Google has alerted users to the fact that Android phones are once more being targeted due to a significant flaw that leaves them open to hackers. All compatible Pixels “will receive these software updates starting today, and the rollout will continue over the next week in phases,” the company said within a day. Not good for everyone, but good for Pixel.
This memory flaw was initially revealed by Meta in March. Therefore, it’s unexpected that two months later, this is making waves on Android. However, it also implies that other OEMs should be able to implement the update without any delays. The fix is part of the monthly update that Samsung recently released.
The catch is that only Android 13 and 14 are affected by this fix; Android 12 and lower are no longer supported, indicating that Android 15 has already been fixed. This warning is not applicable because Pixels has already switched to the new OS. With millions of phones still not upgraded, Samsung is in the middle of rolling out One UI 7. Therefore, it is applicable.
Putting that aside, Samsung faces the issue of implementing the most recent monthly update throughout the remainder of the month throughout its global ecosystem. Additionally, its most recent Galaxy flagships are most likely to run Android 15, even though they will receive the upgrade first. For this crucial Android 14 update, older phones running Android 14 will have to wait the longest.
With the speed of the OS upgrade and the effectiveness of monthly updates, including the usage of seamless updates, which virtually all Samsungs do not employ, Pixel once again has an advantage over other OEMs in the never-ending game of catch-up.
The Android Authority has recently released some important security info that will help both Pixels and Samsungs. According to its most recent deconstruction, Google Password Manager for Android may receive automatic passkey updates. Compared to manually updating your passwords to passkeys on Android, this would be a significant improvement. As has been widely reported recently, passkeys are more convenient and safe than usernames and passwords.
After noticing a change in the “latest version of the Google Play Services app,” the team decided to activate the automated passkey feature to test its functionality. Because of this feature, your phone’s current login credentials for websites and apps would be changed to passkeys without your express consent. Rather, Google Password Manager will automatically convert your login credentials to a passkey and alert you when you use your password to access a compatible service.
With even basic two-factor authentication (which allows you to read SMS one-time codes) now viewed as insufficient to secure accounts and platforms and becoming more and more susceptible to circumvention or interception, Google is aggressively pushing passkeys. Microsoft is seeking to remove passwords for billions of users, but Google hasn’t gone as far as that. The rationale is that passwords continue to be a vulnerability if they are left on accounts. In any case, this is a positive step for Samsungs and Pixels, who will receive this first, once more.
This month, however, there’s a twist for Pixel owners: Google has confirmed that there is no going back. The May 2025 update for Pixel 6 (6, 6 Pro, 6a) and Pixel 8 (8, 8 Pro, 8a) devices includes a bootloader upgrade that raises the bootloader’s anti-roll back version, it warned developers. This stops the device from reverting to earlier, weaker bootloader versions. You won’t be able to flash and boot previous Android 15 builds on these devices after flashing the May 2025 upgrade.”
For everyone who manually flashes factory images, this is essential, according to Chrome Unboxed. “Older Android 15 builds cannot be flashed or booted after this May update is installed on those particular devices. This is a security precaution to avoid downgrading to software versions that may be insecure.
Although some data backed up to your Google Account may be recoverable, Google cautions that “apps and their associated data will be uninstalled.” Before continuing, make sure that the data you want to keep is backed up to your Google Account.
Apart from that, everyone is watching Samsung’s One UI 8 rollout, which includes the announced repair for the Secure Folder leak, to see if the uncomfortable aesthetics of One UI 7, which veered from one issue to another, will be fixed. According to reports, this will be quicker and more competitive than Pixel, which is crucial, particularly for flagships that cost $2000.
Additionally, “Samsung’s One UI 8 beta based on Android 16 [may] arrive sooner than you’d think” is progressing on that front. “The company is now said to be almost ready to release the first beta,” according to GSMArena. A recent report states that this will be shipped around the third week of this month, which is sooner than the mid-June timeframe that was rumored just hours ago.
It has been reported that Samsung plans to launch the One UI 8 beta program during the third week of May. Compared to earlier programs, the beta program is probably not going to be as accessible. Only a few devices in a few markets may be able to use the One UI 8 beta. By June, a broader rollout is anticipated.
But the strangeness of Google competing with other OEMs and providing them is still a problem. Similar to Apple’s iPhone, the Pixel has the entire stack thanks to Android software that controls its hardware. Furthermore, even if Google and Samsung have a close and growing partnership, Pixel is unquestionably a bigger danger to the market than it has ever been, particularly in the premium market.
With sanctions limiting access to U.S. technology, there is discussion of OEMs in China abandoning Android, as Huawei has already done. It may be better for Samsung to follow suit and develop a legitimate iPhone competitor that has access to Google’s apps and services when needed, just like iPhones now have.
