Samsung Galaxy Fold
How long will it last?
Official promiseSupported until September 2023 · Buy-by September 2021
Samsung promises 4 years of updates for this phone, so it's supported until September 2023 — buying it today still gets you about -2.8 years of safe use.
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
The phone that launched the modern foldable category, long out of support and now a piece of tech history.
Pros
- Historic first-generation mainstream foldable with a true tablet-sized inner screen
- Received 3 OS upgrades, reaching Android 12
- Premium build with stainless steel hinge
Cons
- Software support ended around 2023, so no security patches and no Android 13
- Tiny 4.6-inch cover screen, fragile early-generation design, no water resistance
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 7.3-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED, 1536x2152, 60Hz + 4.6-inch cover Super AMOLED, 720x1680, 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 855 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 512GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| ultra-wide | 16MP |
| telephoto 2x | 12MP |
| front (inner) | 10MP |
| front (cover) | 10MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 4,380 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 160.9 × 62.9 × 17.1 mm folded / 160.9 × 117.9 × 6.9 mm unfolded |
| Weight | 276 g |
| Materials | Stainless steel and aluminum frame, plastic foldable display, glass back |
| Water resistance | None |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 9 Pie with One UI 1.1 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE (5G variant available), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C 3.1 |
| Update policy | 3 OS upgrades · 4 years of security updates (official promise) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy Fold get updates?
It is fully out of support. Samsung delivered 3 major OS upgrades (to Android 12) and about 4 years of security patches, and the device stopped receiving updates around late 2023, never getting Android 13.
What Android version did the original Galaxy Fold reach?
It shipped with Android 9 Pie and was upgraded through Android 10, 11 and finally Android 12; it was not eligible for Android 13.
Should I buy a Galaxy Fold in 2026?
Only as a collector's item or novelty. With no security updates since 2023 and an early, fragile design, it is not suitable as a primary phone.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.