Samsung is gearing up to redeem itself after the delays in rolling out One UI 7 by planning to push Android 16 to its devices this summer. Google has set the stage by announcing that it will release Android 16 for its Pixel devices in June, which paves the way for Samsung's timely update.
While Samsung’s rollout of One UI 8 is set to follow closely behind the release of Android 16, it appears that the update will emphasize minor refinements and enhancements rather than a complete overhaul. This is a strategic move to regain user trust following the significant delays experienced with the Android 15 rollout. Samsung only initiated the One UI 7 beta program in early December, and after encountering several issues, the stable build was not available until April 2025—six months post the public release of Android 15.
Fortunately for Galaxy device owners, they will not have to endure a prolonged wait for Android 16. During a recent episode of The Android Show, Sameer Samat, Google's President of the Android Ecosystem, disclosed that Samsung and numerous other manufacturers are set to receive Android 16 this summer. This indicates that compatible Galaxy phones could start seeing the Android 16-based One UI 8 as early as late June and continuing through late September.
In light of last week’s reports, there are indications that Samsung may initiate its One UI 8 beta program as early as this month. Typically, Samsung runs such beta programs for several weeks, suggesting that the stable version of Android 16 could be rolling out to recent flagship Galaxy devices by July. This timeline not only aligns with user expectations but also helps Samsung restore its credibility in the market.
Samsung is already making strides with One UI 8, as early leaked beta firmware reveals several anticipated changes. Most of these updates seem to be focused on minor refinements rather than substantial alterations. This indicates that Samsung is prioritizing the fine-tuning of the revamped user interface introduced with One UI 7.
Among the new features expected in One UI 8 is an audio version of Now Brief and various improvements related to the Now Bar, aimed at enhancing its utility. Additionally, many of Samsung's system applications are likely to receive minor UI tweaks to ensure better alignment with the design changes from One UI 7.
It's important to note that One UI 8 will not incorporate Google's new Material 3 Expressive design language right away. This design update will only be available later in the year during Android 16's first Quarterly Platform Release (QPR). Hence, users can expect Samsung to introduce any Material 3 Expressive related UI enhancements in a subsequent update, potentially with One UI 8.1 later this year.
In conclusion, Samsung's forthcoming updates promise to be a balancing act of refining existing features while also addressing the previous delays in software rollout. With the anticipated arrival of Android 16 and One UI 8, Galaxy users have much to look forward to this summer.
