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Samsung Ends Regular Updates for Galaxy S21, Moves Galaxy S22 Line to Quarterly Patches

The move reflects Samsung finishing its promised support window for recent flagships.

Overview

  • The Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra are absent from Samsung’s February 2026 security scope, ending routine software and security updates with only critical hotfixes possible.
  • The Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra have been downgraded from monthly to quarterly security releases, and the Galaxy S21 FE is now on the same quarterly schedule.
  • The S21 series launched in 2021, received four major Android upgrades culminating in One UI 7 (Android 15) in early 2025, and got its last regular security patch in November 2025.
  • Samsung’s 2022 S22 lineup debuted on Android 12, already received the January 2026 patch, and is expected to reach end of support in 2027 after a limited number of remaining quarterly updates.
  • Samsung outlined the February 2026 security rollout as it continues staged distributions, and newer flagships now advertise seven OS upgrades and seven years of security patches.