There’s a quiet storm brewing in the smartphone world. While Google’s Pixel phones have been winning praise for their fast and consistent updates, the broader Android ecosystem is showing cracks — and Apple looks set to take advantage with a big change coming to iPhones very soon.
The Android Update Problem
The biggest issue for Android remains updates. For example, Samsung is reportedly struggling with its rollout of One UI 8, which is supposed to bring Android 16 and its important new privacy and security features. Even the regular monthly security patches often land on Pixel devices before Galaxy phones — despite the fact that Samsung outsells Google at a ratio of more than ten-to-one.
This gap between Android makers highlights how fragmented the ecosystem has become, and why Apple’s approach looks increasingly attractive.
Apple’s New Security Push
On the other side, Apple is preparing a radical update system designed to keep over a billion iPhones safe from the rising wave of spyware and mobile threats.
At the heart of this is an upgrade to Apple’s Rapid Security Response (RSR) system, which currently delivers critical fixes outside of regular iOS updates. The new version will take things even further, ensuring users get security patches silently in the background — without warnings, downloads, or manual installs.
In fact, it may even work without needing a restart, though some fixes could still prompt one.
Part of iOS 26.1
This new background update feature is expected to arrive with iOS 26.1, which is currently in beta testing. After releasing iOS 26 last month, Apple has shifted focus to 26.1, which is still scheduled to roll out before the end of October.
Why This Matters
Unlike the current RSR system, which requires user input, the new background security updates will be automatic and invisible. That’s something no Android brand has mastered yet, aside from Google with its Pixel line. Because Google controls both hardware and software — just like Apple — Pixels are first in line for new Android features and fixes.
