Galaxy S22 reaches its final major update

The Galaxy S22 series is now on its last major software update, with One UI 8.5 confirmed as the final one. Samsung has also started rolling out a May 2026 security patch to the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra.

The patch is 506MB and fixes 36 vulnerabilities across Android and One UI. It began arriving in South Korea on May 21, according to SamMobile, and brings no visual changes or new features.

US carrier models from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile usually trail the unlocked version by several weeks, so owners in the US should expect the update through June 2026. The May 2026 patch is the routine part; the larger point is that the S22 line is nearing the end of Samsung’s software commitment.

The final feature update

One UI 8.5 is due on S22 devices in May or June 2026 and will be the last meaningful software update for the series. It is a mid-cycle feature release based on Android 16, the same base as One UI 8.0.

Samsung says One UI 8.5 will include AI features such as call screening and improved photo editing tools. S22 owners will receive those features after the S25 lineup and Galaxy foldables.

One UI 9 will not arrive on the S22 series. That version is based on Android 17.

What Samsung promised at launch

When the Galaxy S22 launched in February 2022 with Android 12, Samsung promised four major OS upgrades. Android 16, delivered through One UI 8, was the fourth and final one.

Security patches are guaranteed until February 2027, which is a five-year window, after which support ends entirely. Samsung’s newer S24 series comes with a seven-year update promise, which Android Authority says was a direct response to Google’s Pixel long-term support commitment.

What owners should expect

The S22 is not suddenly broken. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, or Exynos 2200 depending on region, still handles everyday tasks without issue, and the hardware remains solid.

Refurbished S22 units are currently selling for under £500 in the UK and around $400 in the US. That makes them attractive against new mid-range phones, although the limited software future is worth considering before buying one secondhand.

For existing owners, there is no urgent reason to upgrade yet, at least not until February 2027.