Samsung may be making big changes to its flagship updates

Samsung may be looking to drastically change the way its software updates work, if rumors from a noted leaker are to be believed.

According to Samsung leaker IceUniverse, Samsung is considering changing which devices get the newest versions of OneUI first (via Android Authority). Under these new plans, the foldable Z Fold and Z Flip would get the newest versions of One UI before the flagship S-range phones like the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra. However, there would still be some additions that made the S phones different.

Are the foldable phones becoming the true flagships?

Or just guinea pigs for the special S-range?

According to IceUniverse’s tweet, the Z Fold series of phones will get One UI releases in line with Google’s Android version. So OneUI 8 based on Android 16, and so on. The S-series phones will also receive updates to new versions of Android (through One UI), but not until Samsung is ready to put out a point-5-version of that update. So instead of getting One UI 9, the S25 Ultra would get One UI 9.5.

It’s not stated that the S-range updates would take longer, but it’s strongly implied, given that a point-5 version of software would usually come some time after the initial version. What’s more, IceUniverse also stated that the S-range’s version would be “more substantial”, and would likely include new elements like UI and UX upgrades, new AI features, and other such improvements.

It’s a curious setup. On the one hand, it seems the Z Fold and Z Flip phones will be getting new software upgrades first — but on the flip side (pun not intended), the S-series phones will be getting more feature-heavy updates, just potentially later down the line.

It’s a big shakeup if it’s true, and it’s a bit of a puzzle as to why Samsung would do this. Getting updates first has long been an unspoken benefit of buying a flagship phone, and undercutting that is a strange move. However, Samsung has never been the fastest at pushing out updates anyway, so would it end up being a problem, really?

Also, how are the new features likely to work? If the S-range phones are first to get the new features and UI designs, then does that mean the Z foldables won’t be getting those additions until later in the same One UI version — or would they have to wait until the next version of One UI to benefit? It’s hard to imagine the latter being the case, as there’s surely little chance Samsung would choose to actively hamper their most expensive phones, the Z Fold and Z Flip. However, all options are on the table at the moment, if it turns out IceUniverse’s words are true. Remember, these sorts of leaks are never confirmed until they’re officially confirmed — and given Samsung has been cracking down on leaks recently, we may have to wait until it’s officially confirmed.