Hold onto your Galaxy devices, folks—Android 16 has officially landed, and it’s earlier than anyone expected. Google dropped the stable release on June 10, 2025. But for Samsung Galaxy users eagerly awaiting the next version of its software experience, the wait for One UI 8 is not quite over yet.

While Samsung’s One UI 8 Beta Program is already moving speedily, the stable rollout might still be a month or two away, likely tied to the much-anticipated Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 launch. Let’s dive into what’s going on and what Galaxy fans can expect.

The first Android 16 beta hit in January 2025, and Google kept the momentum going with a quick development cycle. The result? A polished Android 16 packed with smoother animations, enhanced AI capabilities, and tighter security features, all ready to roll out months ahead of schedule.

For Samsung, this early release is both an opportunity and a challenge. The company has been working closely with Google to align One UI 8 with Android 16, and their partnership is paying off. Samsung’s VP of Smartphone Planning, Minseok Kang, confirmed at Google’s Android Show that One UI 8 will launch “this summer” in the US, putting the timeline somewhere between June and August. But while Google’s Pixel devices are already enjoying Android 16, Samsung’s Galaxy users are still hanging around the beta phase or waiting for the stable version.

Samsung wasted no time kicking off the One UI 8 Beta Program, launching it on May 28, 2025, for the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra in Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US. This is Samsung’s earliest beta release yet.

Here’s where things get exciting. Samsung has confirmed that the stable One UI 8 update will debut on its “newest foldables”—the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7—expected to launch this summer. These foldables will be the first to ship with One UI 8 and Android 16 out of the box. For other Galaxy devices, the stable One UI 8 rollout is likely to follow shortly after the foldables’ launch.

The Galaxy S25 series, which is already in the beta testing program, could see the stable update as early as August, with the S24, S23, and other flagships like the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 close behind.

Why the Wait?

So, why are Galaxy users still waiting when Android 16 is already here? One UI 8 isn’t just Android 16 with a Samsung logo—it’s a customized experience with unique features like an upgraded Now Brief, a redesigned Quick Share, and a travel-friendly Reminder app. These additions require extensive testing to ensure stability across Samsung’s vast device lineup, from flagships to budget A-series phones.

The delayed and buggy One UI 7 rollout taught Samsung a hard lesson about software updates. By starting the One UI 8 beta early and focusing on a phased rollout, Samsung is aiming for a smoother experience, even if it means a slightly longer wait for non-beta users.

What’s Next for Galaxy Users?

For now, Galaxy users have two options: join the One UI 8 Beta Program if you have an S25 and are in an eligible region, or sit tight for the stable release. If you are waiting for the Galaxy Z Fold7 or Z Flip7, you will get One UI 8 right out of the box, likely in late July or early August. Everyone else should keep an eye on the Samsung Members app and official channels for updates on the beta expansion and stable rollout timeline.

As always, I am there for you. Do you have any questions? Ask me on X handle @SamsungSWUpdate.

Samsung has just announced the launch of its newest smartphone, the Galaxy A36 5G, in Korea on June 12. This new smartphone comes with great features at a budget-friendly price.

The Galaxy A36 5G offers a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen that shows smooth and bright images. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1200 nits brightness for watching videos or playing games.

The camera setup is also impressive. It has a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 5MP macro lens. With features like OIS and video stabilization, your photos and videos will look sharp, even if your hands are a little shaky.

The phone has a 5,000mAh battery for long use and a larger vapour chamber cooling system to keep the phone from overheating. It also features a Gorilla Glass Victus+ and IP67 water and dust resistance.

Moreover, the Galaxy A36 5G phone also comes with Galaxy AI features made for the A series. You can erase unwanted things from photos with AI Eraser, create your own filters with My Filter, or use Circle to Search to quickly find info just by circling it on your screen. There’s even a handy AI button to talk to the phone like an assistant.

Most importantly, it also offers six years of security updates and OS upgrades. It comes with Samsung Knox Vault for extra data protection.

Starting June 12, you can grab the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G smartphone in Korea for 499,400 won in three stylish colors – Awesome Lavender, Awesome White, and Awesome Black. It will be available at Samsung stores, mobile carrier shops, online, and more.

Gone are the days when foldables were just a cool gimmick. They’re now legit options for Americans who want tech that is both innovative and practical. Let’s explore what could be the release date for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 in the US.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is perfect for those who love a phone that’s sleek, stylish, and slips easily into a pocket. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, on the other hand, is a beast for multitaskers who want a phone that unfolds into a mini-tablet.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7 Release Date

Samsung loves its Summer spotlight, typically unveiling the Galaxy Z series at its Unpacked event in July. Based on rumors from the industry, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 are likely to debut around July 10, 2025.

Pre-orders should kick off the same day, with the phones hitting stores by late July or early August. This matches Samsung’s recent schedule: last year’s Galaxy Unpacked event was held on July 10, and 2023’s was July 26.

Reports say that Samsung is already producing out displays for these phones in May 2025, so they’re on track for a summer launch. There’s also talk of a budget-friendly Z Flip 7 Fan Edition (FE) or even a wild tri-fold phone later in the year.

Samsung’s 2025 foldables – What to expect

The upcoming Flip phone may adopt a full-view cover screen and Exynos 2500 globally. The Fold model is set to expand Special Edition perks to Global consumers like slim and lightweight design, larger screens and a 200MP camera.

Samsung’s new foldables are shaping up to be Apple’s biggest headache. On top of that, Samsung is rumored to be bearing the US tariff burden, keeping the price of its next-generation foldables unchanged in most regions.

Samsung’s not alone in the foldable game. Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Motorola’s Razr+ 2025 are expected to drop around the same time. Meanwhile, Samsung’s software experience gives its foldables a sharp edge over competitors.

Samsung has one of the most interactive camera apps that allows Galaxy smartphone users to take pictures and record videos. However, the One UI 7.0 has redesigned the camera app, including a new Pro mode.

The layout overhaul is the key significance of the new camera app, which reduced the number of options from the camera view. Instead, Samsung has put all the less-used options in one basket on the bottom right inside the four dots.

This simplification enables users to focus on the subject without being distracted by tons of on-screen options. This happens when all necessary controls remain available in the bottom area. Similarly, One UI 7.0 has shared these upgrades to the Pro/Pro Video camera modes.

Pro mode provides manual controls for settings including ISO, shutter speed, and exposure levels, white balance, and more for a customized camera experience. On the other hand, the normal mode automatically adjusts these things before and after you press the capture button. Here’s what you should know about the changes and upgrades.

Layout

The menu bar on the top has been minimized and captures less space as well as reduced height compared to One UI 6. It keeps only five options, which may vary based on the supported models.

Note: The One UI 6.x has an additional telephoto button on Ultra models.

One UI 6.x (left), One UI 7.0 (right)

Controls section

All features are shifted to the bottom area with the following changes

• The Pro mode label has moved to the bottom side, which previously sat on top of the capture button
• The Pro mode label was replaced by zoom controls, which used to be on top of the manual settings on the camera view.
• A menu button is added with a slide-in animation, including all of the remaining options and features.
• The manual camera setting remains in camera view with big weight reduction

Camera view

The UI cleanup contributes to an improved camera view and helps users to focus on the subject to capture a high-quality image.

Front camera support

Another thing to notice is that the new Pro mode has front camera support. You can use the camera switch button beside the capture button or swipe up or down on the camera view to change to front or rear cameras.

New features

Besides the overhaul, the pro mode brings a new Exposure monitor for Pro and Pro video modes. That helps you achieve the right exposure in your photographs and videos.

This feature is off by default, but you can choose the Zebra pattern to show stripes on areas that are under- or over-exposed. False color option color-code everything based on exposure level. Just like the video mode, Pro video mode also enables a new zoom slider for smooth transitions.

One UI 7.0 Pro camera mode’s exposure monitor

Log

Supported devices will see the Log feature, which expands control over color grading by recording in log format.

One UI 7.0 log video

Note – You may also find that some icons around the UI have been tweaked compared to the previous UI version.

Looking for more details, check all of the camera features here.

Samsung One UI 7.0 brings these new camera features

Samsung has kicked off its One UI 8 Beta program earlier than expected, aligning with Google’s Android 16 release schedule. Launched on May 28, 2025, for the Galaxy S25 series, the beta program marks Samsung’s earliest beta release yet, thanks to a partnership with Google.

However, despite the early start, One UI 8 Beta has left many Galaxy fans underwhelmed, offering minimal improvements over its predecessor, One UI 7, and facing criticism for its limited regional availability, restricted device support, and vague release timeline.

As someone who’s been following Samsung’s software journey, I have to say One UI 8 Beta feels like a letdown. After all the excitement around One UI 7’s major redesign, with its fresh icons, split notification panel, and AI features. Instead, what we got feels more like One UI 7.1 than a new version.

Let me be honest about what One UI 8 brings to the table. You will also see some improvements. Quick Share now has separate “Send” and “Receive” tabs, which is nice. The Reminder app got a visual refresh with category counts. The Gallery and My Files apps received some tweaks that improve day-to-day use.

The most talked-about feature is the “Now Brief” widget from Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite. Just to confirm, this feature was already in One UI 7. Samsung just decided to actually expand it with One UI 8.

Let’s talk about the problems

This is where Samsung dropped the ball. Previous One UI betas typically launched in seven countries. One UI 7 and One UI 8 launched in just four countries: the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea.

A massive market like Samsung got completely left out. However, there are whispers about potential expansion to India and Poland since beta forum pages have appeared, but Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything. Still, no official confirmation has surfaced, leaving users in the dark.

Again, Samsung is picking the “limitation” game. Right now, only Galaxy S25 series owners can join the beta program. Based on reports of Internal beta testing, the company is prepping the One UI 8 beta for the S24 and S23 series, but that’s still unclear. What about the Galaxy A-series users or users with older flagships?

Let’s add more to this. Samsung is offering fewer beta spots this time around. As per a report, Samsung thinks the initial build is more stable, so they need less feedback. That logic doesn’t add up, more feedback usually means better software, not worse.

The competitors are better

Google’s been crystal clear about Android 16’s timeline, targeting a June 2025 stable release. Apple has one of the best software rollout processes in the world. What about Samsung? There’s no clear roadmap for One UI 8’s beta phases or stable launch, expected between July and August 2025.

While the early beta launch is a step forward, One UI 8’s lack of groundbreaking features, regional restrictions, and unclear timeline make it feel like a missed opportunity for Samsung to reclaim user confidence. Samsung needs to rebuild trust, not create more uncertainty.

I appreciate that Samsung launched the beta early; it shows the company is trying to stay in sync with Google’s faster release cycle. But being first means nothing if the product doesn’t deliver.

After One UI 7’s bold redesign, users expected the next version to refine and expand on those ideas. Instead, we got what feels like a maintenance update dressed up as a major release. Instead, between the lackluster features, region restrictions, and communication failures, One UI 8 Beta feels like a missed opportunity.

Maybe things will improve as more next year, but first impressions matter. And right now, One UI 8’s first impression is “Disappointed.”

As always, I am there for you. Do you have any questions? Ask me on X handle @SamsungSWUpdate.