Software support is a crucial element to take into account. Will the Galaxy S26 series meet expectations?
Samsung is anticipated to maintain the same extensive software support for the Galaxy S26 series as it has provided with prior flagship models, offering up to seven years of OS upgrades and security updates.
Abundant updates for the Galaxy S26 series
Samsung is likely to unveil the Galaxy S26 series in the first quarter of 2026. Although an exact date isn’t yet available, we can expect the devices to come equipped with One UI 8 based on Android 16 right from the start. Additionally, it’s expected that Samsung will continue to promise up to seven years of OS upgrades and software updates for these phones, a commitment it has upheld for the last several generations of flagship devices.
This approach was initiated with the Galaxy S24 series. But what does this imply for you?
Essentially, it means you can keep your phone for an extended period without the concern of it becoming obsolete. When a new Samsung flagship is introduced, Samsung typically updates it regularly each month with a fresh security patch, and after a while, that frequency usually decreases to once per quarter, followed by biannual updates toward the latter part of its lifespan.
In addition to monthly security patches, Samsung may sporadically roll out bug fixes and feature enhancements. These would be distinct from major OS upgrades, generally delivered annually with new features, refreshed UI elements, and more.
With the Galaxy S26 series, we can anticipate that owners will continue to receive updates until 2032 and likely obtain Android 23 or whatever the software designation will be at that time.
Nevertheless, it’s important to acknowledge that over time, the aging chipset may struggle to accommodate all the new features that are introduced each year, as these will first be designed to function on newer chipsets before Samsung endeavors to optimize for older devices/chips.
Fortunately, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, projected to power the Galaxy S26 series, is highly capable and should manage much of what is presented over the coming years, including new AI functionalities like agentic AI. The Exynos 2600, which is also expected to drive the series in select regions, should be adept at supporting seven years of upgrades.
Like new, with more on the horizon
The Galaxy S25 Ultra may well be Samsung’s premier smartphone of 2025, owing to its robust specifications, integrated S Pen, and range of AI features. With an extensive software update promise, purchasing one now means you’ll continue to receive the latest updates for years ahead.
