End of Android OS Support for S21 series

[BS707]

I’ve been a loyal Samsung customer for years, with multiple Samsung products including appliances, monitors, and TVs. I own a Galaxy S21 Ultra and am extremely disappointed that major Android updates will stop at Android 15.

The phone is still fully capable, and ending updates this early feels arbitrary, especially when newer Samsung devices get longer support. This decision makes me seriously rethink buying future Samsung products. Long-term software support is a major factor in customer trust and brand loyalty — please reconsider extending OS updates for the S21 series.

[Mujibar]

Your phone was promised 4 major Android system updates when it was released, which it has now received. You may feel that is arbitrary, but Samsung fulfilled its stated software update policy for that device series.

Newer phones, starting with the S24 series, are scheduled to receive 7 major Android updates. That's been well publicized.

[BS707]

That's fine. They clearly want to push S21 owners to purchase new devices. When I do, I'll strongly consider buying from a brand that has fully supported their flagship devices to the end of their useful lifespan from the beginning.

[Mujibar]

Good luck with that. All device manufacturers publicize their official support schedules when devices are released. None of them will provide software updates beyond that. If you want extended support for your devices, you'll have to provide it yourself. Consider buying something that will be able to accommodate custom ROMs.

[BS707]

Thank you for the well wishes! The company made a business decision and set a policy in their own interest and I'm a consumer who will be making purchase decision in my own interest. It's in my interest to go with a brand who supports their flagship devices for the standard 7 years. Best of luck!

[TipsyTrex]

Modern samsung phones have a 7 year support life. When the S21 launched, 3 years was the standard and 4 was considered to be above standard. The pixel 6 was the only real exception to that from that era, its going up to android 17. Even today, brands like Motorola only guarantee 1 or 2 android updates.

You can look at it in the arbitrarily pessimistic way you have been, or you can look at it from the perspective that samsung met its update guarantee with the S21 which is evidence future Samsung phones will meet their now 7 year update guarantee. If you are buying a device with the hopes that you'll get more than what is promised, well, you can only blame yourself when it doesnt happen.

[BS707]

I'm an average consumer. Average consumers don't look at device OS support windows. They just assume it will work as long as the device works. You can keep typing paragraphs but you won't change my mind that Samsung is making a bad business decision to end support for S21 Android OS beyond 15.0. I love Samsung but unfortunately I have to factor that into my decision when it is time to get a new device. Some brands do a better job at supporting their legacy flagships than others.

[Mujibar]

🙄

[Robin621k]

Your device will continue to work. You will get one more year of security patches. It is not Samsung's fault that you, the average consumer does not research the $1000+ you paid for your device. By the time your security patches run out you will have gotten 5 years out of that device. There is no reason why you can't still use your phone until it just won't turn back on anymore. So what, you aren't getting Android 16, it still works doesn't it?

[BS707]

Again, there is no reason why Samsung can't support the S21 for longer as they are easily doing for their newer flagship models. It is a policy decision driven by financials. Now that I am aware of it, I will be using it to reconsider which electronics brands I buy in the future. 4 years is a short time to support what was supposed to be a flagship device.