Samsung has been one of the best in the industry at keeping its high-end devices up-to-date over the years. At one point, we regularly referred to them as the “King” of Android updates, even over Google. They may have slipped a bit behind Google, but Samsung is still about as good as it gets for update timeliness and length of support.

For a long time, Samsung offered 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates for its best phones on One UI. They have since expanded that to 7 years of both OS and security updates. For the bulk of those years of updates, they do their best to send the security patches on a monthly basis before a final year of quarterly updates.

Samsung’s phones and watches run One UI or One UI Watch on top of Android. The newest build will be One UI 9 and Android 17.

Below, we have the official breakdown of your phone or foldable or watch and the current schedule of updates.

The list of Samsung devices in this monthly update category are their high-end flagship devices, including the latest Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy S phones. The latest devices from Samsung in the Galaxy Foldable and Galaxy S sections will receive 7 years of software support, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy S24 series. Devices released before those are capped at 5 years.

Once Samsung devices reach their final year of update support, they fall from a monthly update schedule to a quarterly schedule. After landing on this list, expect far fewer updates. Samsung tablet line-ups launch with quarterly update support.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line receives updates on a quarterly schedule from the minute they launch. With the launch of the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, they now receive 5 years of OS and security updates. Devices launched prior to that receive 4 years of OS upgrades and a full 5 years of security updates.

Because many of Samsung’s top phones receive updates every single month, it is worth checking for those updates to make sure you are up-to-date. The process of updating your phone, foldable, or watch is quite simple.

To update your Galaxy S phone or Z foldable, do the following:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Within Settings, scroll until you see “Software update” and tap it
3. Now tap “Download and install” or “Check for updates”
4. The software will download and install before presenting options to Restart or Schedule the update for later

To update your Galaxy Watch, do the following:

1. On your watch, swipe down the top Quick Settings area and tap the Settings icon; you could also swipe up on the app drawer and open Settings
2. Scroll down to “Software Update” and tap
3. Tap “Download and Install”
4. The update will then copy/download to your watch
5. Once done, you’ll find “Install” or “Install overnight” options
6. Tap “Install” to update and restart your watch

Alternative Galaxy Watch update method:

1. On your phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app
2. Tap “Watch settings”
3. Scroll to find “Watch software update” and tap it
4. Tap “Check for updates”

SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

Samsung began rolling out stable One UI 9 to the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. From here, we should start to see it arrive on older devices.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

Samsung updated the schedule by removing the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. These devices have received a full 5 years of updates. In doing so, they also moved the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 to a quarterly schedule, since they are now in their last year of updates. Finally, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic have also been removed after receiving 5 years of updates.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026

Samsung moved the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra to a quarterly update schedule for their final year of updates. They also removed the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra, as those have reached end of life.

APRIL 8, 2025

Samsung removed the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra, as those devices have reached end of life.