Every year, dozens of Galaxy devices become ineligible for future Android OS updates after receiving the promised number of OS updates. It will be the same story this year as Android 15 will be the last major operating system update for many Galaxy smartphones.

In this article, I have prepared a list of Samsung Galaxy devices that will not be eligible for future OS updates after upgrading to Android 15. Check the list to see if your device has stopped supporting Android updates.

Android operating system updates are extremely exciting because they introduce tons of new features, improvements, and UI changes that transform the user experience. However, at a certain point your device becomes ineligible for future updates. Therefore, it is important to monitor future operating system availability for your device so you don’t miss out on the latest and greatest features.

Android 15 will be the last operating system update for these Galaxy phones

• Galaxy S21
• Galaxy S21+
• Galaxy S21 Ultra
• Galaxy Z Fold 3
• Galaxy Z Flip 3
• Galaxy A14
• Galaxy A14 5G
• Galaxy A05
• Galaxy A05s
• Galaxy M14 4G
• Galaxy M14 5G
• Galaxy F14 5G

This is an unofficial list we have compiled based on the software update policy for each Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet. These devices may receive Android 15 as the final operating system update unless Samsung expands software support. However, in all scenarios, these devices will also receive the One UI 7.1 distribution. They will continue to receive security patches for months or years after that.

Galaxy M series and F series phones usually receive two major Android OS updates. So anyone running Android 13 will receive Android 15 as the final operating system update.

When it comes to the Galaxy A series, Samsung is rolling out two major OS updates for older devices. But newer models come with the promise of four operating system updates. Some Galaxy A series phones are eligible for an impressive 4 operating system updates. All Galaxy S, Tab S and Z series phones released after the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3/Flip 3 and Galaxy Tab S8 are eligible for four years of Android OS support.

Samsung has an impressive software update policy

Samsung has generous software update policies for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets. No other smartphone brand offers more than four Android OS updates for its mid-range phones, but Samsung does. Some brands don’t even offer that many operating system updates for their high-end devices.

One of the best things I like about Samsung is its open software update policy. Users know how many OS updates they can expect on their Galaxy devices; Many brands such as Realme, Oppo and Xiaomi do not inform their users about software support for most of their smartphones. Users cannot learn about the future availability of the Android operating system on their devices until the official listing is released, which usually comes months after the new operating system is released.

Samsung had the best software support until Google launched the Pixel 8 series with 7 years of massive OS updates. It didn’t take long for the South Korean giant to catch up with Google, which offered the same software support for the Galaxy S24 series.

What can be expected from Android 15 (One UI 7)?

If your Galaxy device is eligible for the Android 15 update, I’m sure you’re wondering what new features it will bring. Android 15 is still under development. But Google has already announced several features of the new operating system, and many more have appeared in beta versions, promising a bigger and more exciting update than the previous two versions of the operating system, Android 15 and Android 14.

Here are the biggest changes found in Android 15:

Satellite connection support

Android 15 adds support for satellite connectivity. This means you can text your friends even if there’s no cell tower nearby, as long as you have access to open skies. The new operating system supports satellite connectivity for SMS applications and pre-installed RCS applications. So this feature in Android 15 will not be limited to emergencies only.

find my phone network

Find My Phone is getting a pretty big update to the new operating system. All Android 15 phones can ping each other via Bluetooth and work with the network to help someone find a lost device. Part of the Find My network located near the Android device can receive Bluetooth signals from the streaming device and upload encrypted location information to Google servers, which can be decrypted by the owner of the streaming device.

battery health

Android 15 may include the long-requested Battery Health feature. This function reports the remaining battery power, which is an important indicator that can help users replace the battery at the right time. While Google hasn’t confirmed that Battery Health is an upcoming feature in Android 15, we may see it in one of the upcoming betas.

Program archiving

The program archiving function allows you to delete programs while saving user data. So you can pick up where you left off the next time you reinstall the app.

Google already has a function to archive apps through the Google Play Store. This means you can only backup and restore apps via the Play Store. However, Android 15 eliminates this limitation, allowing you to archive all applications, including those installed outside the Play Store.

Partial screen sharing

Partial Screen Sharing is a useful and privacy-focused feature added to Android 15 that allows users to share and record a single app instead of the entire screen. So even if you accidentally open a hidden app while showing your screen, you don’t have to worry.

Reload notifications

Android 15 introduced the Notification Delay feature to prevent people from getting overwhelmed by too many notifications from a single app. This function reduces the volume of consecutive notifications from the same application.

Sensitive notifications

Android 15 includes privacy notifications to prevent malicious third-party apps from reading your one-time passwords. This is a significant change that could save many people from OTP scams that steal money from the bank.