Samsung Galaxy End of Support: How Long Your Refurbished Phone Still Gets Updates
4 min read
Anyone searching "Samsung Galaxy end of support" before buying wants a date. There is one, just not for the brand. It exists per model. A Galaxy S22 and a Galaxy S24 are years apart on software support, because the update clock starts at the model's launch, not when you place your order.
How do I find out how long my phone will still get updates?
Two minutes, honestly.
- The exact model and launch year. "Pixel 7" and "Pixel 7a" sound alike but hit the market at different times.
- The manufacturer's update page. Samsung has promised up to 7 years of security updates for current Galaxy flagships since January 2024. Google keeps its own list per Pixel.
- What's installed. The Android version and the date of the latest Android security update sit under Settings > About phone; on an iPhone it's General > About. Update first. If the newest patch is still many months old after that, support has probably ended.
- Time left. Counted from launch, plus the committed years. That's it.
The Samsung Galaxy end of support gap between models shows up clearly in one example. The Galaxy S24 came out in January 2024 as the first Galaxy generation with the 7-year commitment, which on paper runs to early 2031. The Galaxy S21 through S23, according to Android Authority, got only 4 years of major Android upgrades.
How long do Google and Apple support their phones?
When it comes to Android update policy, Google draws a hard line. According to its official Pixel help page, the Pixel 8 and newer get 7 years of updates, the Pixel 6 and 7 get 5, and the Pixel 5a and older get nothing anymore. So a Pixel 8, released in October 2023, should be covered until October 2030.
And Apple? There's no central update page, which makes the check more annoying than it should be. The most solid number is in Apple's UK compliance statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max: at least 5 years from the first day of sale, as MacRumors reported in June 2024.
Doesn't the EU update rule cover this anyway?
For new models, yes. Since 20 June 2025, EU Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 has required at least 5 years of operating system and security updates. Most refurbished phones are older, though, and whether the rule reaches them is less clear-cut. That leaves the manufacturer's own commitment as the more reliable number.
And when comparing prices?
When comparing prices, the launch year matters more than the condition grade. Refurbito's price comparison lines up offers from several retailers per model. The check above tells you whether the cheaper price costs you a few years of updates on the Samsung Galaxy end of support clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my phone still be supported?
Count from your model's launch date, not your purchase date. That's 7 years for Samsung flagships from the Galaxy S24 on and for the Pixel 8, and 5 for the Pixel 6 and 7.
How long will Android 14 or 15 be supported?
There's no fixed end date per Android version. What counts is how long the manufacturer supports your specific model.
Does a refurbished phone get the same updates as a new one?
Yes, updates are tied to the model, not to where it was sold. The difference: the clock's been running since launch, so part of the support window is already gone by the time you buy it.
Does EU law require a minimum number of phone updates?
For new models, yes: since 20 June 2025, EU Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 has required at least 5 years of updates. For older models, the manufacturer's own commitment is what counts.
