Samsung has one of the best software update policies. I consider it better than Google’s Android OS. I have a solid reason to call it the best. In early 2024, the company extended its software update support for Samsung Galaxy devices by up to 7 years.

This comprehensive support includes monthly, quarterly, and biannual firmware security updates that add patches for Android OS-related security issues released by Google, as well as patches for Samsung-specific security vulnerabilities.

This year’s Android 16 arrives early. Samsung officially launched One UI 8 based on Android 16 at Galaxy Unpacked on July 9, 2025, a significant shift in the company’s update timeline. For the first time, Samsung is releasing a major One UI OS update in the summer, rather than in the fall, aligning closely with Google’s Android 16 release schedule.

At the launch event, Samsung didn’t reveal which devices are eligible for the One UI 8 upgrade. I am covering every Samsung Galaxy device eligible for regular software support as of July 2025. This isn’t just an exclusive list for the One UI 8 update, but a comprehensive guide to all devices receiving ongoing software support.

Current One UI 8 Status (July 2025)

Already Available:

• Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 – Launched with One UI 8 pre-installed on July 9, 2025
• Galaxy S25 series – Beta program launched May 28, 2025; stable release expected by end of July 2025

Beta Testing in Progress:

• Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra (available in Germany, Korea, UK, US, India, and Poland)
• Galaxy S24, S23, Tab S10, and other flagship devices (internal testing)

Expected Rollout Timeline:

• August 2025: Galaxy S24, S23 series, Z Fold6, Z Flip6
• September-October 2025: Galaxy A series flagships (A55, A56)
• Q4 2025: Remaining eligible devices

Samsung’s Software Support Policy: Understanding the Tiers

7-Year Support (7 OS Updates + 7 Years Security)

Eligible Devices (2024 and Later):

• Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE
• Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge
• Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Flip7 FE
• Galaxy Tab S10+, S10 Ultra, S10 FE, S10 FE+
• Future Galaxy S, Z, and Tab S series flagships

6-Year Support (6 OS Updates + 6 Years Security)

Eligible Devices:

• Galaxy A16 5G (first A-series with 6-year support)
• Galaxy XCover7 Pro
• Future Galaxy A1x series and higher-tier A models

4-Year Support (4 OS Updates + 5 Years Security)

Previously Released Flagships:

• Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S21 FE
• Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra
• Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Flip3, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, Z Fold5, Z Flip5
• Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, S8 Ultra, S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE, S9 FE+

Current Security Update Schedule (July 2025)

Monthly Security Updates

Samsung provides the most frequent security patches to its premium devices:

Flagship Smartphones:

• Galaxy S21 FE 5G through Galaxy S25 Edge
• Galaxy Z Fold3 5G through Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, Fold7
• W-series foldables (W23 through W25 Flip)

Enterprise Models:

• Galaxy A53 5G, A54 5G, A55 5G, A56 5G
• Galaxy XCover6 Pro, XCover7, XCover7 Pro

Quarterly Security Updates

Mid-range and older flagship devices receive security patches every three months:

Previous Flagships:

• Galaxy S20 FE, S20 FE 5G
• Galaxy S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
• Galaxy Note20 series (all variants)

Galaxy A Series:

• A13 through A36 5G (various models)
• Recent launches: A06 5G, A16 5G, A26 5G, A36 5G

Galaxy M & F Series:

• M13 through M56 5G
• F13 through F56 5G

Tablets:

• Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) through Tab S10 FE+
• Galaxy Tab A9, A9+

Enterprise Tablets:

• Galaxy Tab Active3 through Active5 Pro

Biannual Security Updates

Budget devices receive security patches twice yearly:

• Galaxy A22, A03 series, A03 core
• Galaxy M21 2021, M22, M32 series, M52 5G
• Galaxy F22, F42 5G
• Galaxy Tab A8
• W22 5G

Wearables: Quarterly Updates

Samsung Galaxy Watches receive regular security updates:

• Galaxy Watch4 series through Watch Ultra
• Galaxy Watch FE
• All variants include enhanced Wear OS security patches

Personal Computers

Galaxy Book4 series receives security updates as needed, including patches from Samsung, Intel, and AMI.

One UI 8: What’s not guaranteed

While Samsung has officially launched One UI 8, the company has not announced which existing devices will receive the Android 16 update. The current security update list does not guarantee One UI 8 eligibility.

Key Considerations:

• Devices must meet hardware requirements for Android 16
• Samsung’s internal testing determines final compatibility
• Regional availability may vary
• Carrier approval affects rollout timing

Likely Candidates Based on Support Policy:

• All devices with 7-year support (S24 series and newer)
• Most devices with 4-year support are still within their update window
• Select A-series devices (A55, A56, and newer models)

Recommendations:

1. Check Your Device’s Status: Verify your model against the support lists above
2. Join Beta Programs: Galaxy S25 users can participate in One UI 8 beta testing
3. Backup Before Updates: Always ensure data safety before major OS upgrades
4. Be Patient: Staggered rollouts prevent widespread issues and ensure stability
5. Monitor Samsung Members App: Official updates and beta invitations come through this channel

Samsung’s software support in 2025 represents the most comprehensive and timely update policy in the company’s history. While One UI 8 eligibility remains to be fully confirmed, the robust security update schedule ensures all recent Galaxy devices remain protected and functional for years to come. Join me at X @SamsungSWUpdate.

Disclaimer: This article reflects Samsung’s official software support policy as of July 2025. Device eligibility for One UI 8 may expand based on future Samsung announcements and testing results. For the latest updates, monitor Samsung’s official channels and the Samsung Members app.

Samsung’s One UI 8 stable update has been introduced with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE smartphones. It is now expected that the company will soon begin rolling out this update to older Galaxy devices. Ahead of that, Samsung has started preparing the Galaxy S23 FE for the One UI 8 update.

A reliable tipster has spotted the first testing build of One UI 8 for the Galaxy S23 FE. The build number is S711BXXU9FYG2, indicating that Samsung has begun working on the update for this model.

Currently, the European variant of the Galaxy S23 FE is being tested with this new software. While it’s still in the testing phase, the appearance of this build suggests that the update could arrive soon.

Image via Tarunvats

Besides the S23 FE, Samsung is also testing One UI 8 on many other Galaxy devices. These include the Galaxy S24 series, S23 series, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, and mid-range phones like the Galaxy A56 and A36.

Even though the stable version has been released with the newest foldables, Samsung hasn’t shared a full update schedule for other devices yet. Right now, only users of the Galaxy S25 series can try the One UI 8 beta features, and that too only in limited countries.

One UI 8 update will bring new features, better performance, and design improvements compared to the previous version. Users can look forward to a smoother and smarter experience once the update is released for their phones. Stay tuned.

At Unpacked, Samsung officially confirmed the One UI 8 Watch 4/Classic upgrade. That said, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are now confirmed to be getting the Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch upgrade this year.

On June 30, Samsung kicked off the One UI 8 Watch Beta Program. The company mentioned that the Watch 5 and later models are eligible. It sparked a debate that Samsung has dropped the Watch 4 series from Wear OS 6 eligibility.

Well, the official confirmation at Unpacked has cleared all the doubts.

Wear OS 6 plus One UI 8 Watch

Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are the first Samsung smartwatches that launch with Wear OS. While the software support is about to end this August, Samsung is still bringing a big free upgrade, marking the 4th OS release.

Wear OS 6 will come to the Watch 4 series as its fourth major update. This new OS arrives on Samsung smartwatches as part of One UI 8 Watch. The development hasn’t yet begun, so a specific timeline is tough to predict.

Samsung’s new One UI 8 Watch succeeds the One UI 6 Watch version. The company has entirely skipped v7 to match the Galaxy Watch and One UI Watch numbering. Like One UI 7 for Mobile, One UI 8 Watch brings big visual revamps.

The new design and tiles are being hated by many. Samsung is likely to make some visual changes during the Beta Program. Notably, the entire focus is shifted to offering streamlined user experiences to Galaxy Watch owners.

Meanwhile, your Galaxy Watch is also getting a big AI upgrade. Google started rolling out the Gemini AI assistant to Wear OS watches running Wear OS 4+. Samsung’s entire Wear OS smartwatch lineup is eligible for this AI upgrade.

Samsung officially unpacked three new foldable phones on July 9. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are the first to run Android 16-based One UI 8 out of the box, which introduces fresh new Camera and Samsung Gallery features.

New Samsung Gallery features

This article explores the new Samsung Gallery features available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 , perfect for photography and video enthusiasts.

Gallery Editing

One UI 8 makes the Gallery app way more fun to use, whether you’re just tweaking a quick snap or getting creative with your media.

Audio Eraser

Have you ever recorded a video but got annoyed by background noise? Audio Eraser automatically cleans it up for you, thanks to Galaxy AI. It works in Gallery, Video Player, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, and even Call Recorder.

• Note – It won’t show up if your Gallery is on mute.

Portrait Studio (Pet Style)

Portrait Studio in One UI 8 now has four cool styles, including Studio, 3D Character, Fisheye Lens, and Oil Painting, for both people and pets (dogs and cats).

Source – Samsung Mobile

Overlay (image) translation

If you’ve ever tried translating text in an image, you’ll love the upgrades to One UI 8’s Overlay Translation feature.

1. Improved translated text overlay size

The enhanced overlay translation mechanism keeps the text size closer to the original, even if the translation is longer, minimizing the sense of discrepancy before and after translation.

2. Improved translated text background overlap

The improved function now detects the background and places translated text so it doesn’t blend in or overlap, making everything clear and neat.

Downloadable Apps

1. Enhance-X

• Focus Shift: Just tap on the subject in your photo, and the app sharpens it up automatically for a crisp, clear shot.
• Crop & Upscale: Zoom in and crop without losing quality. AI boosts the resolution, so your images stay sharp and detailed.

These Enhance-X app updates are coming after July 30, 2025.

2. Camera Assistant

You can now pick a new shutter sound for motion photos and sync the sound to the exact moment you snap the shot. It’s a small change, but it makes taking photos feel smoother.

Related Article: New Camera features available in Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7 with One UI 8

On July 9, Samsung introduced its latest foldable smartphones that come with the biggest upgrades in years. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 also bring Camera tweaks and enhanced features with the latest One UI 8 software.

Samsung has tailored Android 16-based One UI 8 for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 to deliver a foldable and flip-optimized experience. The new camera features also work seamlessly on both the cover and inner displays, with no compromise.

Here’s a detailed look at the new camera features and capabilities that enhance the user experience for both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 devices.

Galaxy Z Fold 7

The  Galaxy Z Fold 7 steps up its camera game, making it easier to take awesome shots and videos. With a beefy 200MP main camera and a better front camera, it’s a photography beast.

Here’s the rundown:

Smoother capture view

Taking photos in Capture View is now super easy. The updated view list lets you quickly favorite, share, or delete shots without any hassle.

Upgraded front camera

The front camera went from 4MP (UDC) to 10MP (punch hole), so your selfies are sharper and clearer. Additionally, it has a wider view and fixes distortion, perfect for group pics.

Log Video

Samsung’s Log video feature is now available for both front and back cameras. You can tweak colors and tones easily; explore more in Camera Settings under Advanced Video Options.

High Resolution

The 200MP main camera on Flip 7, boosted by Galaxy AI, captures crazy detailed photos. It’s great for anyone who loves high-quality, pro-level shots.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

Galaxy Z Flip 7

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 keeps the same 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP selfie cameras as before, but it has some brilliant software-derived upgrades, especially for the cover screen.

Here’s what you’ll love:

Improved FlexCam

The cover screen’s preview is now larger, so framing shots is way easier. There’s also a handy settings menu in the bottom left for quick tweaks like zoom or quick view.

Zoom Slider

A new lens button and zoom slider allow you to zoom in and out smoothly, making it quick to capture distant objects or stuff.

Filter

You can now add retro, film-like filters right on the 4.1-inch cover screen, giving your photos a fun, creative vibe.

Special cover screen effects

The cover screen’s camera hole gets cool effects in modes like portrait or night mode, or when you start/stop recording.

Camera settings

You can easily swipe up or down on the camera screen to pull up the Quick Control menu.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

Related Article: Samsung Gallery has new features for Galaxy Z Flip 7, Fold 7 in One UI 8

Older phones aren’t left behind

Samsung is preparing to expand new Camera enhancements to older Galaxy devices. Most of them would come with the One UI 8 update, while incremental updates will gradually expand the feature set introduced in the latest foldables.