If you bought Samsung’s top-of-the-line smartphone last year, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, you might be wondering how long it will last. Here’s what we know.
If you purchased a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, you’re probably the kind of person who settles for nothing but the best. After all, the Ultra series of Samsung’s flagship smartphones are the biggest and most powerful phones the company makes, packed with the latest processors, top-end screens, and some of the most advanced Android cameras on the market. Predictably, they’re also incredibly expensive phones, costing well over a thousand dollars, especially if you opt for the most RAM and storage. Many S23 Ultra owners want to get the most out of their Android phone, are betting that their investment pays off in terms of the phone’s lifespan, and are hoping they won’t need to upgrade for as long as possible. So, just how long will the Galaxy S23 Ultra last before giving up the ghost?
How long a phone will last is tricky to predict, based on factors ranging from the manufacturer’s commitment to updating the device to how well you take care of it. But assuming you don’t drop it out the window of a skyscraper or use it as a frisbee, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a remarkably well-made device that should be future-proof for quite a few years. If you’re taking proper care of it, it should last for at least half a decade from its initial launch, and perhaps even longer if you’re willing to replace parts or be a bit creative with the software. So, let’s dive into all the reasons why that’s the case, and explore what you can do to make sure your expensive flagship phone lasts well into the future.Samsung promises 5 years of Galaxy S23 Ultra updates
For quite some time, Android was plagued by an OS fragmentation problem. The majority of devices in users’ hands were running old versions of the OS as manufacturers failed to push updates to new Android versions. But while Samsung was once the poster child for this issue, the company is now one of the most diligent when it comes to upgrading old phones in the years after their initial releases. The Galaxy S23 series is guaranteed to receive five years of updates. That means the S23 Ultra will continue to receive updates through 2027. Although the Galaxy S24 series launched this year with a whopping seven years of promised updates, that promise does not extend to older flagships, and will not apply to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Importantly, the S23 Series is only getting OS upgrades for four years, with the fifth year seeing only security updates. Regarding Samsung’s Android devices, an OS update means a brand new version of Android, along with a new version of Samsung’s One UI Android skin. A security update, on the other hand, adds no new features to a device but rather protects it against the latest known security vulnerabilities.
