[Samsung Galaxy A32 5G] GalaxyA325G:
Without you, I wouldn't have known the name of the two packages, nor that adb can disable them without me being rooted. Thanks.

What I don't know, yet anyway, is which of the following software versions those two packages above facilitated the updates for...

Android version [e.g., Android 12]

Baseband version [e.g., A326USQS8BVL3]

Security update [e.g., Dec. 1, 2022]

Google Play System [e.g., March 1, 2022]

Google Play Services [e.g., 22.42.12 (190400-481949630]

Google Play Store [e.g., 33.5.16-21 [0][PR] 4933219047]

Firmware (such as the Qualcomm modem firmware)

25 Core modules in Project Mainline

These are apparently updated either over Google Play Services on the net or OTA by partners.

Default/original apps (such as Chrome, YouTube, etc.)

User apps (of which there may be hundreds)

I didn't think it was going to be easy to unlock the bootloader, let alone roll it backward a notch or two.

BTW, it's not a Snapdragon I don't think.

DevCheck (see attached screenshot) shows it to be a "Mediatek Dimensity 720" powering this SM-A326U Galaxy A32 5G.

I've seen that link, and I found it fantastic, where I think I'm stuck in not being able to root unless something new comes up - which is my main purpose here in at least freezing the bootloader version at 8.

The main lack of information I have at the moment is I don't know WHAT PROCESS updates the bootloader.

I'm with you 100% in that I don't update ANY apps unless I KNOW it has something I want (which almost never happens).

That's good that neither of us worries about app updates because most people don't realize what a MESS app updates truly are!

I've found out most people THINK that the Google Play Store does a check for new apps for ALL your installed apps - but I've tested it and it doesn't even come close (see attached screenshot proof).

The Google Play Store app update section isn't even part of the Google Play Store (it's an Activity within it but it's independent of the Google Play Store app itself) - but what's worse is the fact it updates barely any apps.

Maybe a dozen. Maybe even two dozen.

But the Google Play Store app update Activity MISSES hundreds upon hundreds of apps, which the screenshots below prove to be the case.

Luckily, as a result of that opinion which we both share that we don't update apps unless we need to, this whole app update mess isn't an issue for either one of us, but bear in mind that a LOT of people "think" the Google Play Store app "updates" all their apps.

It's not even close.

I'm like you in that I don't update the hundreds of apps unless any one of them needs to be updated, which almost never happens.

But what is driving me nuts is the CONFUSION about what process updates what part of the Android operating system.

For example, I'm currently at:

The Google Play System = March 1, 2022

Settings > About phone > Software information

The Google Play Services = Version 22.42.12 (190400-481949630)

Settings > Apps > Your apps > Google Play Services

The Google Play Store = 33.5.16-21 [0][PR] 4933219047

Settings > Apps > Your apps > Google Play Services

But what is the process that updates those three entities?

It behooves us to nail this down as I'm confused what is updated when & how.

While there are at least a half dozen important layers of Android which are updated on a variety of schedules, I think the fundamental updated layers may be:

The Android OS version, baseband & security patch levels

The Google Play {System,Services,Store} system update levels

The versions of the 25 core modules of Project Mainline

The versions of the firmware in Project Treble

The versions of all the apps supplied with the native OS

I'm embarrassed, for example, to state that I have no idea whatsoever what updates the BASEBAND, for example.

Worse, I have no idea what process updates the 25 core modules of the Project Mainline modules (which is the core of Android).

Project Mainline core modules in Android 10

Project Mainline core modules in Android 11

Project Mainline core modules in Android 12

Project Mainline core modules in Android 13

What process updates those two dozen critical core modules?