Samsung Phones That Will Stop Getting Updates In 2026

Samsung recently published its February 2026 software roadmap, a routine monthly document that most users never read. This month’s roadmap included major changes: The Galaxy S21 series was removed from support entirely, and the Galaxy S22 series was demoted to quarterly updates. Samsung’s biannual update tier has also officially ended, leaving just two categories standing — monthly and quarterly. 

Does this mean your phone stops working the moment it drops off the update list? No. It continues to function — calls go through, apps open, and the camera works as usual. What changes is the security layer. Once updates end, that layer is no longer maintained, leaving vulnerabilities unpatched and exposed with no fixes from the manufacturer. While Samsung continues to add new cool features to its Galaxy lineup, it is also steadily phasing out software support for older devices as they reach the end of their update cycle.

The tech giant maintains one of the largest Android device portfolios globally, so its end-of-support decisions impact a vast user base. In 2026, a broad set of Samsung devices, spanning flagships, foldables, mid-range models, and the beloved Note series, are either already off the update schedule or nearing their final patches. This piece covers both categories: Devices that lost support in late 2025 and will enter this year fully retired, and those still on quarterly updates but expected to exit Samsung’s update program before the end of 2026.

The Galaxy S21 lineup arrived in January 2021 as Samsung’s flagship offering, backed by a then-new promise: Four generations of Android upgrades and five years of security support. It was positioned as a long-term investment, hardware that would not feel obsolete anytime soon.

The S21 series received its last major OS upgrade, Android 15-based One UI 7.0, in early 2025. Before that, it moved steadily through Android 12 (One UI 4) in November 2021, Android 13 (One UI 5) in November 2022, and Android 14 (One UI 5) in December 2023. By January 2026, the final scheduled security patch had rolled out. As of February 2026, the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra have disappeared from Samsung’s official update roster, marking the end of regular software support. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, which was launched in 2022, remains the only exception still listed.

Samsung’s out-of-cycle updates may still be issued for the S21 series in rare cases to address critical, high-risk security vulnerabilities, but routine updates are no longer issued. For users still holding onto the S21 series, the risk is no longer about performance but exposure. By contrast, newer devices like the Samsung Galaxy S26 now ship with a seven-year update commitment, offering more than double the software lifespan the S21 originally received.

The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, released in August 2020, were the final devices to carry Samsung’s Note branding before the brand discontinued the line entirely. The Note 20 series launched with Android 10 and One UI 2.5 and received three OS upgrades before shifting to security patches only. The August 2025 security patch was their final update, leaving them on Android 13 with One UI 5.1.

At launch, the Galaxy Note 20 was promised three major Android updates and two years of quarterly patches, the prevailing flagship standard for Samsung devices in 2020. Samsung has since extended its update policy, but this milestone does not benefit the Note 20 series. Samsung may drop a surprise security patch for the Note 20, much like the Galaxy 20, which received a surprise July 2025 security patch three months after official support ended, but a surprise patch does not change the fact that regular support has ended. 

The natural successor for Note users is the Galaxy S Ultra series. Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is eligible for seven OS upgrades. 

Samsung’s 2021 mid-range lineup was built to cover every price bracket — from barebones budget phones to well-specced devices that delivered near-flagship usability at a fraction of the cost. The A, F, and M series from that cycle saw especially strong adoption across South Asia and Southeast Asia, where value-driven smartphones dominate buying decisions.

The entire wave has now reached the end of its software lifecycle. Devices including the Galaxy A03, A22, A52, F22, F42, M32, and M42 — are no longer part of Samsung’s active update program. For most of them, Android 13 with One UI 5/5.1 marked the final platform, with the sole exception being the Galaxy A52, which reached Android 14 and One UI 6.1 before being retired. In their final phase, these phones were on Samsung’s biannual update track — the lowest tier — receiving only occasional security patches before being phased out completely.

This means that mid-range devices historically received shorter support windows compared to flagships. While Samsung is considered the best major Android brand in terms of customer satisfaction, the change in its upgrade policies may leave users feeling the impact of aging software, mainly in areas like app compatibility, security, and long-term reliability.

Launched in August 2021, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 marked a turning point for Samsung’s foldables, devices that began to feel less experimental and more like viable, everyday smartphones. The Z Flip 3, in particular, lowered the entry barrier with more accessible pricing, helping foldables reach a much broader audience. 

Both devices are now approaching the end of their software lifecycle. Major Android upgrades have already concluded, with Android 15 (One UI 7) being its final OS version. Samsung shifted them from monthly to quarterly security updates in September 2025, highlighting the start of their own wind-down phase. They are expected to continue receiving limited security patches until August 2026, aligning with Samsung’s five-year support policy for foldables from that period.

After that point, regular support will end, and the devices will be removed from Samsung’s official update schedule. While they will continue to function normally, any newly discovered vulnerabilities will no longer be addressed unless a rare, critical patch is issued. Samsung’s current models, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, offer much longer software support. 

The Galaxy S21 FE — Samsung’s Fan Edition model — arrived in January 2022, months after the core S21 lineup. That delayed release is precisely why it remains on the update schedule longer than the rest of the S21 family. While it carries the same branding, the S21 FE is effectively a generation newer in terms of support timeline and is expected to remain covered until early 2027, broadly aligning with the Galaxy S22 series. 

As of early 2026, the S21 FE has been moved to Samsung’s quarterly security update track, stepping down from monthly updates but still within active support. It has already received Android 15 (One UI 7) as its final major OS upgrade in January 2026. Security patches are expected to continue through late 2026, after which the device will approach the end of its official support window.

Its lifecycle highlights an important detail in Samsung’s update policy: Support is tied to the device’s launch date, and not when it was actually purchased. The countdown begins the moment the phone is released. So a device launched in early 2022 with a five-year support window will reach end-of-life around 2027, regardless of whether a user bought it on day one or two years later. For many buyers, especially those purchasing older models at a discount, a significant portion of that support window may already be gone before they even start using the device.

The Galaxy A13, A23, and M13 formed the core of Samsung’s 2022 budget lineup, devices designed for markets where battery life, reliability, and affordability take priority over raw performance. Across regions like India and Southeast Asia, these models became everyday workhorses rather than aspirational upgrades. Now, they are entering the final stretch of their software lifecycle. 

The Galaxy A13 has already received its major OS update, Android 14 with One UI 6.1, and remains on the quarterly security update schedule as of early 2026. The Galaxy A23 follows a similar path, continuing to receive periodic patches but nearing the end of its support window. The Galaxy M13, which launched with Android 12, was also updated to Android 14 (One UI 6) as its final platform version. Samsung has kept it on quarterly security patches for now. However, based on Samsung’s typical support pattern, these updates are expected to become less frequent before stopping entirely, a gradual drop the company applies across its budget portfolio.

The A13 and M13 are likely to be removed from Samsung’s official update schedule in the second half of 2026. Until then, the company’s security bulletin remains the most reliable source to track their status. For users, the situation is familiar: The phones will continue to function normally, but with each passing update cycle, they move closer to a point where security maintenance and official support come to an end.