Android 14 available for Galaxy S21 series in the US

Samsung‘s Android 14 update is now available for the Galaxy S21 series in the US. The big update is currently rolling out to the 2021 flagship series on Verizon’s network. It should soon roll out widely to everyone. The Korean firm has already pushed Android 14 and One UI 6.0 to these phones in most international markets.

Galaxy S21 phones receive Android 14 in the US

Samsung began pushing Android 14 to its phones in late October, though a proper rollout didn’t kick off until mid-November. The Galaxy S21 series joined the party shortly, with the initial rollout covering units in Europe. The company gradually expanded its Android 14 coverage for the 2021 flagships to more markets, including Africa and Asia.

Today, we have confirmation that One UI 6.0 is available for the US versions of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Verizon’s website reveals the build number G99*USQU9FWK5 for the phones, with the November security patch part of the package. Carrier-locked units on other carriers should receive the update with the same build number. It may or may not be different for unlocked units.

Regardless of the build number, the update will bring a plethora of changes to the Galaxy S21 lineup. From new camera features and more powerful editing tools to redesigned system UI elements and improved animations, there’s plenty to look forward to. After all, it is a major Android OS update. The November 2023 security patch, which contains 65 vulnerability fixes, is also part of the package.

If you are using a Galaxy S21 in the US, this update will soon be available to you. Watch out for a notification in the coming days. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app (Software update > Download and install). Note that OTA (over the air) updates are released in batches and may not be available to everyone simultaneously. The Android 14 update will weigh multiple gigabytes (GB).

This may be the last major Android update for the 2021 flagships

Samsung launched the Galaxy S21 series with Android 11 onboard in January 2021. With Android 14 now here, the phones have received three major Android OS updates. They may not get a fourth update unless the company decides to cover the aging flagships under its revamped software policy that guarantees four generations of Android updates and five years of security updates. Even if the Galaxy S21 series misses out on Android 15, it may get One UI 6.1 sometime in 2024.