Title: Updating Your Samsung Galaxy: S24, S23, S22, S21, and a Surprise for S25
Samsung unveiled its initial security update for 2025 recently, incorporating the latest Android fixes and some of its own. No urgent warnings or substantial issues have surfaced yet, and users might anticipate a gradual rollout, with devices getting updates based on their model, region, and carrier.
Frustratingly, December's security fixes are still arriving for some devices, with no indication that this trend will change. The latest flagships, such as the S21, S22, S23, and S24, scheduled for monthly updates, are included in this group.
Samsung's S25, due to launch in January, promises to introduce seamless updates for the first time and launch Android 15 through One UI 7. Seamless updates allow devices to install new firmware in the background, eliminating the need for lengthy restarts.
Android 15 will introduce a multitude of new security advances, both from Google and Samsung. Samsung wants to improve the security and privacy capabilities on its devices and narrow the gap between iPhone. It also aims to surpass Apple's intelligence capabilities with advanced Galaxy AI.
The latest S24 devices are receiving January's security updates. Although the One UI 7 beta users were the first to enjoy the January patch, Samsung has now extended it to the S24 Ultra, S24+, and S24 devices running One UI 6.1. According to SamMobile, the update is currently available in Korea and certain carrier-locked variants in the USA, with a wider rollout expected soon.
The January update does not provide any new features for S24 devices, but rather focuses on providing security fixes. Samsung warns that some details cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality reasons, and it might reveal more critical updates in the near future.
Samsung has reportedly already started testing Android 16 internally, even before wrapping up the One UI 7 beta. While it is uncertain whether Samsung will catch up to Google's Pixel's early Android 16 releases, it is a promising sign.
Google has shifted its Android distribution schedule from Q3 to Q2 to streamline adoption. Google's Android 16's developer preview is currently available for Pixel devices, with the first beta set to release soon. The stable version of Android 16 is expected by the end of the second quarter of 2025, but Samsung's One UI 7 and One UI 8 beta and stable release timelines may be tighter than usual, potentially blending one update into the next.
Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy S25 in January, which will be the first Galaxy device to offer seamless updates and launch with Android 15 and One UI 7. The S25 upgrade could potentially outshine the Samsung vs. Pixel rivalry, as Android 15 aims to boost security and privacy features and advance Samsung's Galaxy AI to surpass Apple's intelligence capabilities. At CES 2025, Samsung might showcase more details about the S25 and its AI capabilities, as it often showcases its latest innovations at the annual tech event. Samsung's Galaxy S line frequently competes with Apple's iPhone in the smartphone market, so the S25 vs. iPhone comparison is an anticipated event.
