SamFw
Samsung continues to set a new standard in software support for Android phones. It went from committing to four major Android OS updates to seven for the Galaxy S24 series last year. Now, with new advances from Google and Qualcomm, it’s possible that Samsung will extend software support to eight years for future devices.
Google and Qualcomm have announced plans to allow smartphone manufacturers to provide up to eight major Android OS updates and security patches. Qualcomm will provide the necessary kernel and software updates to help OEMs maintain new versions of Android without major hardware changes. According to Qualcomm, this will include two Android Common Kernel (ACK) upgrades, ensuring long-term support for devices powered by Snapdragon chipsets.
However, this doesn’t mean that every Android brand will immediately offer eight years of updates, especially on mid-range and low-cost devices. The program will start with the Snapdragon 8 Elite – the chip that powers the Galaxy S25 series – and will apply to devices running Android 15 and above. Qualcomm also confirmed that the next-generation Snapdragon 7 and Snapdragon 8, expected later this year, will also support the extended update policy.
Samsung has implemented a seven-year update policy for all flagships launched from 2024 onwards. Some of its enterprise devices have even received eight Android updates. However, it is unclear whether the company will extend this policy to consumer devices.
“We are excited to work with Google to support long-term Android updates on Snapdragon-powered devices,” said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile devices at Qualcomm Technologies. “This raises the bar, gives device makers more flexibility, and helps users have better experiences over the long term.”
If Samsung decides to adopt an eight-year Android update policy, it will be a big step forward, helping the company maintain its leading position in software support in the Android smartphone market.
