Samsung ends security support for Galaxy A13, A23, and M33 5G

If you're still carrying a Samsung Galaxy A13, A23, or M33 5G, your phone just lost its regular security updates. Samsung removed all three models from its quarterly patch schedule in May 2026, confirmed by the SammyFans May 2026 roadmap. The phones still work fine — but they will no longer receive routine fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities.

The update gap

All three models launched in early 2022 running Android 12 with One UI 4.0. The A13 and A23 each received two major Android version upgrades, landing on Android 14 (One UI 6) — typical for Samsung's budget A-series. The M33 5G fared considerably better, picking up four OS updates all the way to Android 16 (One UI 8), which is unusually generous for a mid-range device.

Samsung explicitly promised the Galaxy A23 four years of security support at launch — a commitment it has now fulfilled, to the day. The Samsung Mobile Security scope page outlines how devices transition from monthly to quarterly patches and eventually to "legacy" status, where only critical, globally significant vulnerabilities trigger a fix. For most everyday threats, legacy phones are on their own.

What this means for you

A phone falling off the patch schedule doesn't become useless overnight. But the risk profile shifts. Banking apps, mobile payments, and anything involving personal data are more exposed on an unpatched device. Carriers like Verizon and AT&T; sometimes maintain their own update timelines, so it's worth checking your carrier's support page — though that coverage rarely extends far past the manufacturer's own cutoff.

For context, the Google Pixel 7a and iPhone SE (3rd generation) offer seven and five years of updates respectively at similar or comparable price points, which makes Samsung's two-year OS / four-year security model look increasingly thin in the budget segment.

Upgrade or stay put?

If your A13 or A23 is running well, there's no need to rush out immediately. The practical advice: avoid sideloading unfamiliar apps, stay cautious with banking on public Wi-Fi, and keep an eye on whether your bank's app flags your device as unsupported — some do.

When you're ready to upgrade, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G sits at a similar price point with a longer support runway. Outside Samsung's lineup, the Pixel 7a remains a strong pick for buyers who prioritize software longevity in the budget bracket.