It's sale season and you're browsing for a new phone. You spot a model with decent specs that fits your budget — a win given rising prices. You buy it feeling you got a bargain, but months later you realize you'll need a replacement sooner than expected because the manufacturer is ending software support. Older phone models are often the ones on sale. Before you spend money on a phone, check its expiration date because many popular smartphones are in their last year of software support. That means they will soon lose access to updates, and your data may become more vulnerable to newly discovered security threats.

Updates are annoying, but necessary

Your smartphone likely handles your banking, health data, work emails, and personal conversations. When did your phone last receive a security update? Most phones get persistent push notifications for system updates that always land when battery is low or you can't spare the few minutes to run the update. But as annoying as these notifications are, it's bad news when they stop appearing. Manufacturers don't always broadcast when support is about to expire. Once a phone stops receiving updates, it also stops receiving patches for newly discovered security vulnerabilities. Then all your sensitive information could be at risk.

Many phones reach the end of software support sooner than expected. End of support doesn't mean the phone stops working; it means the manufacturer has stopped pushing security patches and OS upgrades. Any vulnerability discovered from that day forward opens your phone to potential theft of financial and private data.

When updates come to an end

Security researchers and cybercriminals constantly search for new vulnerabilities in all software, including mobile operating systems. When vulnerabilities are found, manufacturers release patches. Once software support ends, newly discovered vulnerabilities may no longer be patched. Beyond security, end-of-life phones get frozen in time. No new Android or iOS features arrive. At some point, apps stop supporting older OS versions, leaving you unable to use key tools and features. Even if you manage security risks, aging unsupported phones struggle with app requirements as they are optimized for newer hardware and software.

How Samsung handles software support and which models are nearing end of life

Samsung's support policy varies by device tier. Galaxy devices get up to seven years for flagship models, mid-range models max out at five or six years, and budget phones get up to four years. Here are Samsung models that will reach end of life before the end of 2027:

• Samsung Galaxy A14 (launched May 2023) — Android updates ended May 2025, security updates end May 2027
• Samsung Galaxy A54 5G (launched March 2023) — Android updates end March 2027, security updates end May 2027
• Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra (launched February 2023) — Android updates end February 2027, security updates end February 2028
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Flip4 (launched August 2022) — Android updates end August 2026, security updates end August 2027
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G (launched April 2022) — Android updates ended April 2026, security updates end April 2027
• Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra (launched February 2022) — Android updates ended February 2026, security updates end February 2027
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (launched January 2022) — Android updates ended January 2026, security updates end January 2027
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Flip3 (launched August 2021) — Android updates ended August 2025, security updates end August 2026

How Google handles software support and which models are nearing end of life

Google has improved its support commitment over the years. Pixel 8 and later devices receive seven years of OS and security updates from the date they first became available. Older devices receive five years. Several models are entering their final years of support:

• Google Pixel 7 Pro (launched October 2022) — reaches end of life (EOL) in October 2027
• Google Pixel 7 (launched October 2022) — reaches EOL in October 2027
• Google Pixel 6a (launched July 2022) — reaches EOL in July 2027
• Google Pixel 6 Pro (launched October 2021) — reaches EOL in October 2026
• Google Pixel 6 (launched October 2021) — reaches EOL in October 2026

The Google Pixel 2, 3, 4, and 5 lineups are already no longer receiving updates.

How Motorola handles software support and which models are nearing end of life

Motorola's support commitments are more limited. Traditionally, most devices received security updates for two or three years with only one major Android OS upgrade. After the European Union demanded at least five years of security updates, Motorola improved its policy for newer devices, but it won't promise to deploy Android updates alongside security patches. Here are models reaching end of life before 2027:

• Moto G (launched December 2024) — reaches EOL in December 2027
• Moto G Stylus 5G (launched May 2024) — reaches EOL in May 2027
• Motorola Edge 2024 (launched May 2024) — reaches EOL in May 2027
• Moto G Power 5G (launched May 2024) — reaches EOL March 2027
• Moto G 5G (launched March 2024) — reaches EOL March 2027
• Moto G Play (launched January 2024) — reaches EOL January 2027
• Motorola Razr (launched September 2023) — reaches EOL September 2027
• Motorola Razr+ (launched June 2023) — reaches EOL June 2027
• Motorola Edge+ (launched May 2023) — reaches EOL May 2027

How Apple handles software support and which models are nearing end of life

Apple does not publish explicit end-of-life dates but uses a classification system. Vintage products are those stopped for sale more than five years ago but less than seven; obsolete products are those stopped more than seven years ago. iPhones typically receive iOS updates for five to seven years after launch. If your iPhone is approaching the five-year mark since release (not purchase), check if it's still compatible with the latest iOS. iOS 27 is coming this fall and can run on phones as old as iPhone 11 (released September 2019). Generally, it will be compatible with all phones that support iOS 26. Apple Intelligence features are only supported on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and later. Therefore, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone 11 series, will likely get their final update with iOS 27, while iPhone 12 and 13 lineups probably have a couple more years. In the years ahead, as Apple emphasizes Apple Intelligence, it could drop support on older models sooner due to performance and RAM demands. Older iPhones may not get new OS updates, but Apple still sends security patches. In May 2026, Apple rolled out security-focused updates for iOS 15 through iOS 18, extending support to several models, including iPhone 6s from 2015, first-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 7, 8, X, XS, and XR.

What to do if your phone is nearing end of support

You probably shouldn't buy any of the phones above no matter how affordable they are. But what if you already own one? Many people keep using unsupported phones for months or years because upgrading is expensive or because it still works fine. Here's what you should do: keep updating your apps for as long as possible; avoid connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi; don't install apps from outside the official app store and be selective even when picking them from there; be extra cautious about links in emails or messages. Ultimately, the best advice is to upgrade to a newer model as soon as your budget allows. Your smartphone is one of the most personal devices you own, filled with sensitive data. While each brand handles support differently, it's important that your phone receives security updates. An unsupported phone is a liability, not just an inconvenience. Knowing where your device stands is one of the best steps you can take to protect your data. After all, the only thing worse than seeing that persistent update notification is realizing it will never pop up again.

Source:Engadget News