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It’s finally time to upgrade from these aging Samsung foldables

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Why This Matters

Samsung has ended software support for the 2021 Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, honoring its five-year security update pledge but leaving those owners exposed to future vulnerabilities. The 2022 Fold 4 and Flip 4 have shifted to quarterly updates and are expected to be retired in 2027. It's a reminder that foldable longevity is defined by software cutoffs as much as hinge durability, though newer flagships now get seven years of updates.

Key Takeaways
Worth a Look

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Zarif Ali / Android Authority

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TL;DR The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 have officially received their last update from Samsung.

Both foldables have been scrubbed from the company’s security updates page after Samsung moved to a quarterly update schedule last year.

Samsung has now added 2022’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 to the list of devices eligible for quarterly updates, ahead of their expected sunsetting in 2027.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra are the hottest foldables on the market right now. However, newer hardware also means some older models are reaching the end of their software support cycle. The time has come for 2021’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 to walk into the sunset, with both foldables recently receiving their last update.

This move was always in the cards, as Samsung has honored its commitment to offer up to four years of Android updates and five years of security updates for the two foldables. We no longer see the Galaxy Z Fold 3 or the Z Flip 3 listed on Samsung’s security updates page, with the oldest foldables being 2022’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4.

With this news, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 are now on their last legs, as they’ve been switched to a quarterly update schedule. These two foldables will likely get their last update around the same time next year and disappear from the company’s security updates page.

Zarif Ali / Android Authority

Samsung follows a monthly security update cycle for its new smartphones, while older devices only get quarterly updates. Meanwhile, all currently supported Samsung tablets receive quarterly updates regardless of their age. While some older Samsung devices will reach the end sooner, the company has promised to offer a combined seven years of Android and security updates for flagships launched after the Galaxy S24.

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