Samsung just made One UI 8 official at its latest Galaxy Unpacked event, and while everyone was excited to see the new features, there’s one big question that remains unanswered: When will existing Galaxy phones get the update?

At the recent Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung proudly unveiled One UI 8 with some pretty cool new features. The update brings better AI integration, improved battery life, a bigger display, enhanced privacy settings, and a cleaner interface design.

But here’s the thing – Samsung only talked about One UI 8 running on its brand-new foldable devices. They didn’t say a single word about when older Galaxy phones would get the update.

Where’s the One UI 8 timeline?

This is where things get frustrating for Galaxy users. Usually, when Samsung announces a major One UI update, they give us at least some idea of when existing phones will get it. They might say something like “Galaxy S series phones will get it first, followed by Galaxy A series,” or “rollout begins in August 2025.”

But this time? Complete silence. No timeline. No hint about which phones will get it first. Nothing. This is especially disappointing because millions of Galaxy S25, S24, S23, S22, and even some Galaxy A series users were waiting to hear when they’d get their hands on One UI 8.

If you own a Galaxy phone that’s not a 7th Gen Foldable (almost everyone), you are probably wondering:

• Will my phone even get One UI 8?
• When will I get it?
• Should I wait for the update or just buy a new phone?

The lack of information makes it tough to plan. Some of us might hold off on buying new phones if we know our current one will get the update soon. Others might just go ahead and upgrade because they are tired of waiting.

Which phones might get One UI 8?

While Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed anything, based on its usual software update policy, these phones will likely get One UI 8:

Probably getting One UI 8 soon:

• Galaxy S25 series (currently under One UI 8 beta program)
• Galaxy S24 series
• Galaxy S23 series
• Galaxy S22 series
• Galaxy Z Fold6/5/4 and Z Flip6/5/4

Probably getting One UI 8 later:

• Galaxy A54 and A34
• Galaxy A53 and A33
• Some Galaxy Tab models

Maybe getting it:

• Older Galaxy A series phones
• Galaxy phones from 2022 and earlier

Remember, the above list is based on Samsung’s past behavior and software policy. The actual list could be different.

What’s Samsung cooking?

There could be a few reasons why Samsung stayed quiet about the rollout:

Maybe One UI 8 has some specific (AI) changes that need more testing on older phones. Samsung might want to make sure everything works perfectly before committing to dates. Samsung might be saving the rollout details for another event or announcement. It’s possible Samsung is still working out the technical details and doesn’t want to promise something they can’t deliver.

If you are a Galaxy user waiting for One UI 8, here’s what you can do:

1. Be patient: Samsung usually delivers major updates to eligible phones, even if they don’t tell us when right away.
2. Keep checking: Watch Samsung’s official channels, the Samsung Members app, and sammyfans.com for updates.
3. Don’t panic: The lack of a timeline doesn’t mean your phone won’t get the update. Samsung just isn’t talking about it yet.
4. Prepare your phone: Make sure you have enough storage space and back up your important stuff, just in case.

One UI 8

Samsung’s decision to skip the rollout timeline at Galaxy Unpacked is frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. The company has a decent track record of updating its eligible phones, even if it is not always great at communication (I am sure you agree on this).

The real question is: How long will Galaxy users have to wait before Samsung finally tells us when we will get One UI 8? Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer. Until then, we are all just waiting and wondering.

Join the waiting list on my X handle @SamsungSWUpdate.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 uses its cover screen camera hole as a dynamic status ring. The new flip phone has a full-view outer display, replacing the folder icon-shaped panel, and Samsung tied the lens cutouts with a visually rich UX.

With the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung introduced a dynamic status ring feature. It has 9 slick effects that make the cover screen pretty unique. These effects currently work in camera, and I’m so excited to see them working with more apps.

Samsung explains that this specialized UX replaces pop-up messages with indicators in the camera app during its execution by using the Hole in Display area. These indicators show which lens is currently in use, what action is being performed, and so on.

The system currently has 9 effects exclusively on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. This provides optimization of cover screen space, intuitive communication of live feedback visually, and the effect of predicting status through a clear status display.

Samsung also defined Visual Interaction, which refers to the exchange of info through visual elements when a user interacts. All visual elements that convey information by clicking a button, scrolling an image, or through animation effects are included here.

Here are the effects available on Galaxy Z Flip 7:

Photo Mode

Auto zoom

Visual Interaction exposure at the moment zoom changes

Portrait ready

Visual Interaction exposure when portrait mode is ready

Night scene recognition (under 8 lux)

Exposure of the night scene is recognized

During night shooting (long exposure)

Visual Interaction exposure during shooting time based on illuminance

Video Mode

Auto framing

Visual Interaction exposure when the number of recognized people changes

Recording

Visual Interaction exposure at the start and end of the recording

• Recording start: blinks 3 times
• Recording end: blinks 1 time

Commons

App entry

Visual Interaction exposure when entering the camera app

Lens guide

Visual Interaction exposure when switching lenses

• When the lens switches by selecting 0.6/1/2/4/10
• When the lens switches while adjusting the zoom slide/pinch zoom

Mode switch

Visual Interaction exposure when switching Photo/Video/Portrait mode

Timer setting shooting

Visual Interaction exposure during timer operation time (2 sec/5 sec/10 sec)

Palm recognition shooting

Visual Interaction exposure during the timer operation time (2 sec) for palm recognition shooting

Here we go:

How to activate and compatible devices

Samsung confirmed the camera hole UX is exclusively available on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. As the previous Flip phones have a different cover screen, the feature can’t be provided through a software update, even a major OS upgrade.

On the Galaxy Z Flip 7, you can activate these UX effects by launching the Camera app > Settings > Cover camera effects.

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.

Samsung just dropped One UI 8 at Galaxy Unpacked 2025, and it’s packed with enhanced new features for phones like the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Z Fold7.

Let’s dive into what makes this update so awesome.

Now Bar

Now Bar is like your phone’s new best friend. Built into the Z Flip7’s full-screen FlexWindow, it shows notifications, widgets, and quick shortcuts. You can check what’s up without even unlocking your phone.

See Now Bar in action

Now Brief

Now Brief keeps you in the loop with news and updates tailored just for you. It’s got a slick 2×2 widget and live alerts during videos. Plus, it pulls in all kinds of content to keep things fresh.

Check out Now Brief

Photo Assist

Photo Assist is like having a photo editor in your pocket. It uses AI to tweak lighting, zap unwanted objects, and polish details. Whether you’re a selfie pro or just snapping for fun, it’s a game-changer.

Explore Photo Assist

Gemini Live

Gemini Live, powered by Google AI, makes your phone feel like a chatty assistant. It’s built into One UI 8 to answer questions, help with tasks, and give tips, all in a super natural way.

Meet Gemini Live

Browsing Assist and Writing Assist

Browsing Assist takes the hassle out of web surfing. It sums up pages, points out key info, and suggests stuff you’ll care about. Writing Assist fixes grammar, tweaks tone, and makes your messages crystal clear.

Learn about Browsing Assist and Writing Assist

One UI 8, paired with phones like the Z Fold7, makes your device feel smarter and smoother. Samsung’s Android 16 skin is all about making your phone work better for you. From editing pics to browsing or jotting notes, it’s got your back.