Samsung Updates Older Galaxy Phones but Withholds Newest Artificial Intelligence Tools

2026-04-29 companies

Seoul, Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
Older Galaxy devices are receiving a free upgrade, but Samsung is intentionally withholding its newest artificial intelligence tools to encourage users to buy the latest flagship models.

The Rollout Strategy and Timeline

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics (KRX: 005930) [GPT] is officially launching the stable version of its One UI 8.5 software on Thursday, 30 April 2026, beginning in its home market of South Korea [1]. A broader global expansion is targeted to commence shortly after, with dates like 4 May 2026 circulating for the Galaxy S25 series [5][7]. The update is expected to reach devices as old as the Galaxy S22 line [1], encompassing recent flagship models such as the Galaxy S24 and S25 series, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Fold 6, Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 6 [2].

Security Enhancements and Design Tweaks

Beyond performance stabilization, One UI 8.5 introduces robust security and privacy enhancements backported directly from the 2026 Galaxy S26 series [5]. Users downloading the update will gain access to Theft Protection, a Failed Authentication Lock, Auto Blocker, and an Inactivity Restart function [5]. These additions aim to give consumers more transparent control over device security, a critical focus as competitors have recently faced technical hurdles with their own security-focused updates [5].

The Artificial Intelligence Divide

The most notable aspect of the One UI 8.5 rollout is the explicit segmentation of artificial intelligence capabilities. While the software comes pre-installed on the Galaxy S26 series with a full suite of AI tools [1], older models are receiving a fragmented experience. Devices like the Galaxy S25 and S24 will receive several powerful features, including AI Select, Advanced Audio Eraser for real-time background noise removal, Creative Studio for AI-generated images, and Photo Assist for generative photo editing [1][2].

Financial Implications and Lifecycle Policies

This software segmentation is deeply intertwined with Samsung’s hardware sales strategy and lifecycle policies. Starting with the Galaxy S24 in 2024, Samsung committed to offering seven major operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates [6]. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 series is only eligible for four OS updates, meaning its software journey will conclude with Android 17 [4][6].

Sources

Samsung Electronics Software update