Samsung Becomes First Smartphone Brand To Offer Four Android OS Updates, Leaves Google Behind

Last Updated on February 8, 2022 by Anu Joy

Two years ago, in 2020, Samsung announced three major Android OS (Operating System) updates for its Galaxy S series, Galaxy Z series, Note, and Galaxy A devices. Now, the South Korean firm is ready to take it a notch higher. According to a leak, the company is considering offering up to four major OS updates to select smartphones. It is also planning to seed security patches for five years. 

If these rumours hold true, the upcoming Galaxy S22 series consisting of the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra will get these updates. Also, the Galaxy S21 series (S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S21 FE), Tab S8 lineup (Tab S8, Tab S8+, Tab S8 Ultra), Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are expected to be covered under this updated policy. The upcoming Galaxy S22 and Tab S8 devices will get Android 12 out-of-the-box, which would get updated to Android 16 in 2026. 

This would be a monumental decision by Samsung since Google is currently offering three major Android OS updates and guaranteed five years of security patches on its Pixel devices. Also, this would be one of the major selling points for Samsung’s upcoming flagship handsets. Not just Pixel smartphones, Samsung would come close to Apple’s iPhone update schedule, which currently offers up to five years of OS updates. 

This move could prove to be beneficial, not just for Samsung users, but also for other Android smartphone users. Chinese Android smartphone makers will see this as a threat and could jump the four-year update policy bandwagon. If Samsung manages to pull it off successfully, then it shouldn’t be too difficult for Google to offer similar schedules for its Pixel smartphones. Samsung has scheduled an Unpacked event tomorrow on February 9 2022, which should reveal even more details.