The Galaxy S23 shipped with a four-year major update policy, a window that owners increasingly view as insufficient for a flagship handset. Samsung has confirmed that One UI 9 will be the final major update for the 2023 line-up, placing it well behind the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max in terms of long-term software support.
The four-year commitment covers the Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra and the S23 FE. That figure now looks modest against Samsung’s own current benchmark, introduced in January 2024, which extends major updates to seven years across newer devices such as the Galaxy S26 and the Pixel 10.
Seven Years Emerges as the Expected Standard
A reader poll asking how many years of major updates a flagship costing around £790 should receive produced a clear result. Seven years, matching the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10, took 41.13% of the vote. A further 28.92% argued for no fixed number, favouring support that lasts as long as the phone is used. Another 25.73% wanted at least five years to align with the security patch window, while only 4.22% considered four years fair.
The outcome means 95.78% of respondents asked for more than the Galaxy S23 originally shipped with. Notably, the seven-year figure reflects the exact update policy the Galaxy S24 received just eleven months after the S23 launched.
Device Lifespans Are Lengthening
Figures cited from Asurion place the average lifespan of an Android phone in the United States at 3.96 years, up from 3.52 the previous year. iPhones sit at 3.80 years. That trend means the typical owner is still using the same device at almost precisely the moment a four-year support window closes.
The shift has been linked to rising flagship prices and flattening performance gains, prompting users to hold on to devices longer as upgrading feels less necessary. The Galaxy S23 originally retailed at around £950 for its higher-tier configuration, underscoring the gap between purchase cost and support duration.
The longer commitments attached to newer handsets carry their own caveats. A seven-year software promise depends on hardware lasting the distance, and battery longevity remains a practical limit. For owners of the Pixel 10 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max or Galaxy S26 Ultra, the stated support period remains intact, though the Galaxy S23 illustrates how the number printed on the box and the support actually delivered can diverge over time.
Samsung has confirmed One UI 9 as the closing major update for the Galaxy S23 family.
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Image: phonearena.com
