How Samsung turned months of inactivity into a very attention-seeking smartphone

Your spare Android phone won't become usable without a multi-hour, multi-step update process.

The author detailed a frustrating experience updating a 2022 Samsung Galaxy A33 smartphone after months of disuse. Initially, the phone refused to charge due to a perceived moisture in the USB-C port, even in dry conditions. After leaving it in a warm, breezy spot, the phone began charging and prompted a cascade of OS updates, starting from April 2025. Each update required manual approval and led to reboots and login prompts, making the process slow and interruptive. The author noted that while the phone eventually became functional, the update process was cumbersome, echoing a broader sentiment that device manufacturers need to streamline software updates and potentially offer cumulative patches.

The author's experience highlights a significant pain point for users with older or infrequently used devices: the burden of extensive, sequential software updates. For a mid-range device like the Samsung Galaxy A33, the need for numerous manual interventions to bring it up to date after a period of inactivity suggests an outdated update management system. This contrasts sharply with the user expectation for seamless, near-instantaneous updates, particularly as devices become more integral to daily life.

Samsung, like other manufacturers, needs to consolidate update packages into fewer, larger cumulative downloads to reduce the user friction associated with long periods of device disuse. The current model, where a device requires multiple separate updates and reboots, is inefficient and time-consuming, potentially alienating users who expect their hardware to remain functional with minimal effort. Future device support strategies should prioritize ease of restoration for dormant devices.