Since the recently announced Samsung Galaxy S23 flagship smartphones come pre-installed with Android 13, they should really allow seamless upgrades (A/B). Theoretically, Google’s approval wouldn’t exist without this function. But the truth is rather different.
Seamless updates (A/B) allow installing updates in the background while devices are in use. It only needs a fast restart. Therefore, the devices may be in use while the update is installing. The process ends without the user’s intervention. In the case of a problem, the prior status may always be restored. Because the update installs on a separate disk.
An essential Android 13 feature is not supported by Galaxy S23 smartphones
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The first testers of the Galaxy S23 smartphones were able to confirm that the A/B updates are once again not supported even before the devices are widely accessible. That makes me wonder. Why is Samsung allowed to contradict Google’s rules?
Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be a good reason not to use this function. In particular, given that the majority of new smartphones now come standard with 256 GB of storage memory. In addition, the processors used on smartphones have become very powerful in managing multiple tasks at the same time.
According to previous rumors, Google will need virtual A/B support for GMS licensing on smartphones running Android 13 out of the box. This means that after several years of falling behind the competition, Android 13 handsets from companies like Samsung and Oppo should now support Seamless Updates.
For those who are unaware, Google accelerated software upgrades with Android 7.0 Nougat by using an A/B partitioning mechanism. The company increased support for splitting up some partitions into two separate “A” and “B” partitions. The partition you are presently using is your active partition. While an upgrade to the inactive partition can take place in the background and then switched to with a short reboot.
