Samsung Galaxy S7 Update: G930F Global Variant Receives July Security Patch

A new Samsung Galaxy S7 update is currently rolling out specifically for the global variant of the smartphone. Team Android noted that the latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow firmware carries the build number XXS1APG3, and it is compatible with Galaxy S7 units bearing the model number G930F.

The firmware update brings in the Security Maintenance Release (SMR) for the month of July, which aims to further improve the security of the Android smartphone. It can be installed via the Over-the-Air (OTA) update process. And since it is being rolled out in phases, it may take a while for some Samsung Galaxy S7 G930F owners to receive the firmware automatically via a push notification.

To reiterate, the XXS1APG3 security update is suitable only for the Galaxy S7 G930F, and installing it to an incompatible model can cause potential damage to the device. To check the model number of the smartphone, go to Settings and then select About Device. The model number should be listed in there together with other information about the smartphone, Mobile Fun noted.

Samsung Galaxy S7, according to GSM Arena, arrived in March of this year. Under the hood, it comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset paired with 4 GB of RAM. It has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1440p x 2560p and a pixel density of 577. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and features an always-on display and TouchWiz UI. As for the camera, the primary shooter has 12 MP lens sensor while the selfie front-facing shooter is equipped with 5 MP lens.

Here’s a review for Samsung Galaxy S7 posted by Android Authority on their YouTube channel.

The Samsung 2016 flagship device arrived with pre-installed Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. It brought in new features for the Android smartphones that aim to further enhance mobile use. For instance, the Marshmallow firmware highlights is battery-saving features like Doze and App Standby. The former puts the phone into a sleep mode when it is at rest, while the latter prevents draining the juice pack from apps that are rarely used, the official Android website explained.

Marshmallow OS also provides support to Android Pay, the faster and safer way to pay wirelessly. There’s also Now on Tap, which is a smarter virtual assistant service providing cards filled with useful information.

Those itching to get the update who haven’t received the automatic notification yet can manually verify the availability of the latest security patch. To do so, users can navigate to the S7’s Settings menu, head to About Device, choose Software Updates, and then tap the Check for Updates option. The system will search for any new updates compatible with the device, and if there’s one, Galaxy S7 users simply need to follow the on-screen prompts that will appear for the download and installation process to commence. The latest security update for Galaxy S7 global variant can also be accessed through the Samsung Smart Switch tool, but this requires connecting the smartphone to a PC.

Although it is an unofficial installation process not recommended by Samsung, Galaxy S7 users can opt to get the latest update via manual procedures using the ODIN tool, according to Team Android. But as a warning, this poses more risk of permanently damaging the device, especially for those who haven’t tried it out yet.

Also, prior to manually installing the July security update for Samsung Galaxy S7, there are pre-requisites set to ensure a trouble-free process. First, creating a backup of all the essential data and settings of the Galaxy S7 is highly necessary, as installing a firmware through unofficial method will most likely wipe out the phone’s entire memory. Second, the battery level needs to be at least 80 percent for the process to push through. Third, the USB debugging mode should be enabled so the Samsung Galaxy S7 will connect to the computer smoothly.

Check out the Team Android’s post linked above for the comprehensive manual installation process.

[Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Samsung]