Samsung Galaxy S22 is getting its last major update — here's what comes next
Samsung just pushed a May 2026 security patch to the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra — a 506MB update that closes 36 vulnerabilities across Android and One UI. That's the routine part. The bigger news is what it signals: the S22 line is approaching the end of Samsung's software commitment, with One UI 8.5 confirmed as its final major update.
The patch
The May 2026 update started rolling out from South Korea on May 21, per SamMobile. It brings no visual changes or new features — just under-the-hood security fixes. US carrier versions (Verizon, AT&T;, T-Mobile) typically lag the unlocked rollout by several weeks, so American S22 owners should expect the patch to land through June 2026.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 series. Illustration: Samsung
The end of the road
One UI 8.5, due to roll out to S22 devices in May or June 2026, will be the last meaningful software update this series receives. It's a mid-cycle feature update built on Android 16 — the same base as One UI 8.0 — and Samsung says it will bring AI features including call screening and improved photo editing tools. S22 owners will get these second, after the S25 lineup and Galaxy foldables.
What won't come is One UI 9, which is based on Android 17. Samsung promised four major OS upgrades when the S22 launched in February 2022 with Android 12. Android 16 (One UI 8) was the fourth and final one. Security patches are guaranteed until February 2027 — a five-year window — and then support ends entirely.
What this means if you own one
The S22 isn't suddenly broken. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (or Exynos 2200, depending on region) still handles everyday tasks without issue, and the hardware remains solid. But the software clock is running down.
For context, Samsung's newer S24 series comes with a seven-year update promise — a direct response to Google's Pixel long-term support commitment, per Android Authority. The S22 got four years of OS updates and five of security patches, which was Samsung's standard policy at launch.
Refurbished S22 units currently sell for under £500 in the UK and around $400 in the US, making them tempting value against new mid-range phones. The limited software future is worth factoring in before buying one secondhand, though for existing owners there's no urgent reason to upgrade — at least not until February 2027.
