Samsung has publicly updated its policy on security updates for the Galaxy S21 family, covering the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. These flagship models launched four years ago, and their ongoing life cycle remains a topic of interest for owners and the Android community. The company now follows a quarterly security cadence, replacing the prior monthly patch schedule. This shift signals Samsung’s intention to extend the useful life of devices that still deliver strong performance and value. The update was reported by PhoneArena, which has tracked Samsung’s software strategy and placed the change in the context of the company’s broader plan.
Under the updated security page on Samsung’s official site, the Galaxy S21 models will begin receiving security patches four times a year instead of every month. This quarterly cadence comes with assurances that core protections, including critical fixes and vulnerability mitigations, will remain in place throughout the device’s supported life. The move is not unique to Samsung; other manufacturers have experimented with less frequent patches for older hardware as part of a broader balancing act between rapid threat response and practical constraints like patch testing, user expectations, and carrier involvement. For many users, the change will mean fewer routine checks, but still receiving important protections at each quarterly interval. Samsung emphasizes that these quarterly updates address the most impactful security needs while preserving user experience and device performance.
The Galaxy S21 FE is in a different position. For now, it will continue to receive monthly updates, ensuring owners stay protected on a monthly cadence as long as possible. Industry observers expect the support window for this model to shrink in the early months of next year, as the company focuses resources on newer hardware. Some owners may welcome the continuity, while others worry about long-term compatibility with the latest apps and features if security patches slow down over time. The device remains part of Samsung’s lineup with ongoing software testing and incremental improvements, but the overall trend points to a slower update path for aging devices.
From the moment the Galaxy S21 line appeared, Samsung set expectations by promising four years of OS updates and five years of security updates for the family. That promise gave S21 owners a clear horizon and helped many plan their upgrades. Android 15 is expected to be the next major OS update for the S21, which would mark the last significant OS change in this generation. The timing is still subject to carrier policies and regional availability, but the general trajectory is that the core OS support will end after Android 15, followed by continued security patches for several additional years.
For the Galaxy S21 FE, optimism remains higher for another big OS introduction. The device is on course to receive Android 16 later this year, extending its relevance by another year or more depending on the pace of software development and device usage patterns. This extended timeline means owners can run current apps and enjoy newer features without switching devices immediately, helping to maintain value for longer.
Even as the leap from Galaxy S24 to Galaxy S25 captures attention, users clinging to older devices such as the S21 family are prompted to weigh upgrades this year. The shift in update cadence underscores Samsung’s strategy to guide buyers toward newer hardware while still guaranteeing a buffer of support for legacy devices. For American and Canadian customers, this means a practical balance between staying current with the latest features and preserving investment in devices that remain reliable. In practice, this could translate to shorter intervals between major OS changes, or, in the Galaxy case, a longer period with basic monthly security updates for some models. It remains to be seen how carriers and regional policies will influence the lived experience.
Before coverage heats up, journalists are comparing the iPhone 16 Pro Max with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, noting how each company handles updates, performance, and device longevity. These side-by-side discussions highlight evolving expectations of flagship users in North America, where timing, value, and ecosystem choices matter just as much as raw specs. Samsung’s emphasis on long-term support contrasts with the iPhone, and the discussion serves as a useful barometer for buyers weighing an upgrade this year. The conversation reflects a market where software policy and hardware capability go hand in hand, shaping decisions in Canada and the United States.