SEOUL, Feb 4, 2026, 19:18 (KST)
- Samsung’s security update scope no longer lists the Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra for routine patches
- Galaxy S22 trio and Galaxy S21 FE are now on a quarterly security update schedule
- The shift highlights how long software support is becoming a front-line selling point
Samsung Electronics has removed the Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra from its schedule of regular security updates, while shifting the Galaxy S22 lineup and the Galaxy S21 FE to quarterly patches, according to its Mobile Security website. Samsung said availability and timing can vary by market, network provider and model. (Samsung Mobile Security)
The see-saw matters because security patches are not cosmetic. They fix vulnerabilities, and the longer a phone goes without them, the harder it is to argue the device is still safe for banking apps, work profiles or even basic peace of mind.
It also lands as phone makers market “years of support” almost like battery life. Samsung has said newer flagships such as the Galaxy S24 series offer seven generations of operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates. “The Galaxy S24 series transforms our connection with the world,” TM Roh, president and head of Samsung’s mobile division, said at the launch. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
Android Authority said the S21 trio’s disappearance from Samsung’s regular update lists signals the end of routine updates, even if Samsung could still push an emergency fix for a critical vulnerability. The site noted the phones launched in 2021 and received Android 15-based One UI 7 — Samsung’s Android interface — as their last major update. (Android Authority)
For Galaxy S22 owners, the change is a slowdown, not a stop. PhoneArena said Samsung moved the S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra from monthly to quarterly security updates after the line received the January 2026 patch; quarterly means roughly one update every three months. The outlet said the phones debuted in February 2022 and have already received the major Android version upgrades Samsung promised. (PhoneArena)
One model escapes the S21 cutoff: the Galaxy S21 FE. SamMobile said the handset’s late launch — nearly a year after the main S21 line — means it started on newer software and will get updates for longer than the S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra. The site said the S21 FE is positioned to be the only S21-branded phone still eligible for One UI 8, which it expects to be based on Android 16. (SamMobile)
Rivals are leaning into long support windows too. Google has promised seven years of operating system and security updates for the Pixel 8 line, and calls the devices “the first phone built for the generative AI era,” according to a Google Store post that quoted Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services. (Google Store)
Apple has started disclosing minimum support periods in the UK under product-security rules. A compliance statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max filed by Apple UK lists a “defined support period” of at least five years from the device’s first supply date. (Apple)
But schedules are not guarantees. A new flaw could surface that never gets fixed on phones that fall off the list, and even supported models can wait on carrier testing and regional rollouts.
For Samsung, the sharper divide between old and new support policies underlines how fast expectations have moved since the S21 era. For buyers of used flagships, it’s a reminder that cheap hardware can come with an invisible cost.
Samsung’s list still shows the S22 range and S21 FE on the quarterly track, while the newest Galaxy devices remain on monthly patches. The S21 trio is now off the board, leaving owners to weigh upgrades against living without routine fixes.
