Samsung could offer seven years of Android updates for the Galaxy S24 series

Among the sea of smartphones we find in the market today, there’s little doubt that Samsung makes some of the best. The manufacturer is expected to take the wraps off the Galaxy S24 series in a few days’ time at its Unpacked hardware event, and leaks have already managed to reveal practically everything we need to know about the three flagships. While AI is expected to be one of the key points of focus for the company, we’re now learning that the company may have another software surprise in store.

According to exclusive reporting by Android Headlines, Samsung could bundle the new Galaxy flagships with seven years of software support. To be clear, the report couldn’t confirm if this means security patches or full Android and One UI updates. But assuming it’s the latter, this is massive news for the world of Android and one that could encourage other smartphone makers to follow suit.

Google made the headlines during the Pixel 8 launch last October when it announced an unprecedented seven years of software and security updates for the two phones. Samsung had indicated at the time that it was considering an extension of security updates for its phones, while no info was provided on Android and One UI updates.

It will be interesting to see if last year’s flagships, like the Galaxy S23 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 5/Z Flip 5, would also receive the same seven-year software support, assuming this leak is accurate. But as SamMobile notes, Samsung could be inclined to add its 2023 flagships to the list as well. Back when the company officially extended the number of Android and One UI upgrades from three to four, it also included the Galaxy S21, which debuted the year before. So the company could follow a similar pattern with this rumored extension.

The same Android Headlines report also claims that Samsung will provide the Galaxy AI features free of charge “until at least 2025.” This suggests that the company might hide some of these capabilities behind a paywall from 2026. If true, this could set an unfortunate precedent for the industry, although brands like Google currently offer the full suite of AI features on the Pixel 8 series at no cost.

Despite Samsung’s best attempts to keep leaks at bay, the floodgates appear to have opened up since last week. There are a ton of leaked marketing materials already floating around on the internet (if they haven’t been taken down yet), detailing everything from the use of materials on the new flagships to the AI-related camera tricks they can perform.

Meanwhile, Samsung is letting users pre-reserve the Galaxy S24 ahead of the Wednesday unveiling. Customers who reserve their units will get $50 in credit to spend on accessories like cases, earbuds, smartwatches, or other accessories from Samsung.com.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked

Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event won’t just bring us the Galaxy S24 series — it’ll set the stage for the future of the company’s AI platform. If you’re all in on the company’s next trio of phones, you can take $50 off when you reserve one right now. That’s no commitment, no money down — just an email address before January 17th. So even if you’re not sold on one quite yet, sign up today.