When Does the Galaxy S23 Stop Getting Updates? (2026 answer)
Short answer: not yet, and not for a while. On 17 October 2026 the Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra and S23 FE are all on Samsung's list for monthly security updates. Samsung promised four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates for every S23 model. The fourth and last upgrade, One UI 9 with Android 17, started rolling out to the S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra on 14 October 2026. Samsung doesn't print end dates, so by our own maths (five years from launch) security updates should end around February 2028 for the S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra and around October 2028 for the S23 FE. Those two dates are our estimate, not Samsung's.
The facts (checked 17 October 2026)
| S23, S23+, S23 Ultra | S23 FE | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Announced 1 February 2023, in stores from 17 February 2023, with Android 13 / One UI 5.1 | Announced 4 October 2023, on sale from 5 October 2023, with Android 13 |
| Samsung's promise | 4 generations of OS upgrades, 5 years of security updates | 4 generations of OS upgrades, 5 years of security updates |
| Latest major version | One UI 9 / Android 17 (rolling out from 14 Oct 2026, South Korea first) | One UI 8.5 / Android 16 (from June 2026); One UI 9 promised "later this year" |
| Update frequency now | Monthly | Monthly |
| Moves to quarterly | Not announced (our estimate: early 2027) | Not announced |
| Security updates end | Not announced (our estimate: about February 2028) | Not announced (our estimate: about October 2028) |
Samsung's official security update scope page lists "Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23 FE" under Current Models for Monthly Security Updates. Samsung adds that the monthly list "is subject to change as the regular support period expires", and that some carriers only ship quarterly updates even for phones on the monthly list.
Is One UI 9 the S23's last major update?
Yes, as far as Samsung's promise goes. The S23 launched on Android 13 and has had Android 14 (One UI 6), Android 15 (One UI 7) and Android 16 (One UI 8), plus the One UI 8.5 point release that reached the S23 series globally from 21 May 2026 (SamMobile). Android 17 with One UI 9 is the fourth generation, which completes the promise. Stable One UI 9 started reaching the S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra in South Korea on 14 October 2026, beta testers first, with the October 2026 security patch (SamMobile, 9to5Google, Android Authority). Samsung hasn't published a schedule for other countries or US carriers yet. Based on earlier rollouts, press reports expect other regions within a week or two.
Samsung hasn't said whether a later One UI 9.x point release will reach the S23. Don't count on it: the Galaxy S22 got its fourth upgrade (One UI 8) but, according to reports, no One UI 8.5.
What about the Galaxy S23 FE?
The S23 FE has the same promise (four OS upgrades, five years of security updates, per Samsung's launch announcement) and is also on the monthly list. It wasn't part of the 14 October One UI 9 rollout. Samsung Thailand first listed the S23 FE for October, then changed that to "later this year" (SamMobile, SammyGuru). Because it launched eight months after the regular S23, its five years of security updates should last until about October 2028 (our estimate).
When will the S23 move to quarterly updates?
Samsung hasn't said. Our estimate is early 2027, because that's what happened to the generation before: Samsung moved the Galaxy S22 series from monthly to quarterly updates in February 2026, four years after its launch (SamMobile). Quarterly patches are still security updates, just less often. Samsung can also move phones earlier or later, so check the official list rather than relying on any date.
Where our end-of-support estimates come from
- Samsung's promise: "four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates" for the S23 series, in its February 2023 launch announcement and on its sustainability page ("for all Galaxy S23 series models").
- The maths: five years from February 2023 is February 2028; five years from October 2023 is October 2028. Support is tied to the model's launch, not to when you bought your phone.
- The track record: the Galaxy S20 dropped off Samsung's list about five years after launch, and the Galaxy S22 is on quarterly updates with an expected end around February 2027.
Timing still varies by country and carrier, and a final patch can arrive a little after the five-year mark. Treat these as planning dates, not guarantees to the day.
Is a Galaxy S23 still worth buying used in 2026?
It can be, at the right price. A used S23 bought in October 2026 should get roughly another 15 months of monthly or quarterly security updates (our estimate, to about February 2028), and it's getting its last major Android version now. That's fine for a budget phone or a phone for a teenager, but it's less than half of what a Galaxy S24 or Pixel 8 still has left. If you buy one, make sure it's on One UI 8.5 or later and check for updates straight away: Settings → Software update → Download and install.
What should S23 owners do?
- Install updates as they arrive. Settings → Software update → Download and install. If you're outside South Korea, One UI 9 should appear in the coming weeks.
- Keep using it with confidence until 2027. It's fully supported today, including for banking, payments, DigiD and work email.
- Plan a replacement for early 2028. After security updates stop, the phone keeps working, but new security holes won't be fixed.
What to buy instead (refurbished is fine)
If you want more years than an S23 has left, these phones carry longer official promises:
| Phone | Update promise | Status today |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S24 | 7 generations of OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates (Samsung, January 2024) | On Samsung's monthly list |
| Pixel 8 | 7 years of OS upgrades, security updates and Feature Drops, "into 2030" (Google, October 2023) | Supported |
| Galaxy S23 (for comparison) | 4 generations of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (Samsung, February 2023) | On Samsung's monthly list; getting its last OS upgrade |
By our own maths, seven years from the S24's January 2024 launch points to about 2031. That's an estimate, since Samsung doesn't print end dates. For older Samsung phones that are further along the same path, see Is the Galaxy S21 FE still supported? and Is the Galaxy S21 still supported?.
Buying a used replacement?
A cheap used phone can still be a bad deal if it's locked to someone else's account, reported stolen, carrier-locked or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through every check before you pay. It's a paid PDF we make ourselves; checking a model on our device list stays free.
To compare the S23 with newer models, see our ranking of which used or refurbished phone to buy in 2026, sorted by years of updates left.
Looking for a replacement with years of updates left? Compare prices for Galaxy S24 at bol.com or Pixel 8 at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).
Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.
Sources
- Samsung Mobile Security, Security update scope (official, checked 17 Oct 2026)
- Samsung Newsroom, Take Your Passions Further With the New Samsung Galaxy S23 Series (1 Feb 2023) and Samsung Newsroom Canada, same announcement with 17 February 2023 on-sale date (checked 17 Oct 2026)
- Samsung, Upgradability (sustainability page, updated 1 Sep 2023)
- Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Buds FE (4 Oct 2023, checked 17 Oct 2026)
- Samsung Hong Kong, One UI 8.5 update notice (S23 series 21 May 2026, S23 FE 2 Jun 2026)
- SamMobile, Stable One UI 8.5 update for Galaxy S23 starts rolling out globally (21 May 2026)
- SamMobile, Galaxy S23 stable One UI 9.0 (Android 17) update is out (14 Oct 2026)
- 9to5Google, Samsung releases Android 17 updates for Galaxy S23, more (15 Oct 2026)
- Android Authority, Samsung is expanding One UI 9 with Android 17 to the oldest qualifying flagships (14 Oct 2026)
- SamMobile, Samsung may have delayed One UI 9.0 release for Galaxy S23 FE (24 Sep 2026) and SammyGuru, One UI 9 rollout tracker (checked 17 Oct 2026)
- SamMobile, Galaxy S22 series moved to quarterly updates (Feb 2026)
- Samsung Newsroom, Galaxy S24 series now available worldwide (30 Jan 2024) and Google, 7 years of software updates for the Pixel 8 series (4 Oct 2023) (checked 17 Oct 2026)
Always check Samsung's official list for the latest status. Update timing can vary by region and carrier.