not having A/B partitions is the brief device downtime during firmware installations. Some Galaxy devices have experienced display issues following updates, but these are unrelated to the seamless update feature, suggesting that Samsung’s current update practice may remain unchanged.
While Google is leaning towards a standard future where seamless updates are the norm, Samsung remains an outlier, prioritizing storage space and existing update reliability over the new system. Galaxy users can expect this status quo to persist, with seamless updates not being a part of their immediate experience.
