After a longer-than-expected wait, Samsung has finally started rolling out the stable One UI 7 update based on Android 15 for the Galaxy S21 series. This is a surprising move, as the update for these 2021 flagships was originally scheduled to arrive in late May or early June.

In South Korea, the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra models have now started receiving the One UI 7 update with firmware code HYD9. The update package size is around 3.5GB, significantly lighter than the update for the Galaxy S23 or S24 (over 5GB), possibly due to the lack of some advanced Galaxy AI features. However, users will still experience a refreshed interface, smoother animations, improved camera features, and a redesigned set of Samsung apps.

While the Galaxy S21 doesn't come with the full suite of Galaxy AI features like the S25 series, the update still brings a number of worthwhile improvements, especially in the daily experience and system performance. This is also the last major OS update for the Galaxy S21 series, which launched with Android 11 and has been upgraded to Android 12, 13, 14, and now Android 15.

Samsung said it will continue to roll out One UI 7 to the Galaxy S21 series in other markets in the near future. The global rollout is expected to be completed within one to two weeks. Users can check for the update by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

Under the new policy applied from the Galaxy S24 series onwards, Samsung is committed to providing 7 major OS updates. However, the Galaxy S21 series will not be included in this and will only continue to receive security patches until early 2026. This may be the right time for S21 users to consider upgrading to a newer generation.