Pixel can’t be caught \u2014 here’s why.<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Update: Republished on May 9 with an update twist for Pixel owners and new information on the timing of Samsung\u2019s One UI 8 \/ Android 16 beta.<\/p>\n
Google has warned that Android phones are again under attack<\/a>, with another serious vulnerability<\/a> leaving devices exposed to hackers. Within 24 hours, it confirmed<\/a> that all compatible Pixels \u201cwill receive these software updates starting today, and the rollout will continue over the next week in phases.\u201d Good for Pixel \u2014 bad for everyone else.<\/p>\n This vulnerability is a memory issue first disclosed by Meta<\/a> in March. As such, it\u2019s surprising to see this turn up to generate Android headlines two months later. But that also means there should be no delay in other OEMs applying the fix. Samsung has just issued details of its own monthly update<\/a> and the fix is included.<\/p>\n The twist is that this fix applies just to Android 13 and 14 \u2014 Android 12 and below are no longer supported<\/a>, suggesting Android 15 is already patched. Pixels have already moved to the new OS and so this warning does not apply. Samsung is mid its One UI 7 rollout, with many millions of phones yet to upgrade. As such, it does apply.<\/p>\n ForbesDelete Any Texts On Your Phone That Include These MessagesBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n Putting that aside, the challenge for Samsung is that it will run the latest monthly update across its global ecosystem through the rest of the month. And while its newest Galaxy flagships will be updated first, they\u2019re also the most likely to be on Android 15. Older phones still on Android 14 will wait the longest for this critical Android 14 fix.<\/p>\n Between the efficiency of monthly updates \u2014 including the use of seamless updates which again almost all Samsungs do without<\/a> \u2014 and the expediency of the OS upgrade, it\u2019s again advantage Pixel, with other OEMs playing an unwinnable game of catch-up.<\/p>\n There is a twist for Pixel owners this month though, with Google confirming there\u2019s no turning back. \u201cWarning,\u201d it told developers<\/a>, \u201cthe May 2025 update for Pixel 6 (6, 6 Pro, 6a) and Pixel 8 (8, 8 Pro, 8a) devices contains a bootloader update that increments the anti-roll back version for the bootloader. This prevents the device from rolling back to previous vulnerable versions of the bootloader. After flashing the May 2025 update on these devices you won\u2019t be able to flash and boot older Android 15 builds.”<\/p>\n \u201cThis is crucial for anyone who manually flashes factory images,\u201d Chrome Unboxed<\/a> says. \u201cOnce you install this May update on those specific devices, you will not be able to flash or boot older Android 15 builds. This is a security measure to prevent downgrading to potentially vulnerable software versions.\u201d<\/p>\n Google<\/a> warns that \u201cwhile it may be possible to restore certain data backed up to your Google Account, apps and their associated data will be uninstalled. Before proceeding, ensure that data you would like to retain is backed up to your Google Account.\u201d<\/p>\n That aside, all eyes are now Samsung\u2019s One UI 8 rollout, complete with the teased fix for the leaky Secure Folder issue<\/a>, and whether this next OS upgrade addresses the awkward optics of One UI 7 which teetered from one problem to the next. We\u2019re told this will be faster and closer behind Pixel, it really needs to, especially for $2000 flagships.<\/p>\n ForbesHas Your Phone Been Hacked\u2014This New Update Lets You KnowBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n And on that front, \u201cSamsung\u2019s One UI 8 beta based on Android 16 [may] arrive sooner than you\u2019d think.\u201d Per GSMArena<\/a>, \u201cthe company is now said to be almost ready to release the first beta\u2026 According to a new report, this will go out in the third week of this month, earlier than the mid-June date rumored mere hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n The remaining issue, though, is the oddity of Google supplying and competing with other OEMs. With its control of Pixel\u2019s hardware through Android software, it has the full stack in the same way Apple does with iPhone. And while the Google-Samsung relationship is undoubtedly close and getting closer, Pixel is also undoubtedly more of a competitive threat than it has ever been before, especially in the premium category.<\/p>\n