Yesterday, we reported that the Samsung Galaxy S22 series was already starting to get its December 2024 security update, but users in the US were still waiting. Now, just a day later, the patch is reaching US models as well.
As with the update destined for other regions, the December 2024 security patch for the whole Galaxy S22 lineup shares the same build number. This time, the build number is S90xUSQS7EXK9. Currently, the update is available for the Galaxy S22 (SM-S901U), Galaxy S22 Plus (SM-S906U), and Galaxy S22 Ultra (SM-S908U) associated with AT&T networks. It will probably extend to the other US mobile carriers in the next few days.
The OTA is exactly the same as the one for models in other regions. In other words, don't expect to get a plethora of new features or amazing changes here. Samsung is saving all that for the One UI 7 rollout starting in January 2025, according to reports. Instead, the security update solely focuses on addressing vulnerabilities. Essentially, this update will make your device safer, even if you don't notice it.
More specifically, the update includes fixes for up to 48 vulnerabilities. Most of them were underlying One UI's Android core. In the December patch, Google integrated fixes for 28 "High" severity vulnerabilities and 6 "Critical" severity vulnerabilities. On the other hand, Samsung fixed up to eight vulnerabilities in its own software that made some One UI features exploitable by attackers. Additionally, Samsung Semiconductor has addressed a couple of vulnerabilities that affect only Exynos chips.
You can manually check the update's availability in Settings > Software Update > Download and Install. Anyway, you should receive a notification as soon as it's available for your device. Fortunately, the Galaxy S22 series is also eligible to receive the upcoming One UI 7 update. So, owners of Samsung's 2022 flagship phones will be able to enjoy new advanced features in the coming weeks.