Popular Samsung Galaxy S Model Becomes Obsolete: Receives Final Update

While its current high-end smartphones enjoy seven years of updates, Samsung has just rolled out the final patch for a very popular Galaxy S model. Launched in 2020, this phone has reached the end of its five-year support period promised by the brand. This update primarily addresses bug fixes and enhances malware protection.

Since 2025, European law requires smartphone manufacturers to provide both hardware and software maintenance for their products for “at least 5 years” after their release. On the hardware side, this includes making spare parts available for repairs. On the software side, it involves providing operating system updates. The main goal here is to combat planned obsolescence and reduce the environmental impact of smartphones (and many other electronic devices).

Read also – Samsung Galaxy S26: The launch date is finally getting clear

Of course, manufacturers did not wait for this law to extend the update period for their products. While Google and Apple have long been leaders in this area, Samsung, the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer, has also set a precedent by promising long-term Android updates and several years of software maintenance for all its smartphones. However, even though this strategy adds value to the South Korean firm’s products, this generosity has its limits.

Another Galaxy S Reaches the End of the Road

Here is a prime example. Samsung has begun rolling out the final update for a smartphone that was a massive commercial success following its 2020 release: the Galaxy S20 FE. This update is corrective, aiming to eliminate lingering bugs and bolster the operating system’s security against malware. The update is currently being deployed; if you own the phone, it might only reach you later in the month.

Released in October 2020, this phone has now reached the end of the five-year support period guaranteed by Samsung. Consequently, the Galaxy S20 FE is now effectively becoming obsolete. It’s possible that Samsung might roll out another update if a critical flaw is discovered, similar to how the iPhone 12 was updated two months ago. However, this seems unlikely. It’s worth noting that the Galaxy S20 FE also received three major Android updates: starting on Android 10, it was upgraded all the way to Android 13.

The Galaxy S20 FE made a significant impact in 2020 as it was the first model in the Galaxy S “FE” series. As a reminder, aside from the infamous Galaxy Note FE, the FE range was developed to offer a more economical alternative to the standard Galaxy S models: the experience aims to be premium, with some compromises, of course, but at a much lower price. And the Galaxy S20 FE, initially priced at 659 euros, met this criterion well.