Even then, the experience was far from smooth. The update was briefly suspended in several regions after a bug affected the device unlock system, frustrating many users. These troubles are still going on today, with users that own older Galaxy devices still waiting on an update. With One UI 8, it looks like Samsung is trying to avoid repeating those mistakes.
Galaxy S series devices eligible for Android 16 (One UI 8):
S Series:
• S25 (including Edge)
• S24 (including FE)
• S23 (including FE)
• S22
• S21 FE pic.twitter.com/1HsrmJ488t— Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) April 18, 2025
The early testing and wide eligibility hint that Samsung is aiming to deliver a more stable and timely update this time around. One UI 8 is expected to launch around the same time as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, which are rumored to arrive in mid-July. If that holds, it would put Samsung just weeks behind Google’s own Android 16 release, rather than months.
While details about the update’s features are still limited, One UI 8 is expected to build on what One UI 7 introduced. Early leaks suggest we’ll see new customization options, visual refinements, updates to the Gallery and file manager apps, and improved privacy and security tools inspired by Android 16.
If this timeline sticks, it would be a welcome improvement. The Galaxy S24 series, which launched with seven years of OS support, could see its first major platform update delivered much faster than expected. After a stumble with One UI 7, Samsung appears to be picking up the pace and users have every reason to hope it sticks.
