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Adobe Commerce 2.4.8: Upgrade Recommendations – It's More Than Just a Version

Adobe recently released Adobe Commerce 2.4.8, delivering the standard performance and compatibility updates. However, the release notes contain a crucial strategic recommendation that has significant implications for merchants, developers, and agencies. 

Adobe is explicitly advising businesses that plan to adopt Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service within the next 12-16 months to bypass the 2.4.8 upgrade and instead apply the latest security patch while preparing for a future architecture. This marks a clear shift away from the traditional on-premise Magento upgrade path–and signals what may be the beginning of the end for that approach.

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Key Considerations for Upgrading

When planning an upgrade to Adobe Commerce 2.4.8, businesses should prioritize their objectives, current version, and future plans, especially concerning adopting Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service.  

If you’re planning to adopt Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service in the next 12-16 months:

  • Skip the 2.4.8 upgrade

  • Apply the latest security patch

  • Begin preparing for the cloud-native architecture

If you’re not planning to adopt Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service (or are considering Adobe Commerce Optimizer):

Your upgrade path depends on your current version:

  • 2.4.4, 2.4.5, or 2.4.6: Apply the latest security patch and plan your 2.4.8 upgrade soon
    • Support ends: 2.4.4 in April 2026, 2.4.5/2.4.6 in August 2026
  • 2.4.7: Apply the security patch
    • You're supported until April 2027

The Bigger Picture: Adobe’s Strategic Shift

Adobe is signaling a move towards a composable, cloud-first approach. This direction, emphasized at Adobe Summit, involves:

  • Shifting away from heavy investments in traditional upgrades.  
  • Focusing on App Builder and the new Adobe Commerce Storefront.  
  • Prioritizing long-term transformation over short-term patches.  

This implies that traditional on-premise Magento upgrades are being phased out. Adobe's focus is on Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service, App Builder, and a headless, modular storefront layer. While Magento 2.x isn't "dead," its future is evolving towards this new model. Long-term support for traditional Magento versions becomes incremental, not transformational. Adobe Commerce 2.4.8 appears to be the last major version supported through April 2028. 

What This Means for Merchants

Whether you’re on Magento Open Source, Adobe Commerce on-premise, or Adobe Commerce Cloud, this is a pivotal moment to: 

  • Re-evaluate your upgrade roadmap  
  • Consider skipping 2.4.8 and exploring composable options  
  • Begin exploring Adobe App Builder, which is central to the new architecture. If you're not building extensions or microservices on App Builder yet, you will be.  
  • Recognize the new Adobe Commerce Storefront (PWA-based, composable) as the future experience layer  

Ready for What’s Next?

The move toward composable commerce is happening—and Adobe's latest release confirms it. If you're unsure how to time your upgrade, what App Builder means for your dev team, or when to start planning your cloud migration, you're not alone.

Let’s talk.

Smart Solutions helps eCommerce merchants navigate Adobe’s evolving roadmap with clarity and confidence. Whether you're planning your next upgrade or looking ahead to headless, we’re here to help chart the course.

Get in touch to plan your next move.

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