Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Tech Advisor stories that Samsung’s One UI 8.5 replace, based mostly on Android 16 QPR2, might exclude in style units like Galaxy S22, Z Fold 4, and Z Flip 4 regardless of earlier replace guarantees.
- The exclusion stems from One UI 8.5 being constructed on a special Android 16 model than One UI 8, making updates complicated and time-consuming for older {hardware}.
- This breaks Samsung’s historic sample of offering all subsequent updates to eligible units inside their help window.
A bunch of distinguished Samsung telephones look set to overlook out on the most recent One UI 8.5 replace. Right here’s why.
Samsung began a widespread rollout of its One UI 8.5 software program replace on 6 Could, bringing a refreshed Android 16-based interface to telephones outdated and new.
The corporate has historically launched all updates based mostly on a specific model of Android for any eligible cellphone – so any cellphone that received Android 15 would get the next Android 15-based updates.
As such, many had assumed that telephones such because the Galaxy S22, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 could be in line for One UI 8.5.
Not so quick
As SamMobile factors out, nevertheless, that doesn’t appears to be the case with Samsung’s tackle Android 16.
Samsung Germany’s press launch in regards to the One UI 8.5 replace appeared to counsel that the corporate was solely supporting telephones going again to the Samsung Galaxy S23 vary and the final three generations of A sequence. This was even though the Galaxy S22, Galaxy A33 and Galaxy A53 all obtained Android 16 with One UI 8.
The rationale for this appears to return all the way down to a shift in Samsung’s strategy to software program growth. Whereas earlier One UI updates had been all based mostly on the identical core Android code, One UI 8.5 relies on a special model of Google’s OS to that of One UI 8.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Android 16 QPR2 was a big step up from Android 16, with main characteristic additions, up to date APIs, and refreshed developer instruments.
As such, the method of creating and testing the One UI 8.5 replace on older telephones would have proved a way more concerned process than for earlier updates. Which most likely explains why the replace course of has taken so lengthy.
Samsung’s seven-year shift
These older units talked about above got here with the promise of 4 generations of main Android OS upgrades, which Samsung fulfilled with the preliminary Android 16/One UI 8 launch.
The excellent news is that Samsung began providing the promise of seven OS generations with the Galaxy S24, whereas even the corporate’s mid-range A-series telephones now get at the least six main updates.
This could considerably reduce such replace annoyances any more. A few of those that purchased their telephones pre-2024, nevertheless, look set to fall via the software program replace cracks.