Samsung has built a reputation for long-term Android support, and its newest flagship phones underline that commitment. The Galaxy S25 lineup, for example, is covered by a promise of up to seven years of major operating system updates. But as the next generation draws near, Samsung is also closing the chapter on an older flagship family.
With the Galaxy S26 launch expected soon, Samsung has officially ended major software support for its 2021 flagship trio: the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. In practical terms, this means these models are no longer expected to receive new Android version upgrades or major One UI feature updates going forward.
This move isn’t shocking when you look back at what was promised at launch. The Galaxy S21 series originally came with a four-year update commitment, and that window has now effectively run its course. The good news for current owners is that these phones may still continue to receive security patches for a while, which can help keep them safer and usable even without big feature drops.
The bigger story is how much the industry’s expectations have changed since 2021. Samsung expanded its update policy with newer devices, starting with recent flagship generations like the Galaxy S24 and continuing with the Galaxy S25 line, where the company now offers up to seven years of major OS updates. That longer support cycle is becoming a key selling point in the premium smartphone market, especially as flagship performance keeps improving and batteries are better than they used to be. The longer a high-end phone can stay current, the more value buyers get—and the less e-waste is created when people don’t feel forced to upgrade as often.
Not every phone tied to the “S21 era” is being left behind at the same time, though. The Galaxy S21 FE still has some runway because it launched later than the rest of the S21 lineup, meaning its update timeline extends further. The same general idea applies to Samsung’s 2021 foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, which should continue on their own separate support schedules.
If you’re using an S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra today, the takeaway is simple: your phone isn’t suddenly unusable, but its feature future is effectively capped. If long-term Android updates are high on your priority list, Samsung’s newer flagships are designed with that extended lifespan in mind—making software support a bigger part of the “premium” experience than ever before.
