An aging Galaxy A70 gets the December security update
The December SMR for the Galaxy A70 is rolling out with firmware version A705USQS2DVK1 in the US. The update is available for carrier-locked units on Comcast’s network (via). Since the device had a limited release stateside, that likely covers most people. This update has already reached users in most international markets, including Europe and Canada. The build number varies slightly but the content is largely the same. Samsung is only pushing the December security patch here. Last month’s security release patched 80 vulnerabilities in Galaxy devices. Some of these issues were labeled critical by Google, with the most severe ones allowing remote code execution. Some others leaked sensitive information to remote attackers. 13 vulnerability patches part of the December SMR were exclusive to Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Of course, not every issue exists on every device, but the majority do. The Galaxy A70 is safe from all of those following the latest update. As said earlier, this could be the penultimate software update for the Galaxy A70. Released in May 2019, the phone will complete four years in the market in May next year. Samsung’s official support for it should end after that. And, we don’t expect the company to seed more than one update to the device from here on unless it continues the support after the stipulated period. The Galaxy A70 picked up three updates in the whole of 2022 — March, June, and December security patches. Of course, this phone will not get Android 13; it didn’t get Android 12 either. The Galaxy A70 debuted with Android 9 Pie and picked up updates to Android 10 and Android 11. If you’re using this phone, you should consider upgrading to a newer model. You will not find a 2023 model in this lineup, though. Samsung reportedly doesn’t plan to launch the Galaxy A74.
Samsung is cancelling the Galaxy A74 in favor of the Galaxy S22 FE
The Galaxy A7x lineup has been Samsung’s highest-end mid-range smartphone since it canceled the Galaxy A8x and Galaxy A9x. However, it may also cease to exist from this year. The company reportedly plans to place the Galaxy S22 FE between the Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy S23 base model. The Galaxy S23 series is rumored to go official on February 1.
