Google is in a league of its own when it comes to pushing Android updates to Pixel devices. However, Samsung is one of the quickest to roll out major Android updates after the Mountain View tech giant. The trend will continue with the Android 15-based One UI 7 update, as Samsung intends to complete the rollout by the end of the first quarter of 2025. However, that doesn’t mean all Samsung Galaxy phones will get the latest Android update.
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The first Samsung Galaxy handset to offer you the One UI 7 update is the Galaxy S25 series. Those phones ship with the latest Android feature update. In addition, some older premium and budget Galaxy handsets will also receive the update.
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Every Samsung phone to get the One UI 7 update
Premium Galaxy phones from the not-too-distant past are compatible
One benefit of buying a Samsung phone is that you get new features for a long time, up to seven years, depending on the model. That’s why some old Galaxy phones are still compatible with the latest One UI update. These are the high-end Galaxy phones eligible for the One UI 7 update:
- Galaxy S25 series (ships with One UI 7)
- Galaxy S24 series
- Galaxy S24 FE
- Galaxy S23 series
- Galaxy S22 FE
- Galaxy S22 series
- Galaxy S22 FE
- Galaxy S21 series
- Galaxy S21 FE
The S20 series won’t get One UI 7 because it qualifies to get only three major Android updates, so One UI 5 was the last major Android update it received. On the other hand, the S21 models appear on the list because Samsung guarantees four major Android updates for those phones, a slightly more liberal policy than in the case of the S20.
If Samsung doesn’t change its policy, One UI 7 will be the last major Android update for the Galaxy S21 phones. The Galaxy S22 lineup will also get four years of major Android updates, which means Android 16-based One UI 8 (or whatever Samsung calls it when the update releases next year) will be the last major feature update it will receive. The Galaxy S23 also qualifies to get only four major Android updates, while premium phones released in 2024 and beyond will get seven.
Samsung’s premium segment includes foldable phones with varying update lifespans. The oldest Galaxy foldable phone to get the One UI 7 update is the Galaxy Z Fold 3, released in 2021. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are eligible because Samsung promised four major Android updates for its users. Here are the Samsung foldable phones that will get the One UI 7 update:
- Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Galaxy Z Flip 6
One UI 7 will also be available for mid-range and budget-friendly Galaxy handsets
Samsung has a different update policy for phones in these price segments. Samsung has a shorter update lifespan for its mid-range and budget-friendly phones than those in the premium segment. The oldest midrange phones, like the Galaxy A33, A53, and A73 from 2022, are eligible for the One UI 7 update, while anything older than that isn’t. Here are the affordable Galaxy phones that will receive the One UI 7 update:
- Galaxy A06
- Galaxy A05s
- Galaxy A15
- Galaxy A16
- Galaxy A25
- Galaxy A35
- Galaxy A55
- Galaxy A14
- Galaxy A24
- Galaxy A34
- Galaxy A54
- Galaxy A33
- Galaxy A53
- Galaxy A73
- Galaxy M14
- Galaxy F14
- Galaxy M34
- Galaxy M54
- Galaxy F54
- Galaxy M35
- Galaxy M55
- Galaxy F55
The One UI 7 update won’t be available to every Galaxy phone on the same day
The newer the Galaxy phone, the sooner the update arrives
Samsung will roll out the One UI 7 update to its newest premium handsets first. The Galaxy S24 series will get it before the S23 and older models. Similarly, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will get One UI 7 before its predecessor. It’s the same story in the midrange and budget-friendly segments. In other words, the newer your Galaxy handset, the earlier you get Android 15.
One UI 7 comes with loads of new features, from visual changes to AI capabilities
One UI 7 is the only update that comes with a new Android version this year and has several new features, and that’s why it’s termed a “major Android update.” After updating your phone, one major visual change is the separation of notifications from the quick settings. Also, the One UI 7 lock screen has two significant changes: the Now Bar and support for more widgets. Plus, the widgets and the app icons appear more vibrant.
Moreover, you get smoother animations, which improve switching between apps and multitasking, more freedom with clock placement, and the much-awaited vertical app drawer. The One UI 7 update also tries to get more people to use the Galaxy AI by introducing features like advanced writing assist tools, call transcripts, and more.
What’s next for Samsung after One UI 7 rollout
If you have a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone, you will get another set of new features sometime in the next few months through the One UI 7.1 release. As with One UI 7, the newer Galaxy phones like the S25 series will get the One UI 7.1 quicker than its predecessor. Additionally, all eligible Samsung Galaxy phones will receive Android security patches throughout the year.
In the hardware scheme of things, Samsung has at least three major releases this year, including the Galaxy S25 Edge (which everyone was expecting to be called Galaxy S25 Slim), Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Rumor has it that the S25 Edge will be available in April, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are expected to be available in July or August.
