All modern technology receives updates. These can strengthen device security, add new features, or fix issues. If you’ve owned a gadget long enough, you might become complacent and assume it will always get updates. However, every device has an “end of life” date. Your Android phone has an “end of life” date, and even your smart watch has an “end of life” date. However, sometimes companies catch customers off guard and quickly end their support.
Earlier this month, Samsung released the September 2026 security update, along with the list of supported devices, which you can find on the Samsung Security Update Scope page. However, many people noticed a glaring omission. Several Galaxy devices, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series, have been delisted. The implication is as simple as it is disappointing: Samsung will no longer provide any software support. The previous security patch, released in August 2026, was the Galaxy Watch 4’s last hurray.
Obviously this news came as a surprise since Samsung didn’t say anything; the company just released the update and removed the Galaxy Watch 4 from its list of supported devices, without an announcement or anything. Since the release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 in 2021, the device has been officially supported for five years and one month, give or take a few days. That’s comparable to the average expected lifespan of an Android watch, but it’s still disappointing, especially since the reveal ambushed customers.
What can you do?
What time is it when you slip, fall on your wristwatch and break it? It’s time to buy a new watch. What time is it when your smartwatch still works but no longer receives updates? See above.
Ask almost anyone who owns a smartphone, and they’ll tell you that you shouldn’t keep phones once they no longer have update support. Without updates, software issues are unlikely to be resolved; More importantly, without security updates, hackers can find new ways to steal your data and your phone can’t defend itself. The same goes for smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch 4. Additionally, if your smartwatch is paired with devices like your smartphone, hackers could use your unprotected Galaxy Watch as a backdoor to your phone and other devices and networks. The result could be a chain of infections that provides hackers with a trove of data.
If you own a Galaxy Watch 4, your best bet is to replace it with a newer model, preferably a Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 or a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. These are the newest entries in the Galaxy Watch family and will have longer support than other models; probably another five years, just like the Galaxy Watch 4. You can buy a 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 for $379.99 and a 44mm Watch 9 for $409.99 from the Samsung Store, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 only comes in one size (47mm) and costs $699.99, also from the Samsung Store. These devices are expensive, but your digital security is priceless.
