There’s no match to Samsung in terms of software support. The brand offers seven years of Android OS updates to its high-end devices like the Galaxy S24 and S25 series — the best on any Android device. Only Google provides the same software support to its Pixel devices. However, the gap widens when it comes to mid-range and cheaper models.
Samsung now offers six years of major updates to some recently launched cheaper models — and it’s a big thing. Longer software support has long remained exclusive to expensive devices, but Samsung is narrowing that gap. In fact, newer cheaper models promise longer software support than not-so-old flagships. Take the Galaxy S23, for example, it was launched in 2023 but only gets four major Android updates, while the $130 Galaxy M16 5G will get two additional OS updates.
So, you can enjoy longer software support without the hefty price tag of a flagship phone. Here’s a list of Galaxy phones that promises six major Android OS updates.
Samsung phones eligible for six major Android updates
- Galaxy A56 5G
- Galaxy A36 5G
- Galaxy A26 5G
- Galaxy A17 5G
- Galaxy A16
- Galaxy A16 5G
- Galaxy M56 5G
- Galaxy M36 5G
- Galaxy M16 5G
- Galaxy F56
- Galaxy F36
- Galaxy F16
All of these Galaxy smartphones will receive six years of One UI and Android updates, as well as six years of security patches.
The Galaxy A56, A36, A26, and M16 come with One UI 7, based on Android 15, out of the box. This means these phones will receive OS updates until Android 21. The Galaxy A16 and A16 5G, however, will get one less Android update since these devices boot Android 14 out of the box.
Samsung’s software support over the years
Samsung was once criticized for its consistent software updates, with most devices receiving only two Android updates. However, the brand has significantly improved in recent years, and it’s now one of the best in the industry for long-term software support.
2022 was a major shift in that regard when Samsung announced four years of OS updates for flagships and many mid-range phones. This made Samsung one of the best brands for long-term software support, though it was still behind Google, which was offering an extra year of Android updates.
Last year, Samsung took another big step when it announced the Galaxy S24 series with a whopping seven years of major updates, matching Google Pixel’s. With this move, Samsung became the obvious choice for anyone seeking longer software support from a non-Google brand. Mid-range Galaxy phones, though, didn’t receive much appreciation from Samsung in that regard until the Galaxy A16 arrived last year with six major OS updates promised. The new software update policy then expanded to many new mid-range Galaxy devices.
The extended software support for cheaper Galaxy models puts other Android brands in a tough spot. Most Android brands, except Google and Samsung, provide up to four Android updates. Only Oppo offers five Android updates, and that too is reserved for its premium phones. Samsung’s offering six major OS updates to cheaper models makes it a lucrative deal for those who prefer longer software support. It could be a key reason for switching to Samsung while also putting pressure on other brands to provide better software support.
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More One stories:
1. Samsung devices that will get One UI 7 (Android 15) update
2. 5 One UI 7 features that are making me impatient for this major upgrade
3. How Samsung lost the plot with the One UI 7 update
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