One of Android’s main problems is fragmentation. Samsung is probably one of the slowest companies to update their smartphones. Until now they had the habit of offering only two years of major updates for its devices and another year of security patches. However due mainly to the marketing strategy of its biggest competitor Apple things have begun to change, and the company has moved to a four-year 3+1 update cycle, with all flagship smartphones receiving three major Android updates and an extra year for security patches.
In the past, the reason not to increase the support period was dictated by the fact that the chipsets, could not cope with Android updates after 3 years. Google, together with the chipmaker Qualcomm, is working towards a solution and expanding the support to 4 years.
Now Samsung will extend their update schedule. A four-year deadline for Android updates will probably provide an additional incentive to purchase the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 flagship series. In other words, gadgets will be updated to Android 13, Android 14, Android 15, and Android 16; and they will receive security patches for another year.
The new 4 + 1 scheme will not only apply to 2022 flagships; but will include also the Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 models will also switch to this update schedule.
