Samsung has just confirmed which of its devices will receive “three generations” of Android updates, after announcing the initiative at its Note 20 launch event earlier this month. As expected, the list includes flagship phones that go back to last year’s Galaxy S10, but there are also a few new inclusions from Samsung’s foldable and tablet range.
In the past, Samsung generally promised two-year updates, but now its phones could be supported for as many as three, depending on how the company “defines generations.” For example, Samsung says that its Galaxy S20 phones “will launch three OS upgrades with Android 11”, which means that unless the name or release schedule of Android changes, the phones should continue for Android 12 in 2021, and Android 13 in 2022. Extending support for updates for Android is important for owners who want to keep their devices longer.
Here is Samsung’s full list of three-generation devices, including its flagship S- and Note-series phones, foldables, Galaxy Tab tablets and mid-range Galaxy A-series phones that far outshine its flagships :
- Galaxy S Series: Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, S20 Ultra, S20 + 5G, S20 +, S20 5G, S20 alongside S10 5G, S10 +, S10, S10e, S10 Lite and upcoming S-series devices
- Galaxy Note Series: Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 5G, Note20, Note10 + 5G, Note10 +, Note10 5G, Note10, Note10 Lite and upcoming Note series devices
- Galaxy folding devices: Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Z Fold2, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip, Fold 5G, Fold and upcoming Z series devices
- Galaxy A-Series: Galaxy A71 5G, A71, A51 5G, A51, A90 5G and select upcoming A-Series devices
- Tablets: Galaxy Tab S7 + 5G, Tab S7 +, Tab S7 5G3, Tab S7, Tab S6 5G4, Tab S6, Tab S6 Lite and upcoming devices of Tab S series
In addition to these phones, Samsung says it “has a duty to provide the latest Android OS upgrades until the hardware specifications allow it.” It also warns that upgrade availability may vary by market.
However, it is worth noting that even if a phone is guaranteed to get three generations of Android updates this says nothing about how soon it will receive it after its official release. Samsung says the Galaxy S20 lineup will be the first Galaxy devices to be updated to Android 11 “later this year.” However, delayed OS updates are not an issue that is exclusive to Samsung, and overall the situation over the Android ecosystem is improving.
