Back in 2023, Samsung broke new ground by promising four years of major software updates for the Galaxy S23 series. While the fourth anniversary of that premiere is still months away, the company appears to consider its promise completed.
One UI 9 will be the last major software update for the Galaxy S23 series
Samsung has been testing One UI 9 on the Galaxy S23 for some time, and it has now confirmed the software will soon launch on those devices. However, alongside the good news of the release, there are some less exciting details about it.
Tipster Tarun Vats shared a screenshot of what’s supposed to be a conversation with Samsung about the software updates coming to the Galaxy S23 FE. In the exchange, the company confirmed that One UI 9.0, based on Android 17, will be the last major update for the device.
This same policy is almost certainly going to also apply for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra, as they also launched with Android 13 and One UI 5.1. This is not necessarily a surprise, but it’s the first official confirmation that Samsung’s 2023 flagships are reaching the end of their updates.
How old is your smartphone?
Following the pattern of the Galaxy S22
The Galaxy S23 FE is also reaching the end of its major updates. | Image by PhoneArena
What’s more likely to disappoint Galaxy S23 owners is the little chance for their phones to get the upcoming One UI 9.5 update. This will be the update to Samsung’s skin of Android 17, which is expected to launch with the Galaxy S27 phones early next year.
Recommended For You
Samsung had a similar approach with the Galaxy S22 series, which was updated to Android 16 with One UI 8. However, none of the models got the One UI 8.5 update that launched on the Galaxy S26 phones, despite it being based on Android 16 as well.
Expecting one more update wasn’t such a big stretch
While it was always clear that Android 17 would be the last major update for the S23 series, expecting one more big One UI update was only natural. Before last year, Google used to launch new Android versions in the fall, followed by big One UI updates in the beginning of the following year.
However, last year Google launched Android 16 in June, followed by an early One UI 8 release. Then, Samsung launched One UI 8.5 with many new features for its Android skin. The same thing is expected to repeat this year, as the Android 17-based One UI 9 came with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8, and One UI 9.5 is expected on the Galaxy S27 devices.
Considering Galaxy S23 owners are unlikely to get One UI 9.5 and its new features, they may look around for a new device. Luckily, there are several great deals for some of the latest Samsung phones on the market.
If you’re after the latest models, the official Samsung store has a lovely $125 discount for the base Galaxy S26 on its official store. Last year’s top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra is also available with a jaw-dropping $405 discount for the 256GB model, putting it at $894.95.
The last of its kind
I can’t help but compare this with iOS 27, which will land on every iPhone newer than the iPhone 11, which launched in 2019. If Apple can update the software of a seven-year-old phone, I can’t understand why Samsung wouldn’t do it, at least for its flagships.
Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: