Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold reaches support end

In 2019, Samsung boldly entered the foldable smartphone scene with the introduction of the Galaxy Fold. At the time, the Korean tech giant made some promises, committing to three years of software updates and a good four years of security updates. Fast forward, and these commitments have now been fulfilled. As reported 9to5Google, Samsung has ended regular security updates for the original Galaxy Fold, passing the four-year milestone. While most other Samsung devices are gearing up for a new round of security updates, the Galaxy Fold seems to be left out.

The device received its last security update some time ago, missing the Android 13 update with One UI 5. The move marks the end of the device’s supported lifespan. Next to face the update crisis is the Galaxy Z Fold 2, unveiled in 2020. It won’t receive the One UI 6 update, but sporadic security updates are expected until next year.

For those still holding on to the original Galaxy Fold, now might be a good time to think about an upgrade. Without the latest security updates, your device is essentially exposed to new threats and possible cyber issues.

The Galaxy Fold, despite its pioneering role in introducing a new form factor to the smartphone market, has had its fair share of challenges. Users reported issues with the screen and hinge, prompting Samsung to delay the release of the device to address these issues. Some issues persisted after launch.

Despite its problems, the Galaxy Fold remains an important step in the development of foldable smartphones. This showed that foldable phones were a viable form factor. This paved the way for other players like Google and OnePlus to join the foldable fray, introducing their own iterations: the Google Pixel Fold and the latest OnePlus Open, respectively.

Since its first foray into foldable smartphones, Samsung has upped its game. The latest addition to its foldable lineup, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, represents a substantial leap forward from the original, offering not only improved performance, but also a sleeker screen and design. If you want to know more about Samsung’s journey in the foldable phone market, see our dedicated article on the history of the Samsung Galaxy Fold.