Samsung Galaxy S9
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until March 2022 · Buy-by March 2020
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~4-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy S9 should be supported until around March 2022. Buying it today still gets you about -4.2 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
The 2018 compact flagship with a dual-aperture single camera and headphone jack, long retired from updates.
Pros
- Compact, comfortable design with a headphone jack
- Dual-aperture camera was clever and still takes decent photos
- Premium glass-and-metal build with IP68 water resistance
Cons
- Updates, including security patches, ended back in 2022
- Only 4GB RAM and a small 3000mAh battery feel dated
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.8-inch Super AMOLED, 2960x1440 (QHD+), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 845 (US) / Exynos 9810 (global) |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| front | 8MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 3,000 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wired, 15W wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 147.7 × 68.7 × 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 163 g |
| Materials | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 front and back |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 8 Oreo with Samsung Experience 9.0 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C |
| Update policy | ~2 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy S9 get updates?
It is fully retired; it received two major Android upgrades and security patches that ended around early 2022, so it gets no further updates.
Does the Galaxy S9 have a headphone jack?
Yes, it keeps a 3.5mm headphone jack along with microSD expansion, which makes it appealing to wired-audio fans.
Is the Galaxy S9 usable in 2026?
It can still handle basic tasks, but with no security updates and only 4GB of RAM it's best limited to casual or secondary use.
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.