Android 17 stable is expected in June 2026. Samsung's One UI 9 beta is already live for Galaxy S26 owners, and the full stable rollout should start around July 22 when Samsung holds its London Unpacked event for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.
But here's the thing – if you're on a 2022 phone, you already know how this ends.
Let's stop dancing around it. The Galaxy S22, Galaxy A53, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Tab S8, and a stack of other popular phones are officially done with major Android updates. Android 16 was their last one. One UI 9 is not coming.
Why These Phones Are Being Left Behind
Samsung's old update policy – the one that applied to everything before the Galaxy S24 – promised four major Android OS upgrades for flagships and upper mid-range phones. Phones that launched with Android 12 in 2022 have now collected all four: Android 13, 14, 15, and 16.
Samsung kept its word. The policy just wasn't as generous as what came later. Starting with the S24 series, Samsung moved to a seven-year software promise. Great for future buyers. Zero benefit for anyone holding a 2022 device right now.
The Full List of Samsung Phones Not Getting Android 17
Galaxy S22 series (S22, S22+, S22 Ultra): Got Android 16 as One UI 8 in late 2025. That's officially the last major OS update. One UI 8.5 is still rolling out as a mid-cycle update on the same Android 16 base, but there's no Android 17 on the horizon. Samsung dropped the S22 lineup to quarterly security patches in early 2026, with patch support expected through early 2027.
Galaxy S21 FE: Same story. Android 16 is the end.
Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra: These didn't even get Android 16. They maxed out at Android 15.
Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra: Fully retired. Samsung ended all software and security support in September 2025. Nothing is coming to these phones anymore.
Galaxy Z Fold 4 / Z Flip 4: Samsung confirmed the Fold 4 is on quarterly security patches as of February 2026. No Android 17. No One UI 9.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 / Z Flip 3: Fully out of support now.
Galaxy A53 5G: One of the most popular mid-range phones in Pakistan. Launched in March 2022, got Android 16 in October 2025 as its fourth and final major update. Done.
Galaxy A73 5G, A33 5G: Both stopped at Android 16.
Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, Tab S8 Ultra: Multiple sources confirmed in October 2025 that Android 16 is the last for the Tab S8 series. Tab S9 and newer are getting Android 17. Tab S8 is not.
One UI 8.5 – What Is It and Does It Matter?
This trips people up, so worth clarifying.
One UI 8.5 is not Android 17. It's Samsung's mid-cycle update that runs on top of Android 16. If your S22 or A53 gets One UI 8.5, it's still on Android 16 – just with additional features Samsung added. The upgrade version counter doesn't move.
So yes, your S22 might still get One UI 8.5. Some sources indicate Samsung confirmed this. But that's the final act, not a path to Android 17.
Your Phone Won't Suddenly Break
Let's put this in plain terms.
If your A53 or Z Fold 4 is running fine today, it'll still run fine after June 2026. Apps don't vanish the moment a phone hits end-of-major-updates. WhatsApp, YouTube, banking apps, Instagram – these will keep working for a long time.
What changes is security exposure. Once a phone stops receiving patches, unaddressed vulnerabilities start accumulating. That's slower and less dramatic than tech media often implies, but it's real. Phones like the Note 20, which are completely out of support now, carry a genuine security risk if you're using them for sensitive things like banking.
So Should You Upgrade?
If the phone works and fits your budget: no, don't feel rushed. Use it until something breaks.
If you want to upgrade, here's what's worth knowing right now. The Galaxy S23 is the oldest Samsung flagship that will still receive Android 17 – as its fourth and final update. If you're on an S22, stepping up to an S23 buys you one more cycle.
For anyone who wants to buy something that won't hit this wall again for years: the S24 or S25 series are both under the seven-year update promise. Both will receive Android through version 22 or 23. That's actual long-term value.
In Pakistan, the S24 FE has been available at a considerably lower price than the S25 and offers the same seven-year guarantee. Worth considering if you're budget-conscious and want to avoid this situation again.
Devices That ARE Getting Android 17 (One UI 9)
For reference, these are the phones and tablets expected to receive One UI 9:
- Galaxy S26, S25, S24 series
- Galaxy S23 series (fourth and final update)
- Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6 and newer
- Galaxy A56, A55, A54, A36, A35 and newer
- Galaxy Tab S9, S10, S11 series
The S25 and S24 series will likely get their stable One UI 9 update around August-September 2026. Mid-range A-series and tablets follow toward the end of 2026.
Bottom Line
Android 17 is weeks away from a stable release. One UI 9 lands this summer. And a large chunk of Samsung's installed base – particularly people on 2022 phones like the S22, A53, and Z Fold 4 – has been confirmed out of the update cycle.
That's not a scandal. Samsung delivered what it promised. The policy just didn't age as well as the hardware in many cases.
If you're in this situation, you have two reasonable options: keep using the phone until hardware forces your hand, or use this moment as a logical reason to upgrade to something with a longer support runway.
One UI 8.5 is likely the last meaningful thing your 2022 phone receives. After that, security patches – and then silence.
Join the discussion in the comments. Still rocking your S22 or A53 in 2026? Let us know how the phone is holding up, and whether missing out on Android 17 is pushing you toward an upgrade.Android 17 stable is expected in June 2026. Samsung's One UI 9 beta is already live for Galaxy S26 owners, and the full stable rollout should start around July 22 when Samsung holds its London Unpacked event for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.
But here's the thing – if you're on a 2022 phone, you already know how this ends.
Let's stop dancing around it. The Galaxy S22, Galaxy A53, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Tab S8, and a stack of other popular phones are officially done with major Android updates. Android 16 was their last one. One UI 9 is not coming.
Why These Phones Are Being Left Behind
Samsung's old update policy – the one that applied to everything before the Galaxy S24 – promised four major Android OS upgrades for flagships and upper mid-range phones. Phones that launched with Android 12 in 2022 have now collected all four: Android 13, 14, 15, and 16.
Samsung kept its word. The policy just wasn't as generous as what came later. Starting with the S24 series, Samsung moved to a seven-year software promise. Great for future buyers. Zero benefit for anyone holding a 2022 device right now.
The Full List of Samsung Phones Not Getting Android 17
Galaxy S22 series (S22, S22+, S22 Ultra): Got Android 16 as One UI 8 in late 2025. That's officially the last major OS update. One UI 8.5 is still rolling out as a mid-cycle update on the same Android 16 base, but there's no Android 17 on the horizon. Samsung dropped the S22 lineup to quarterly security patches in early 2026, with patch support expected through early 2027.
Galaxy S21 FE: Same story. Android 16 is the end.
Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra: These didn't even get Android 16. They maxed out at Android 15.
Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra: Fully retired. Samsung ended all software and security support in September 2025. Nothing is coming to these phones anymore.
Galaxy Z Fold 4 / Z Flip 4: Samsung confirmed the Fold 4 is on quarterly security patches as of February 2026. No Android 17. No One UI 9.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 / Z Flip 3: Fully out of support now.
Galaxy A53 5G: One of the most popular mid-range phones in Pakistan. Launched in March 2022, got Android 16 in October 2025 as its fourth and final major update. Done.
Galaxy A73 5G, A33 5G: Both stopped at Android 16.
Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, Tab S8 Ultra: Multiple sources confirmed in October 2025 that Android 16 is the last for the Tab S8 series. Tab S9 and newer are getting Android 17. Tab S8 is not.
One UI 8.5 – What Is It and Does It Matter?
This trips people up, so worth clarifying.
One UI 8.5 is not Android 17. It's Samsung's mid-cycle update that runs on top of Android 16. If your S22 or A53 gets One UI 8.5, it's still on Android 16 – just with additional features Samsung added. The upgrade version counter doesn't move.
So yes, your S22 might still get One UI 8.5. Some sources indicate Samsung confirmed this. But that's the final act, not a path to Android 17.
Your Phone Won't Suddenly Break
Let's put this in plain terms.
If your A53 or Z Fold 4 is running fine today, it'll still run fine after June 2026. Apps don't vanish the moment a phone hits end-of-major-updates. WhatsApp, YouTube, banking apps, Instagram – these will keep working for a long time.
What changes is security exposure. Once a phone stops receiving patches, unaddressed vulnerabilities start accumulating. That's slower and less dramatic than tech media often implies, but it's real. Phones like the Note 20, which are completely out of support now, carry a genuine security risk if you're using them for sensitive things like banking.
So Should You Upgrade?
If the phone works and fits your budget: no, don't feel rushed. Use it until something breaks.
If you want to upgrade, here's what's worth knowing right now. The Galaxy S23 is the oldest Samsung flagship that will still receive Android 17 – as its fourth and final update. If you're on an S22, stepping up to an S23 buys you one more cycle.
For anyone who wants to buy something that won't hit this wall again for years: the S24 or S25 series are both under the seven-year update promise. Both will receive Android through version 22 or 23. That's actual long-term value.
In Pakistan, the S24 FE has been available at a considerably lower price than the S25 and offers the same seven-year guarantee. Worth considering if you're budget-conscious and want to avoid this situation again.
Devices That ARE Getting Android 17 (One UI 9)
For reference, these are the phones and tablets expected to receive One UI 9:
- Galaxy S26, S25, S24 series
- Galaxy S23 series (fourth and final update)
- Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6 and newer
- Galaxy A56, A55, A54, A36, A35 and newer
- Galaxy Tab S9, S10, S11 series
The S25 and S24 series will likely get their stable One UI 9 update around August-September 2026. Mid-range A-series and tablets follow toward the end of 2026.
Bottom Line
Android 17 is weeks away from a stable release. One UI 9 lands this summer. And a large chunk of Samsung's installed base – particularly people on 2022 phones like the S22, A53, and Z Fold 4 – has been confirmed out of the update cycle.
That's not a scandal. Samsung delivered what it promised. The policy just didn't age as well as the hardware in many cases.
If you're in this situation, you have two reasonable options: keep using the phone until hardware forces your hand, or use this moment as a logical reason to upgrade to something with a longer support runway.
One UI 8.5 is likely the last meaningful thing your 2022 phone receives. After that, security patches – and then silence.
Join the discussion in the comments. Still rocking your S22 or A53 in 2026? Let us know how the phone is holding up, and whether missing out on Android 17 is pushing you toward an upgrade.