Samsung has long been referred to around these parts as the “King of Android Updates” because of their long-term commitment to device support, steady delivery of monthly patches, and their quickness at delivering major Android OS updates even with their heavy One UI skin on top. Google caught and surpassed Samsung’s level of support in recent years, but that hasn’t stopped Samsung from remaining right at the top of the list with them. However, their status there is uncertain today after what appears to be a severely delayed Android 15 (and One UI 7) rollout that the company hasn’t been that open about.
To catch you up, we’ll rewind to October 2024, only a few weeks after Google had released Android 15 to AOSP. You see, Samsung hadn’t released any Android 15 beta builds at all up until this point and had been quiet on when we might see those. That was odd, since Android 14 (and One UI 6) landed in beta as early as August for the Galaxy S23 series the year prior. That update went stable in November for a number of Samsung phones. So not hearing a word about Android 15 or One UI 7 from Samsung up until October was eyebrow-raising.
But in October, Samsung announced that they were preparing a One UI 7 (Android 15) beta and it would launch “before the end of the year” for the Galaxy S24 series only. Their plan was to then launch One UI 7 as a stable software on the Galaxy S25 series when it landed in early 2025. Samsung stuck to those two things, delivering the One UI 7 beta to the Galaxy S24 in early December 2024 followed by a stable version on the Galaxy S25 in January.
And that’s where we sit today, on February 17. Samsung hasn’t released One UI 7 (Android 15) to the Galaxy S24 as a stable update, nor have they expanded the One UI 7 beta program to other devices. We are months and months behind what we typically expect and see from Samsung and they have been tight-lipped about the reasons why.
The only update we’ve had on a potential rollout was through a press release on Samsung’s Korean newsroom that translates to the following:
Samsung Electronics plans to supplement user feedback obtained through the beta program and install ‘One UI 7’ starting with the Galaxy S series to be released in the first quarter, and then sequentially apply it to existing Galaxy devices thereafter.
This appears to suggest that the Galaxy S series of phones will see One UI 7 (Android 15) within Q1, which only has a little over a month left. Once that happens, the plan is to push it to other devices, which we assume means all of Samsung’s foldables, like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.
What’s the problem with all of this? Delays are never fun. We know that One UI 7 is a huge update from Samsung, one of the biggest in One UI’s history, but we are well into 2025 and Samsung has yet to deliver it to any phones beyond their new Galaxy S25 series. When you couple that with the fact that Google has pushed up its Android 16 schedule to a Q2 release, Samsung phones are about to be two Android versions behind. That’s not a good look for a company that has been the “king” for as long as it has been and certainly prioritized delivering new Android OS versions as quickly as possible.
I do wonder if Samsung is looking at all of these somewhat minor Android OS releases in recent years and thinking it might be OK to put even more focus on selling One UI, rather than being the fastest to getting new Android out. Android 14, 15, and (possibly) 16 do not bring major forward-facing features. One UI on the other hand, constantly introduces new ideas, themes, designs, and experiences that can be a big sell for Samsung to its customers. While there are underlying changes in each new version of Android that are important, they often aren’t selling points.
We’ve come to this place where a new Android version drops and we just expect all Android phone makers to immediately deliver it. What if Samsung has decided it’s not that important to do so? I’m not saying that’s what Samsung is doing or should do, but their commitment to updates is on the number of OS updates, not as a timing release in conjunction with Google.
It would also make a lot of sense for Samsung to prioritize new software ideas on its newest phones, like they are doing with the Galaxy S25 series, and then roll those features out to older devices. Again, I’m not saying Samsung is doing that or should, but it would make some sense to help move additional units.
All that said, delaying major updates and not talking about that fact is never good. Google has updated all of its still-supported phones to Android 15, as has OnePlus. OnePlus’ new OxygenOS 15 is also a pretty major update and they delivered it as a beta in October followed by a first stable update in early November. They have since updated devices as old as the OnePlus 10 Pro to Android 15, all before Samsung has sent a single stable update out. They’ve even updated some mid-range Nord devices.
If Samsung has altered its software update schedule to prioritize releases around new device launches, that’s probably fine, I just think they should say that publicly. Otherwise, I hope this One UI 7 delay is simply a 1-year off year (which it may be) for a company who has really been great in the update department.
That's what happens when you lay off tech workers instead of executives in order to shore up fiscal year sales targets.
Samsung wants people to buy their ultra expensive phones every year. if they could prepare Oneui 7 for S25, how difficult it is to update Samsung S series. Boycott Samsung is only way. Pixel are way better.
#boycottsamsung
Is it possible that they are going to "skip" 15 since 16 is just around the corner? Just allocate the resources to that Q2 release.
I'm still waiting for the update for s25 ultra.
Samsung should just ditch the OneUI and go with the regular android software. That would make updates easier.
That would be going backwards. They can't do that.
Sometimes "backwards" is not a bad thing. lol
Not for Samsung. They have too many features that aren’t on Pixels. They’d lose customers at that point.
Not going to downvote you, but I will say that I disagree.
I am on the fence. But I believe that is the biggest hangup with Sam pushing out the updates. But I am also not a fan of a lot of the OneUI.
They were doing good for a few years, but a lot of people forget back in the mid 2010's when Sammy joints didn't get the latest Android version until March or April. Then in August from DL: Android _ *insert dessert name here* available for Pixel devices.
Samsung is holding the update only for one reason, that is to sell more S25 series phones.
they would lose a lot of customers if they did that . Myself included , stock android is clean and nice looking but i actually prefer the deeper customization and extra little bells and whistles one ui has. one ui helps Samsung have its own identify them from pixels that would be a terrible move
Some are nice but not needed. Not sure they would lose anyone but that is might thought. But it should not take this long to push out updates. And it is b/c of oneUI
One UI is a bloated mess. One UI is the only reason I won't buy a Samsung phone. It sucks because the processor and modem in Samsung phones are WAY better than Pixel phones.
MMMUUUUSSSSTTTAAAARRRRRDDDDDDDDDD!!!
The entire article can be summed up in your overused sentence. I'm not saying Samsung is doing that or should.
Samsung is holding the update only for one reason, that is to sell more S25 series phones
Maybe but how many people are gonna buy a phone for that reason? Are there really many people dying to get a One UI or Android OS update?
What samsung is doing is NOT good for consumers and i personally dont like it . BUT I have always wondered what the obsession with day 1 updates were unless: some major bug fix was included thats effecting the user or 2. its a major os update full of new features(one ui 7). I personally arent upset if my phone recieves a securty update that did nothing tangible for my phone 3 weeks after google gets that same update. If my phone is running perfectly fine I'm not obsessing over a monthly sec. patch.
This is not monthly sec. patch, it's a whole new OS version update
Yep I noticed this with my Fold 4 – I wonder if it makes more sense to wait for 16 at this point? 😉 Even though Samsung has demonstrated longevity in updates, they've never exhibited any need to "get the latest version out there ASAP." That's why the Pixel is my daily driver, because I personally care about such things. Most people I know (other than fellow nerds) don't care about the latest software version, and some (like my wife) find them to be nuisances, especially if the update breaks something in their workflow.
It's bad enough I've been stuck in the beta version to for over a month, but even worse – the updates don't really seem to affect my use of the phone any more or less than before the beta was released. What's more, because I'm locked into the beta right now, I'm not allowed to actually use T Mobiles Starlink service, because the beta makes T-Mobiles system think you're on an antiquated device.
Sometimes it seems that Samsung puts its priorities on releasing new hardware with the latest software and the mentality of "we'll get to our other flagships eventually and maybe only some of the features". I used to love that Samsung pushed out monthly patches before Google did, but even that has gone by the wayside. And now they want to charge for some of the AI features that Google gives for free? Well, my next phone will probably be a Pixel.
Even when Samsung did push out security updates first thing it was only for recent models and it would take most of the month to update the rest so they never really beat Google.
I think you're missing an important component to this story.
Google has maybe 20 phone models to update and OnePlus has half that number off models.
Samsung on the other hand has several hundred models that need to be updated — each year. That's not even taking into account all the model variants for countries, carriers, etc.
Samsung has set itself unrealistic goals and commitments without giving users any assurances that they will receive the next OS update in a timely fashion.
What does happen when Google releases the next OS before Samsung has completed updating all of its phones eligible for the update?
At some point, does Samsung skip an OS cycle to catch up? What does that mean for their warranty? I guess that depends on whether the fine print states that phones get X years of updates, or does it state that phones will receive X number of OS (Android) updates, "major" updates,/ etc.?
At some point, does providing every phone with a highly optimized OS upgrade with phone customisations for each LCD panel, memory used, modem and antenna differences, etc become too much to complete or too costly to maintain?
My feeling and expectation is that Samsung should lead the industry with quality OS updates on a predictable timeline (yearly). They should specify that ABC models will receive updates 3 months after an Android release, DEF models will receive the update 5 months followed by 6 months, 7 etc with the last devices upgraded no longer than 10 months after the Android release.
ideally, all devices should be updated well before the next Android is released and hopefully a timeline shorter than 10 months should be their goal.
Neither Google or Samsung is designing their updates in a vacuum and neither is reliant on the other for much of the GUI and non-OS features like specific drivers for Samsung's hardware and components, AI features aren't integrated too closely the OS to keep Samsung from developing One UI on a yearly cycle that's aligned with Google's Android alpha and beta cycles.
right now, it feels like Samsung is still designing their One UI well after the beta is had been released. Shouldn't these things be completed before this stage?
Samsung is not, not every looking like it will ever become a "software" company – it's not in their corporate culture and that's a problem for all of use who own Samsung phones, tablets, smart appliances, headphones, etc
To be fair, Samsung was only ever updating the Galaxy S, Z, and some A devices quickly. The rest were still taking extra time.
That’s where I got the 10 month number. ????