According to SamMobile, the upcoming Galaxy S26 series is set to break a long-standing Samsung tradition. It won’t be the first flagship to launch with the latest major software, One UI 8 and Android 16, pre-installed. Instead, it will ship with a mid-cycle update called One UI 8.5. This change comes after the Galaxy S25 series already disrupted the pattern by launching before the One UI 7 update reached older phones. The timing of the One UI 8.5 beta, which started around the same time as last year’s One UI 7 beta, suggests it could reach existing devices like the Galaxy S25 before the S26 is even announced. Samsung’s decision may hinge on whether it packs new Galaxy AI features exclusively for the S26 at launch.
Samsung’s shifting advantage
For years, buying a Galaxy S phone in the first half of the year came with a neat perk. You were guaranteed to get the newest version of Android and One UI before anyone else in Samsung’s lineup. It was a clear, tangible advantage over picking up a Galaxy Z Fold or Flip later in the year. That advantage is basically evaporating. Now, with major One UI updates landing earlier, and mid-cycle “point-five” updates becoming a thing, the S-series launch is losing its unique software selling point. It’s a subtle change, but for enthusiasts, it matters.
The AI wild card
Here’s the thing, though. This whole timeline could be upended by AI. Samsung is betting big on Galaxy AI, and the S26 will undoubtedly be its next big vehicle. If the phone launches with a slew of exclusive new AI features, Samsung has a strong incentive to hold back the full One UI 8.5 rollout for older devices. Why would they give the S25 all the new software tricks before the S26 even hits the shelf? They probably wouldn’t. So the “fresh software” feel for the S26 might be preserved, but only by artificially delaying updates for their existing, loyal customers. That’s a tricky PR balance to strike.
A bigger pattern of change
Look, this isn’t just about one phone. It signals that Samsung’s entire software update cadence is in flux. The old, predictable calendar is gone. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Faster major updates for older phones are good for everyone. But it does dilute the “newness” of a flagship launch. When your year-old phone gets the new OS weeks or months before the next big reveal, the shiny new box feels a bit less shiny. It pushes Samsung to compete more on hardware and exclusive AI features, rather than just being first with the latest Android version. In a way, it forces them to innovate elsewhere. The question is, are they ready for that?
