Samsung gives two retired Galaxy S phones and a Note a fresh life, now in the US

May 30, 2026 | Smartphone software updates are like a virtual treat, thanks to the security improvements, new features, and refinements. Samsung has a history of software surprises, with the company revisiting two retired Galaxy S phones and a Note in 2026.

Samsung has a new software update for three phones nobody expected. The Galaxy S8 series and Note 8, released in 2017, are getting a new software update in May 2026; however, the security patch remains outdated.

June 13, 2026 | Samsung has expanded the new firmware update to the Galaxy Note 8, S8, and S8+ smartphones in the US. Build versions of the latest updates are as follows:

• Galaxy Note 8 – N950USQU8DZE1
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ – G95xUSQU8DZE4

The three phones were already retired in the year 2021. Not many people have been using any of the smartphones as their daily drivers. Some may have been keeping them alive in their drawer as an unforgettable memory.

Samsung has also refreshed the software update detail page of the Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note 8. The most recent listing suggests the OTA updates were made available on May 28, 2026, with security patch dates back to 2021.

Software versions:

• Galaxy S8 – G950NKSU5DZE1 [Source]
• Galaxy S8+ – G955NKSU5DZE1 [Source]
• Galaxy Note 8 – N950NKSU5DZE2 [Source]

Here’s the changelog:

• Stability improvements
  • Applied stability improvements to enhance overall device operation.

Earlier this year, Apple received massive praise when a handful of aged iPhones (including iPhone 5s and iPhone 6) received new iOS updates. Those releases have also included improvements rather than new features or patches.

Samsung provides software updates for a specific period and then retires the devices. However, the company doesn’t completely abandon Galaxy phones as they receive new OTAs whenever necessariliy required by the OS.