Samsung brings ‘4G update’ to eight-year-old Galaxy S7

The ‘4G update’ that Samsung released last week for a large number of current phones is also coming to many old models. Seven-year-old models, to be precise, such as the Galaxy S7 from 2016 and the Galaxy A5 from 2017.

Important 4G update for old Samsung phones

When Samsung suddenly released an update last week that keeps phones compatible with changing telephone networks, we could actually have guessed it. The necessary update will reach many models in the coming days, weeks and months. Finally, you must always be able to connect to a network on an older telephone – for example to call numbers such as 112.

The first ‘old’ phones that – as it turns out since last week – will receive a comparable update are the Galaxy S7 from 2016 and the Galaxy A5 from 2017. For the first, an update has been ready since last night to firmware version G930FXXU8EVG3 with the new CSC -version G930FPHN8EXD1. The second received an update ready yesterday firmware version A520FXXUGCTKA, with the new CSC version A520FPHNGCXD1. The attached changelist does not reveal any details, but it is easy to guess what the purpose of this brief update is.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy A5 2017 do not get anything new – no new security patch, no different interface version. The version numbering of the software itself will therefore not change.

Availability

The new update is now available on the Dutch unbranded Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 – and only on these device versions. This update is not yet available for the Galax S7 Edge at the time of writing. Also on Belgian or branded it is not available (yet), and we have not spotted it elsewhere in Europe.

If you are still using a Galaxy S7 or A5 2017, then first of all: congratulations! You will automatically receive a notification, or you can check availability directly via Settings -> Software Update -> Download updates manually.

We expect the same update soon on many more Samsung phones that have appeared in the Netherlands since roughly 2016. So if you still have one of these lying around and you see that an update is indeed available again – after years – please let us know below. Thank you in advance!

And if you still want to look for a nice successor for your faithful Galaxy S7 or A5 2017? Then read our Samsung Galaxy A55 review, or check the offers below.

(Thanks, Stefan and Peter!)

Galaxy A55 deals