Samsung BEATS Google! Now promises 4 Android OS updates

Samsung now promises four Android OS upgrades for its flagship Galaxy S series devices. Oh, and 5 years of security patches.

Galaxy S22 series will get up to Android 16 and will be supported until 2027. (Samsung)

Samsung BEATS Google when it comes to Android updates! Who would have though! During yesterday's Galaxy Unpacked launch event, Samsung confirmed offering four years of Android OS upgrades on its latest Galaxy S series devices. Additionally, the phones will now be supported for five years with security patches. However, this extra year of support is only exclusive to the Galaxy S and Z series devices.

Back in 2020, Samsung promised three years of Android OS updates for its high-end Galaxy S, Note, Z, A and M series devices. While the A and M series devices are still on that update cycle, the new S series devices will enjoy this exclusivity. This seems justifiable since Samsung has increased prices on this year's Galaxy S22 series by some margin.

With this new update policy, Samsung becomes the only company to offer four years of Android OS upgrades, with Google, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Realme, and Motorola trailing behind with three or two years of OS updates. Samsung is still behind Apple's six-year update commitment.

Here's a list of all the Galaxy S, Tab, and Z series devices getting four years of Android updates.

Galaxy S22 series

This includes the newly announced Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. This means Samsung will update these phones to Android 16 and keep the security patches coming in until 2027.

Galaxy Tab S8 series

This includes Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.

Galaxy Z series

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 (Amritanshu / HT Tech)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 (Amritanshu / HT Tech)

The list of foldable phones getting four Android OS updates include the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Note that these phones have already got the Android 12 update as their first update. Hence, there are three more Android updates left.

Galaxy S21 series

This includes the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Galaxy S21 FE. Note that the S21 models have all exhausted one Android OS update and are left with three more. However, the Galaxy S21 FE launched with Android 12 based One UI 4 and hence, will receive an extra Android OS update.