Delayed 26 Series = Delayed OneUI 8.5

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

When Software Updates Lag Behind Hardware Hype

This is what happens when a company leans on incremental hardware changes and positions software updates as the main draw.

Let’s be honest—the Galaxy S24 Ultra was never going to see One UI 8.5 anytime soon. And when it does arrive, some features will likely be held back. The S25 series will probably face the same delays.

To be fair, Google hasn’t been perfect either. They once tried to withhold features from older Pixel models, and the backlash was swift. They listened—and haven’t repeated that mistake. Apple, too, has had moments where certain features were limited to newer devices, but they’ve maintained a reputation for releasing major iOS updates to all supported models on day one. That consistency matters.

Samsung, on the other hand, seems less responsive to customer feedback. Despite promises of extended support, updates often arrive late, and features are selectively rolled out based on hardware tiers.

If software is the selling point, then deliver it—on schedule, for everyone. Customers deserve better. We’ve invested in these devices, and timely support should be part of that commitment.

I know some will say this is just complaining, but it’s not. It’s a real issue. Consisttent and timely delivery is key!

Here’s the article.

https://www.phonearena.com/news/one-ui-8.5-delayed-for-galaxy-s25-because-of-galaxy-s26_id175239

[meself]

There has been no set date for ui8.5

[Mogay]

yep true, One UI 8.5 reserved for S26 series first, so Samsung can show off something new on stage

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

Exactly!! That’s the pattern—Samsung holds back software features so they can showcase them as “new” during the next launch event. It’s not that the current devices can’t handle them—it’s that the rollout strategy is tied to marketing, not capability.

It’s frustrating because it creates artificial gaps between generations. If One UI 8.5 is ready, it should be available to all supported devices, not just the ones Samsung wants to spotlight next.

[nullandvoid]

Why does everyone expect every update to be backward compatible to every device a company ever produced - and have all the same features?  Not only is it not doable, it's not practical. A company is in business to sell products, and reserving the best features for their higher end or newer devices is the way to sell products to those who want the new features/hardware.  To the best of my knowledge, all devices from all manufacturers are sold with a set time period for updates, after which the device will get no more and they will have to decide whether to keep the device they have or to upgrade.

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

Totally fair point—and I don’t think anyone’s expecting every feature to land on every device forever. Hardware limitations are real, and yes, companies need to sell new products. But that’s not really what this is about.

The frustration comes when even the latest flagship devices—like the S24 Ultra—don’t get timely updates or receive watered-down versions of software that’s already been announced. It’s not about expecting miracles on older phones; it’s about consistency and fairness for current-generation users who’ve made a significant investment.

And speaking of hardware—yes, processors have improved, but RAM has plateaued, and camera upgrades between Ultra models haven’t been dramatic. The core experience hasn’t shifted much year to year. In fact, there are reports of users successfully running One UI 7 on older devices like the Note 9 (Exynos variant). That says a lot about how capable the hardware still is.

Other companies like Apple and Google have shown that it’s possible to roll out major updates across supported devices on day one. They’ve stumbled too, but they’ve generally responded to feedback and improved. Samsung has the resources and scale to do the same—it just feels like they’re choosing not to.

So this isn’t about backward compatibility for every device ever made. It’s about honoring the update promises made to current users and not tying software improvements to the next hardware cycle.

[nullandvoid]

I believe when they announce new features, they are meant to be for the new devices coming out in order to generate interest in upgrading.  I do not believe that they deliberately hold back updates for existing phones, but they do withhold features for the aforementioned marketing purposes.  

If your updates are delayed, it is because your carrier is delaying deployment, as Samsung sends the updates to the carriers, who then tweak them and push them out to their users.

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

That’s a thoughtful take, and I appreciate the nuance. But I’d argue the pattern suggests more than just coincidence.

Samsung has a well-documented history of aligning major One UI releases with flagship launches. For example, Android 16 rolled out to Pixel devices months before the Galaxy S25 Ultra shipped with One UI 8 pre-installed. Meanwhile, existing Galaxy devices—like the S24 series—only began receiving the update weeks after the S25 launch, despite being fully capable of running it.

So while I agree that new features are often announced with new hardware to generate buzz, the delivery of those features to existing devices is often delayed—not due to technical limitations, but seemingly to preserve that “new phone = new experience” marketing moment.

As for carrier delays, that’s definitely a factor in some regions, especially in the U.S. But it’s not the whole story. Samsung controls the base firmware and often holds back updates globally, even for unlocked devices and in markets where carrier certification isn’t a bottleneck. In fact, some updates are paused or staggered even after being released to certain regions, which points more to internal rollout strategy than external carrier constraints.

So yes—carriers can slow things down. But the broader pattern suggests Samsung is also pacing updates to serve its product cycle. And that’s where the frustration comes in: users with current-gen flagships shouldn’t have to wait for the next launch event to get features that are already finished and running on other devices.

And if that weren’t enough, Samsung’s beta program timing only reinforces the pattern. Beta access for current devices often doesn’t begin until after the new flagship has launched—despite the fact that the same software is already running on those new devices. Case in point: One UI 7 shipped with the S25 Ultra, yet the S24 Ultra didn’t see beta access until months later, nearly a year after Android 16 was released to Pixel users.

So while Samsung frames beta testing as a way to “work out the kinks,” it increasingly feels like a strategic delay—a way to stage updates and preserve the illusion of exclusivity. Bugs still exist on both new and old devices, and they’re addressed through monthly patches, not beta feedback.

In the end, it’s not about readiness—it’s about rollout optics. And that’s why users are frustrated. The software is ready. The devices are capable. The delay is deliberate.