The Samsung Galaxy S24 series phones have arrived. But with all the talk about AI, you might have missed one of their most important upgrades.
All three new handsets – the S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra – will be supported by Samsung for no fewer than seven years. That means operating system and security updates all the way until 2031.
With the devices running Android 14 out of the box, it should still be compatible with Android 21, assuming Google continues to release major new versions annually.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s the longest software support you’ll find on any Android phone, though Samsung wasn’t the first company to promise seven years.
As you might recall, Google’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro from 2023 also offer seven years of OS and security updates. And as the maker of Android, Google’s phones will always get the new version first.
Samsung’s version of Android also looks and performs quite differently. Galaxy S24 phones run the company’s latest One UI 6 skin over the top, which adds lots of the firm’s own apps and subtle changes to notifications and quick settings.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Unfortunately, the seven years of updates appears to be exclusively for Samsung flagships. There’s no sign of cheaper Galaxy phones going beyond the current four years of OS updates and five years of security patches. However, we may see it for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 foldables, both of which are expected later in 2024.
Of course, just because a phone is supported for seven years, it doesn’t mean you’ll use it for that long. The S24 hardware will likely be very dated by the time 2031 rolls around, but it’s still nice to see Android phone makers commit to the longevity of their handsets as users holding onto handsets for longer is better for the environment.
You may also be interested in features exclusive to the S24 Ultra or AI features available on all three phones.