Firmware
Samsung ends software support for many Galaxy devices, see if your device is also on the list
Every Good thing has its end, and this saying is right for the Galaxy devices, which are no longer eligible to get any new software updates from the company. For your information, Samsung follows a policy for software updates; in this policy, the company decided to give updates to the Galaxy devices. In the previous policy, the company had decided to give the software updates up to five years, during which the Flagship devices could get a maximum of three updates. In 2022, Samsung changed the software policy and also extended software eligibility to some devices. Let’s have a look.
Galaxy devices, which are no longer eligible for software updates
Several Galaxy devices that were launched back in 2019 are now kicked out by Samsung from the software update session, meaning that these devices will not get any major or minor updates in the future. Let’s check out the devices that are no longer eligible for new updates.
- Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e
- Galay X Cover 4S
- Galaxy A80
- Galaxy A40
- Galaxy A10
- Galaxy A30
- Galaxy A50
- Galaxy Tab A10.1 (2019)
- Galaxy Tab S5e
- Galaxy Tab S6
However, Samsung sometimes rolls out extra updates in the form of some security patches. For example, the Galaxy S10 series devices have already crossed the fourth year, so the company has stopped rolling out any new updates for the devices after the March 2023 security update. But surprisingly, a new update has been spotted on some US carriers, including Verizon, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and US Cellular.
Along with this, After software support had ended, Samsung released a new update for the Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10. These devices have already crossed the fourth year, so the company has stopped rolling out any new updates for the devices after the March 2023 security update.
Note: The above-mentioned list is made on the basis of Samsung’s official page, which has delisted this device from the security update category.
Eligible Galaxy devices with four generations of One UI and five years of security updates include:
- Galaxy S Series: Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra, as well as Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S21 FE, and upcoming S series devices
- Galaxy Z Series: Galaxy Z Fold3, Galaxy Z Flip3, and upcoming Z series devices
- Galaxy A Series: upcoming select A series devices
- Galaxy Tablets: Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, S8 Ultra, and upcoming Tab S series devices.
Firmware
One UI 6.1 with Galaxy AI Feature update rolled out for Galaxy Z Fold4, Flip4, Fold3, and Flip3
Usually, Samsung expands the One UI update gradually to Galaxy devices, but today the company has released the One UI 6.1 update for several devices. After spotting the update on the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 devices, the update is now live for the older foldable devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3.
It is worth noticing that all these foldable devices are initially getting the One UI 6.1 in South Korea. Users who own the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 can identify the latest update by the firmware version numbers F936NKSU2FXDC and F721NKSU2FXDC, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are getting new updates with the firmware version numbers F926NKSU2IXDC and F711NKSU3IXDC, respectively. With the latest One UI update, the company will provide several new features that will enhance the device’s utility. It is worth noticing that the update is still using the April 2024 security patch.
Informatively, the One UI 6.1 update will also provide new Galaxy AI features that will surely elevate the device experience while using the different communication functionalities and many routine functions.
For your information, there are several Galaxy AI features, including Browsing Assist, Chat Assist, Circle to Search with Google, Edit Suggestion, Generative Edit, Interpreter, Live Translate, Note Assist, and Transcript Assist.
If you are using any of the aforementioned foldable devices in South Korea, then update the Galaxy devices to the most recent update. To do that, simply go to the software update settings under the system settings.
One UI 6.1 and Galaxy AI Features
- Circle to Search feature for instant search.
- Chat Assist helps to translate incoming and outgoing chats in real time and offers different conversation tones.
- Interpreter, which translates in-person conversations in real time.
- Live Translate helps translate phone calls in real-time.
- Note Assist improves the overall functionality of the Notes app.
- Transcript Assist allows for the recording of speech and offers transcription.
- Browsing Assist summarizes and translates web pages.
- Generative editing helps with advanced editing.
- Edit Suggestion offers advanced editing suggestions and options like remastering, erasing shadows, and more.
- Instant Slow-Mo helps to slow down high-action videos after recording them. (Limited Models)
- Generative wallpaper permits you to create as much wallpaper as you want.
- Photo Ambient Wallpaper allows the addition of special effects to the wallpaper based on weather conditions.
A short horror moment for a smartphone user is the end of software support! Samsung plays with monthly, quarterly, and biannual firmware security updates including patches for Android OS-related security issues and Samsung-specific security issues. Sad to relate, here we are listing the Samsung Galaxy devices that are losing their software support in 2024.
Samsung has its policies for allotting software support, according to which it delivers the software update on time, and once the device reaches the limit of update, the brand ends the software support for that. Initially, Samsung offered three major updates to flagship devices and two major updates to the rest of the Galaxy devices, then it expanded the limit and started offering four years of major OS updates to particular devices and three for the affordable ones. Now earlier this year, it promised seven years of major OS updates for its flagship Galaxy S24 series.
However, Samsung hardly ditched its software policies, but now things appear the opposite since the giants are shifting the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 series repeatedly between the monthly and quarterly updates list.
Hope your device will not be listed in the list, since here we are mentioning the software support ended devices list in 2024.
Galaxy A series devices
- Galaxy A71
- Galaxy A51 LTE
- Galaxy A02
- Galaxy A01
Galaxy M series devices
- Galaxy M21
- Galaxy M31
Galaxy Tabs & Foldable
- Galaxy Tab S6
- Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020)
- Galaxy Z Flip LTE
- Galaxy Z Fold2 4G
- Galaxy W20 5G
- Galaxy S10 Lite
- Galaxy Note 10 Lite
Samsung has been rolling out a new 4G band support update for devices in Europe, which aims to enhance LTE connectivity for smartphones. It has already been rolled out for almost all the popular devices. Now, surprisingly, a new 4G enhancement update has been spotted for older devices as well, including the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy A5.
Notably, the latest updates for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy A5 are getting new updates with the firmware version numbers G930FPHN8EXD1 and A520FPHNGCXD1, respectively. However, the changelog doesn’t include any details about the update; it repeats similar descriptions, like the standard security patch, which says, “Device stability improvements, bug fixes. New and/or improved features. Further performance improvements.”.
As the company may aim to provide a new band support for 4G TDD, the software is coming with a smaller software package of 16.21 MB, but it is still using the December 2020 security patch, which was the last security patch to arrive for the devices.
In addition to the 4G enhancement, the company may implement minor bug fixes to enhance the stability of the devices. We are currently seeing the update in the Netherlands and anticipate its availability in more countries in the coming days.
If you are using the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy A5 in Europe, then you can easily check for the update by going to the software update menu via system settings. If the update has not arrived on your device, then wait for some time, as it takes time to reach available units.