New year, new warning. Pixel owners who are upgrading to Android 15 are now being urged to update their devices. Google has just released several important fixes to stop “remote code execution without any additional execution privileges.” Although no active attacks have been reported yet, this is how it usually begins. These vulnerabilities jeopardize Android’s core system and need to be patched immediately.
Google has confirmed, “We have started rolling out the monthly software update for January 2025. All supported Pixel devices running Android 15 will begin receiving these software updates today, and the rollout will continue in stages next week, depending on the carrier and device.” Not all updates this month are relevant to Android 15, but according to Google’s bulletin, most of them are.
The January security update for Android is also available for Samsung’s newest S24 flagship. Of course, the biggest difference is that those Samsungs, unlike their Pixel counterparts, don’t yet have Android 15. When the system update becomes available for their devices, Pixel users will be notified. Google says, “We encourage you to check your Android version and update to get the latest software.”
For those upgrading to Android 15, perhaps the latest beta for Android 15’s quarterly platform release will be the most noticeable change. Android Authority reports that beyond the January security improvements, “There’s also a separate track of Android development running in parallel, preparing things for the first Pixel drop of 2025, expected in March. Enthusiastic testers can get an early taste of that update by signing up for the quarterly platform release (QPR) 2 beta, and today Google is releasing its latest batch of bug fixes.”
Speaking of security updates, Pixel owners have an edge over Samsung owners. The process seems faster and more efficient, but it also benefits from Google’s full control over its hardware and software ecosystem. Samsung often finds itself lagging, but the Galaxy maker will finally bring seamless updates for its users with the release of the Galaxy S25 series next month. But these days, like with many other features, Pixel is the first to get there.
