- The legendary Galaxy S22 family and the Z Fold 4 foldable phones are ending their official support period.
- Bestselling mid-range models like the Galaxy A53 and A33 will not be making the jump to One UI 9.
- Affected devices will maintain their security through additional maintenance patches.
- The new artificial intelligence features and privacy improvements will be exclusive to newer models.
The rollout of new software versions always generates a mixture of excitement and some uncertainty among users of the Korean brand. While Google has already set the wheels in motion with Android 17Samsung is currently polishing the details of its own interface, One UI 9, to bring it to millions of devices. However, as with every cycle, we have to face the list of terminals that are no longer compatible These major system updates mark the end of an era for devices that have been true pillars of sales in Spain.
Although Samsung has greatly extended the lifespan of updates, now offering up to seven years on its latest models, devices released some time ago remain tied to the previous support policy. This means that many users will have to make do with their current version, since the limit of four major updates This has been achieved for a good number of Galaxy phones and tablets that still perform wonderfully on a daily basis.
The high-end range of a few years ago has reached the end of the road
It's news no one likes to read, especially if you have a phone in your pocket that once cost a small fortune. The brand-new Galaxy S22, S22+, and the powerful S22 Ultra have reached the end of their life cycle in terms of major version upgrades. After receiving several significant updates since their launch, These three models will not see Android 17 officially, leaving users on the doorstep of the new productivity and personalization features that Samsung is preparing.
They're not the only high-end devices in this situation, as the foldable phones that revolutionized the market a couple of summers ago are also affected. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 are left out of the One UI 9 update. Similarly, the popular Samsung Galaxy S21 FE It has also had its final say regarding operating system changes, closing a very successful cycle for one of the most recommended terminals for its value for money.
The Galaxy A and M series best-sellers affected
Looking at the most common phones seen on the street, the situation is similar for many owners of the A series. The popular Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A33 5G, which were genuine sales successes in Spanish carriers' catalogs, will not receive the new software. Even though their hardware still has more than enough power for the average user, the firm's support planning has ruled that its last major update was the previous version, although it's possible they may still receive some minor tweaks. One UI 8.5.
At the most affordable price point and in the M series, there are also significant drops worth noting. Devices like the Galaxy A14, in its 4G and 5G variants, as well as the Galaxy A06 and A05, are being discontinued. Meanwhile, Galaxy M53 and M33 users Nor will they be able to experience the benefits of Android 17. It's a shame for those who were expecting the new app bubbles or the security improvements integrated into the system core, but entry-level hardware is usually the first to show its age.
Tablets and other models that are reaching the end of their life cycle
The company's tablet ecosystem is not immune to this cutback in updates either. The Galaxy Tab S8 family, including the Plus and Ultra versions, has reached the established limit for operating system updates. Although they remain spectacular tools for work and leisure thanks to their screens, They will not receive the One UI 9 interfaceThis means they won't be able to take advantage of the latest integrations with Gemini or the new drawing and organization tools in Samsung Notes.
There's also room on this list for specific, rugged models typically used in professional environments. The Galaxy XCover 6 Pro, designed to withstand anything, is another device that won't be getting the upgrade to the new version. The thing is, although will be left without aesthetic functions or the new AI tools, Samsung has confirmed that many of these devices will continue to receive security patches to fix critical vulnerabilities for an additional period, relying on the Samsung Knox security.
Running out of the last bit of Android doesn't mean your phone will stop working tomorrow, not at all. These Samsung devices will still be perfectly capable of running any current app, browsing social media, or taking photos with the same quality as always. The key is understanding that Security support will remain in effect for a few months or even years longer, allowing the transition to a more modern model to be planned calmly and without unnecessary haste due to losing functionality.
