Latest from Android Central in Samsung-galaxy-s24

Galaxy S24 user endures a nightmare, phone goes up in flames during use

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:47:00 +0000

What you need to know

A South Korean Galaxy S24 user reported on Reddit that, under normal use, their phone combusted.
Their report says that their phone started to swell rapidly before it burst, becoming engulfed in flames.
The user has been treated for burns and smoke inhalation, adding that Samsung has reached out and they are cooperating.

A user online reported the one thing no one ever wants to deal with: their phone literally exploded.

A South Korean user (username: chocho-789) reported on Reddit that their Galaxy S24 exploded in their hand earlier this week (via SamMobile). The user recounted the May 11 incident, stating, "My Galaxy S24 suddenly emitted smoke, extreme heat, and exploded in my hand while I was using it normally to search the internet." The user makes it clear that their phone was not charging, it never received fall damage, and the device had never been opened.

The user states that, while using their phone, it "suddenly" swelled rapidly before exploding.

The combustion was so severe that the entire inside of their Galaxy S24 was charred to a crisp. What's more, a provided image shows their phone tossed onto the ground, covered in flames. The fire department was rightfully called, and the user states they received treatment for burns and smoke inhalation, as well as anxiety. The fire department presence reportedly confirmed "lithium battery ignition."

The user provided a couple of updates, but none more significant than Samsung finally establishing contact as of May 13. A local director of the Samsung Service Center has been in contact, and the user says they are cooperating and providing the necessary records. They state that what they would like is for Samsung to focus on the matter, to handle it seriously, without worrying about compensation.

There was another fire...

(Image credit: chocho-789 / Reddit)

Users in the thread's comments have continued to express their concerns for the user, while also showcasing their displeasure with the incident. This can be frightening, especially since we all use our phones every day. If this wasn't worrying enough, an incident like this occurred recently with Samsung's Galaxy S25 Plus.

In October, a user reported that their Galaxy S25 Plus caught fire and provided an image of the phone split in two. The incident was kind of similar, as the user said their phone caught fire while not charging. Moreover, they said that their device started to overheat before bursting into flames. The user wasn't hurt in this report. Samsung responded to the incident, stating it had launched an investigation into it.

Android Central's Take

I saw a Redditor's comment that said, "Me looking at this post on my samsung s24" (courtesy of BrightBanner). It made me laugh because the vast majority of you reading this article might be on your phone. And that phone could be a Galaxy S24 or a Galaxy S25. As you'd imagine, it was a laugh of pain. This situation is scary, and you can see that in that user's comment. Like, "are you going to...?" I hope no one experiences this. It sucks that this user in South Korea had to endure this, but hopefully, their wish of Samsung taking this seriously comes true.

Samsung expands its next big One UI beta update to more devices

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:44:23 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has expanded the One UI 8.5 beta to more Galaxy devices, including S23, Fold 5, Flip 5, and A36.
The beta is rolling out in phases across regions like India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S.
One UI 8.5 brings new icons, redesigned apps, better Quick Settings, and more lock screen customization.

If you've been waiting to try Samsung's One UI 8.5 on your older Galaxy device, you're in luck, as Samsung has started expanding the beta to more devices across multiple regions.

As shared by Samsung in a blog post, the company has begun rolling out the One UI 8.5 beta to more devices, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy S23 FE, and even the Galaxy A36. This is the first time Samsung is offering a beta update for an A series device, as these typically only receive the stable release.

The update is available in select regions, including India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S. Samsung says it's a phased rollout, so it may take some time to reach your device. If you have an eligible phone, you can enroll via the Samsung Members app and then check for updates by going to Settings > Software update > Check for updates.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

One UI 8.5 brings a number of new features, including updated icons, redesigned apps, a more customizable Quick Settings panel, and additional lock screen customization options. There are also features like Shared Storage, which lets you access files on your Galaxy phone directly through a Samsung TV.

Samsung has also mentioned that the update brings support for AirDrop via Quick Share in the One UI 8.5 beta. However, the devices listed for this feature include the Galaxy S25 series, S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Flip 6. This means the devices that just received the beta don't support this feature yet.

Samsung hasn't confirmed whether it'll expand AirDrop support to older devices, and given it's missing from the current list, I wouldn't be too hopeful for now.

Android Central's Take

It's good to see Samsung expanding the One UI 8.5 beta to more devices, especially the A series, but the lack of AirDrop support on these devices is a bit disappointing. Hopefully, that changes soon.

AirDrop sharing for older Samsung Galaxy devices could be here very soon

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:46:50 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is rolling out a Quick Share app update via Galaxy Store that adds AirDrop file sharing support to older Galaxy devices.
The feature is appearing on Galaxy S22 to S25 models, but isn't functional yet.
The update signals a wider rollout soon, likely with One UI 8.5.

Samsung recently added support for sharing files over Apple's AirDrop to the Galaxy S26 series last week, and now it looks like the feature won't stay limited to those devices for long.

As spotted by Reddit users (via Tarun Vats on X), a Quick Share app update is rolling out via the Galaxy Store on older Samsung devices that appears to add support for AirDrop file sharing with Apple devices. Users report seeing the same new "Share with Apple devices" section we first saw on Galaxy S26 devices in the Settings app after updating Quick Share.

The update is reportedly showing up on Galaxy models ranging from the Galaxy S22 to last year's Galaxy S25 series. The catch, however, is that the feature doesn't seem to be working yet. It's appearing on devices running One UI 8 as well as the One UI 8.5 beta, but enabling the toggle doesn't activate the functionality for now.

(Image credit: Reddit u/ljoschwzr)

Users say that turning on the feature doesn't make their device visible to Apple devices, and no Apple devices show up in Quick Share either. It's possible Samsung or Google still needs to enable it server-side, but it does confirm that broader rollout to older Galaxy devices is coming. The feature could arrive fully with the One UI 8.5 update.

Either way, this is an exciting move, as Samsung seems to be expanding AirDrop support across its flagship lineup, which could finally make cross-platform file sharing more seamless.

Google has already introduced similar functionality on the Pixel 10 series and later expanded it to the Pixel 9 lineup. Now, it's good to see Samsung catching up, and hopefully, other brands like Motorola and OnePlus will follow soon.

Android Central's Take

This is exactly what I wanted to see from Samsung. Sure, it isn't fully working yet, but the fact that it's already pushing groundwork for older Galaxy devices makes this a big deal.

This one's for you, Galaxy S24: Samsung drops its One UI 8.5 beta on past-gen Galaxy devices

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:17:07 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung announced that it's rolling out access for its One UI 8.5 beta for several past-gen models, such as the Galaxy S24 and S24 FE.
Beta access is also arriving on the Galaxy S25 FE, as Samsung teases that more devices will gain access in April.
Samsung recently rolled out its seventh One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25, and we're just hoping a stable release is coming next.

It's been a long wait for several of Samsung's older Galaxy phones, but that's ending today (Mar 26) as the beta for its major OS upgrade is here.

A newsroom post shared what users can expect this week, as Samsung confirms its One UI 8.5 beta is rolling out on several older phones. The post says the beta is "available now" for the Galaxy S24, S24 FE, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Fold 6, and the Galaxy Tab S11. While a few of these are past-gen devices, Samsung also says the beta is coming online for Galaxy S25 FE owners, too.

Only "select" markets are receiving this beta late week. Those in the U.S., Korea, India, and the U.K. can expect to see the beta's availability and begin enrolling. To do so, Samsung directs users, as always, to its Members app.

It's no surprise that many users have been patiently awaiting Samsung's rollout for many past-gen devices. This seems to be just the start of more to come. The company teases that another wave of devices will receive access in April. Right now, it hasn't given a specific date or timeframe, so we'll have to keep our eyes out for that announcement next month.

Beta, beta, beta

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

There were rumors that Samsung might've been preparing for such an announcement, after the firmware was spotted on a test server. Hopefully, once users get their hands on it and we're ready for a proper rollout, Galaxy S24 users can avoid any pauses. Samsung had a bit of a hiccup with this series when rolling out One UI 8 in October. Users who already installed it didn't seem to have any issues, but something was surely amiss as Samsung yanked its access.

One UI 8.5's beta has been going and going, and earlier this month, its seventh iteration arrived. The update was reportedly rolling out in South Korea, India, and Germany for the Galaxy S25 series at a time when most of us were expecting its official appearance for everyone. It hauled in a 1GB download, packed with fixes for calling problems and more. There's still no telling when Samsung could drop this for the Galaxy S25 for real, but hopefully it won't take too much longer.

Android Central's Take

For past-gen users, this is a huge development. I've seen countless number of people on social media in my research asking when Samsung will bring it to the S24. Now it's here, and hopefully the beta goes a little smoother. The Galaxy S25 has been stuck in this program for months, and we've already entered its seventh beta. There was hope that it would get One UI 8.5 roughly around the same time as the S26 series dropped, but no dice. So, here I am, not-so patiently waiting.

Good news for Samsung fans: One UI 8.5 could land on Galaxy S24 and FE phones soon

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:17:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is expanding One UI 8.5 beta to Galaxy S24 series, foldables, and FE models for the first time.
Early beta builds spotted suggest Samsung may open the One UI 8.5 program to more devices very soon.
One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 adds customizable quick settings and new AI-powered features.

Samsung debuted One UI 8.5 alongside the Galaxy S26 series. The company has been testing the beta build on the Galaxy S25 series and some foldable devices, and it now appears Samsung could expand the program to the Galaxy S24 lineup and, for the first time, some FE models.

As spotted by Tarun Vats on X, early One UI 8.5 beta builds have surfaced for the Galaxy S24 series, S24 FE, S25 FE, and even foldables launched in 2024, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. These early builds suggest Samsung may soon expand the beta program to these devices.

Samsung has followed a similar rollout pattern in the past, so this could indicate the One UI 8.5 beta program will open for more devices shortly. What stands out this time is the inclusion of Fan Edition models in the beta.

Unexpected 👀Galaxy S25 FE & S24 FEFirst One UI 8.5 beta builds spotted on test serverFE devices usually don’t get public beta 🤔Builds:S25 FE: S731NKSU5ZZCBS24 FE: S721NKSUAZZCBLet’s see… public or internal 👀 pic.twitter.com/5yOEhgX5cyMarch 19, 2026

Historically, Samsung hasn't included Fan Edition phones in the One UI public beta program, instead rolling out stable updates directly. This time, however, it appears Samsung is including these mid-range devices in the beta program.

When the program goes live, beta builds are expected to be available in regions like the U.S., India, South Korea, and select European markets. Users should be able to join through the Samsung Members app, although there is no confirmed timeline yet for the rollout.

One UI 8.5 brings several new features to the Galaxy phones. Being based on the latest build of Android 16, it brings customizable quick settings that allow users to resize and rearrange tiles, along with new AI features like an updated photo assist tool that supports multiple edits without saving each version.

There is also a Storage Share feature that lets users access files from other Galaxy devices directly through the 'My Files' app as well as a (much more) customizable lock screen.

Android Central's Take

It's good to see Samsung extending more attention to its mid-range devices alongside its flagships. Moves like this make the Fan Edition lineup feel more aligned with its name.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: An upgrade worth waiting for?

sharmarajat@zoho.com (Rajat Sharma) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:27:06 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

Everything you want

With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, you get a slightly refreshed design, the latest hardware from Qualcomm or Samsung, faster wireless charging, a laundry list of AI-based features, and more.

Pros

Better performance and thermal efficiency due to newer SoC
Plethora of AI-powered features and years of OS & security updates
Slightly faster wireless charging

Cons

Same dated camera hardware despite the higher price
Still no integrated magnets for proper Qi2 support

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Everything you need

Despite being a bit old, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus continues to be a balanced flagship that features a gorgeous yet tough design, reliable performance, superb battery endurance, and more.

Pros

Still powerful enough to handle demanding workflows
Incredible battery life, even with resource-intensive tasks
Likely to get significant discounts due to being a two-generation old model

Cons

In-hand feel isn't exactly the best
Camera struggles to capture moving objects

Samsung's top-of-the-line smartphones generally hold up quite well over time, and the Galaxy S24 Plus is no different. Even though it was launched in 2024, the middle member of the Galaxy S24 series remains a stellar option for anyone who wants a fully loaded device that checks all the right boxes.

While that's great, the newest Galaxy S26 line-up has finally been unveiled, which means that the Galaxy S26 Plus is here. As expected, the latest mid-level flagship from Samsung packs a few upgrades that'll entice many prospective consumers, particularly those who've been thinking of upgrading from a previous-generation model.

But, in a world where annual device launches no longer matter as much as they once used to, does the freshest South Korean flagship live up to the hype? Let's see how the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus compare and find out!

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Design, display, and hardware

While Samsung's top-tier smartphones have had a consistent visual identity over the last few generations, things are finally changing with the Galaxy S26 series, as the newest trio comes with minor cosmetic updates instead of being a dull copy-and-paste job from the last year(s).

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

It appears the rumored CAD renders (via OnLeaks / Android Headlines) were on point, since the Galaxy S26 Plus (and the Galaxy S26) now feature their triple-lens rear camera systems stacked vertically inside a pill-shaped island, as opposed to the lenses being directly on the back panel like they are with the Galaxy 24 (and the Galaxy S25) devices. The same design update goes for the Galaxy S26 Ultra as well, although its fourth camera lens and laser AF module are still placed directly on the rear panel next to the island.

The visual refresh seems inspired by the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy S25 Edge, both of which have similar primary camera setups.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Flip over to the business end, and you're unlikely to find any changes. The Galaxy S26 Plus features a 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel with razor-thin bezels, super-high resolution, and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It's the same screen that you'd find on the Galaxy S24 Plus, with vibrant colors and good brightness levels. However, with phones like the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 having displays that can go up to a 165Hz, we can't help but feel Samsung could've done a bit better. You still get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection against scuffs and scratches, so that is a good thing.

Other than that, the Galaxy S26 Plus retains the boxy construction of the Galaxy S24 Plus (and the Galaxy S25 Plus), complete with flat aluminum side rails and an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance.

Specifications
Category	Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus	Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
Dimensions	158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 in)	158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.99 x 0.30 in)
Durability & Case Material(s)	IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front and back), Aluminum frame	IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front and back), Aluminum frame
Weight	190 g	196 g
Display	6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1440x3120 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate	6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1440x3120 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate
Chipset / SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) or Samsung Exynos 2600	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM	12GB	12GB
Storage	256GB/512GB	256GB/512GB
Sensors	Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Compass, and Barometer	Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Compass, and Barometer
Wireless Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), Bluetooth 6.0, GPS, NFC, UWB, and USB-C 3.2 (with DisplayPort)	Wi-Fi 6e, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, UWB, and USB-C 3.2 (with DisplayPort)
Other Features	Samsung DeX (wired & wireless), Galaxy AI	Samsung DeX (wired & wireless), Galaxy AI
Battery & Charging	4,900mAh (Li-Ion), 45W (wired) and 20W (wireless) charging, No Qi2 Support	4,900mAh (Li-Ion), 45W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging, No Qi2 Support
Cameras (Rear)	50MP wide-angle, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), 12MP ultrawide \| 8K video recording	50MP wide-angle, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), 12MP ultrawide \| 8K video recording
Camera (Front)	12MP wide-angle \| 4K video recording	12MP wide-angle \| 4K video recording
OS & Update Policy	Android 16 with One UI 8.5 (preinstalled), seven years of OS and security updates	Android 14 with One UI 6.1 (preinstalled), seven years of OS and security updates

The Galaxy S24 Plus is driven by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which was Qualcomm's top-tier SoC back in 2024. Add to that 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB of internal storage, and it shouldn't be any surprise that Android Central's Derrek Lee came away impressed with the smartphone's performance (both general and gaming) when he reviewed it. As a matter of fact, this hardware still makes the Galaxy S24 Plus capable of going against some of the best Android phones out there.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Now, the Galaxy S26 Plus comes with the same 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB of internal storage. However, in the typical S-series fashion, the newest smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's latest top-of-the-line chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. In selected markets around the world, the Galaxy S26 Plus will be available with the Exynos 2600, Samsung's own newest flagship silicon.

Although we can't say anything about the smartphone's real-world performance until we test it out, it stands to reason that the Galaxy S26 Plus will perform better in comparison to the Galaxy S24 Plus, especially when it comes to resource-heavy workflows like on-device AI processing. However, you're unlikely to notice a huge difference as far as everyday tasks like gaming, web browsing, and streaming are concerned.

The Galaxy S26 Plus comes with all the modern connectivity and I/O options (e.g., Wired/Wireless DeX, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.2) that the Galaxy S24 Plus also has, albeit with some incremental enhancements here and there.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Cameras, software, and battery

The Galaxy S24 Plus features a triple-lens primary camera system having a 50MP primary sensor, a 10MP telephoto module (capable of 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP wide-angle unit. As you'd expect, 8K video recording and optical image stabilization are also included. It's a versatile setup that works quite well, with photos from all three lenses having plenty of resolved detail and incredible color reproduction. However, this hardware has also gotten a little long in the tooth at this point, having remained the same since the Galaxy S22 Plus.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Sadly, Samsung seems to think otherwise, as the company has reused the same camera array on the Galaxy S26 Plus, yet again. While that's a little disappointing, improved processing should result in better photos and videos in comparison to what you get from the Galaxy S24 Plus, thus helping to make Samsung's newest Plus-sized model one of the best Android camera phones on the market. Even so, the older model still has it all to be your only all-purpose camera for everyday use.

Coming to software, the Galaxy S26 Plus (along with its siblings) runs One UI 8.5, the freshest version of its custom UI overlay, out of the box. Based on Android 16, the software has been out for a while and continues to get better, with the latest builds introducing Bixby updates and many other goodies. Apart from that, you can also expect improvements to Samsung's Galaxy AI suite, more customization options, and several other enhancements over time.

It goes without saying that most (if not all) of these features will be available for the Galaxy S24 Plus and other eligible devices in due course of time, all thanks to Samsung's industry-leading software support.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The Galaxy S24 Plus comes with a 4,900mAh battery that can effortlessly go a full day with moderate to heavy use. While some of the best budget Android phones do offer multi-day battery life, they also have less taxing hardware. The Galaxy S25 Plus managed to have an incredible endurance with the same exact battery size, and perhaps that's why Samsung decided to fit the new Galaxy S26 Plus with the same powerpack. We're expecting the phone to be able to last (at least) a full day, since the hardware is more power-efficient this time around. However, there's still no support for silicon-carbon tech, as Samsung refuses to get with the times and trails behind Chinese brands in adopting the new technology.

While the wired charging speed remains the same (45W) on both smartphones, you get slightly faster wireless charging on the Galaxy S26 Plus (20W) compared to the Galaxy S24 Plus (15W). As lackluster this "upgrade" is, perhaps what's even more disappointing is the lack of any integrated magnets for native Qi2 support. If you want that functionality, your only option is to get a magnetic case or go for an alternative flagship like the Google Pixel 10 Pro, which does support magnetic charging and a whole ecosystem of accessories.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Which should you go for?

Smartphones have matured to a level where buying the newest thing every year no longer makes any sense, and the Galaxy S26 Plus goes on to prove that. While it's true that it has a few upgrades (e.g., latest hardware, slightly quicker wireless charging), it's a still a rather incremental improvement over the Galaxy S24 Plus, a flagship that remains relevant despite being two years old at this point. You also have to consider the fact that the Galaxy S26 Plus has a starting price of $1,099.99 and will cost you quite a bit, even if you take advantage of pre-order deals. So, the question is, should you upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Plus from the Galaxy S24 Plus?

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Our suggestion is simple! If you absolutely need things like slightly faster wireless charging, better hardware, and perhaps most importantly, can get a good trade-in discount towards your Galaxy S24 Plus, by all means, go ahead and upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Plus. You'll be getting a feature-laden smartphone that'll last you for years to come.

Conversely, if you're not obsessed with having the newest thing out there, don't care much about incremental overhauls, and your Galaxy S24 Plus already does everything that you need it to do, upgrading to the Galaxy S26 Plus just for the sake of it makes no sense. Hold on to the phone that you already have, as it's still going to be supported for a very long time. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S26 Plus is not that much of an improvement over the Galaxy S25 Plus either, so you can go for that last-gen model if you really must upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

Latest and greatest

If you want a feature-laden smartphone and don't mind paying the extra cash, it might make sense buying the Galaxy S26 Plus. It packs top-of-the-line hardware, a refined design, better battery life, faster wireless charging, and more.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Old yet gold

It may be two generations old at this point, but the Galaxy S24 Plus still has got it all. It packs premium hardware, thoughtful software backed by years of software support, a reliable triple-lens camera system, and incredible battery life.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S24: Is it finally time to upgrade?

christinep2424@gmail.com (Christine Persaud) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:08:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S26

Coming soon

The Samsung Galaxy S26, formerly known as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro, isn't here yet. But when it arrives in likely early 2026, there are high expectations for some notable upgrades. If they all prove true, it could mark a worthwhile upgrade for those still hanging onto older models.

Pros

Design overhaul, thinner (speculated)
Switch to silicon battery (speculated)
Slightly bigger screen with same size (speculated)
Likely still 7 years of OS and security updates

Cons

Possible switch to Exynos processor (speculated)
No major camera overhaul for the entry model (speculated)
Charging speeds may remain the same (speculated)

Samsung Galaxy S24

Still viable

The Samsung Galaxy S25 didn't represent a huge leap over the Samsung Galaxy S24, which was introduced in 2024. With seven years of software and security support behind it, the Galaxy S24 is still a viable option, the first model to integrate AI into the experience as well.

Pros

AI features are available
7 years of OS and security updates (5 left by 2026)
Not a major step down from the Galaxy S25

Cons

Outdated
Not compatible with S Pen
RAM limited to 8GB

The Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 comparison will be an interesting one once the former model arrives, likely in Q1 2026. While we don't yet have confirmed details about what to expect from the Galaxy S26, we do know that it may have at one point been called the Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro, but that moniker has reportedly been abandoned.

We can be certain that it will include improvements over both the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the Samsung Galaxy S25. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 marking just an iterative update over the Samsung Galaxy S24, the expectation is that the Samsung Galaxy S26 will be better in many ways. For now, let's take a look at the rumors and speculation around what we might be able to expect from the Galaxy S26.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: Potential design and basic spec changes

(Image credit: Android Headlines)

There's no word yet on finish options for the Galaxy S26, but there will probably be at least some new colors, including Samsung-exclusive ones, as has been the case with the Galaxy series. The Armor Aluminum construction may continue, giving it a lightweight and durable feel.

Screen size is speculated to increase slightly to 6.27 inches, which isn’t a huge bump, but may provide more screen area with the same compact size. The expectation is that it will also be thinner.

It will probably still have the same individual rings around the cameras, but this time with a vertical camera bump housing the sensors . Refresh rate will likely be maintained at 120Hz along with the AMOLED 2x FHD+ screen, Corning Gorilla Glass, and the same or similar resolution as both the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Samsung Galaxy S25, which remained unchanged between these two devices.

It will likely still meet the IP68 specification for dust and water resistance. Storage capacities could increase beyond just 256GB, at least to 512GB, as with the Galaxy S25, though 1TB would be nice. It will almost certainly not include a memory card slot, as has been customary with Samsung Galaxy devices and most phones nowadays.

(Image credit: Android Headlines)

The battery is expected to boast improvements, with rumors indicating Samsung might switch from lithium to silicon batteries, which offer better durability and density. There's also speculation that the battery capacity could increase from 4,000 mAh in the Galaxy S24 (and the S25) to 4,300 mAh, which means the phone will last a little longer.

It's likely that the base Galaxy S26 model will stick with 25W charging. It could meet its higher-end counterparts in offering up to 45W wired charging with a compatible adapter and cable. It should continue to support wireless charging and Power Share. An upgrade could be built-in magnets for Qi2 charging without the need for a case, akin to what Google has done with its latest Pixel 10 line.

Looking back at the Samsung Galaxy S24, which was introduced in January 2024, that model comes in Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Onyx Black, and Marble Grey. There are also Samsung-exclusive colors, Sapphire Blue, Sandstone Orange, and Jade Green. It has a flat front and back with rounded edges and a satin finish, and cameras running down the back in a vertical row, the same as the Galaxy S25.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: Spec comparison

How do these phones compare head-to-head on specs alone? Let’s take a look. How do these phones compare head-to-head on specs alone? Let’s take a look.

Category	Samsung Galaxy S26 (rumored/speculated)	Samsung Galaxy S24
OS	Android 16, (Samsung One UI 8.5)	Android 14 (Samsung One UI 6.1)
Colors	Unknown	Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Onyx Black, Marble Grey (Samsung exclusive Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, Sandstone Orange)
Screen Size	6.27 inches	6.2 inches
Screen Resolution	2,340 x 1,080	2,340 x 1,080
Screen Type	AMOLED 2x FHD+	AMOLED FHD+
Refresh Rate	120Hz	120Hz
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Exynos 2600	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM	12GB	8GB
Storage	128/256GB/512GB	128GB/256GB
Cameras	Unknown but likely 50MP main with larger sensor	50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, 12MP wide front
Speakers	Stereo Speakers	Stereo Speakers
Battery	4,300mAh	4,000mAh
Wireless Charging	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	5.4	5.3
Cellular	5G	5G
Size	Unknown (likely thinner)	147 x 70.6 x 7.6mm
Weight	Unknown (potentially lighter)	167 grams

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: Power and performance

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Of course, the expectation is that the Galaxy S26 will deliver significant performance upgrades over the S24 and S25. It will likely feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, though some think it may use an Exynos 2600 chip instead, at least in some markets. This is what Samsung did with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, suggesting it might follow the same strategy for the entry model in the new series.

By contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S24 features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 8GB of RAM. There's no word on how much RAM the new phone will have, but Samsung upped it to 12GB for the Galaxy S25, so it's likely the Galaxy S26 will carry that over.

Stereo speakers are pretty much a given, along with plenty of AI goodies, including Gemini Live and Bixby. But some sources suggest Samsung could expand Galaxy S26 support for third-party chatbots. The Galaxy S24 was the first device in the line to get AI upgrades, including fun and useful features like Google's Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, and more.

It's unclear if Samsung will add more AI features to the Galaxy S26, though it will likely have Samsung One UI 8.5 and whatever new features come with it.

One rumored new feature discussed is called Privacy Display Mode, though it may only be available on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. With this supposed feature, the phone would automatically dim the screen when you're accessing sensitive information or in crowded places. One UI 8.5 will also purportedly have Privacy Protection, which could automatically blur or redact sensitive on-screen information, like driver's license or passport details, to keep your information secure.

The same seven years of software and security updates are expected, which has become standard for Samsung phones.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: Camera improvements

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung hasn't made any groundbreaking improvements to its cameras between the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25, but fans are hoping this will change with the Galaxy S26. First, consider the Galaxy S24. It has a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP telephoto, and a 12MP front "selfie" camera. You get 30x space zoom and 3x optical zoom.

Not much changed with the Samsung Galaxy S25. But the hope is that the Galaxy S26's cameras will improve. While it might retain the same 50MP primary sensor, it could be larger, allowing it to capture more light.

It's unclear if the Galaxy S26 will see any improvements in zoom capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S25 improved in this department with 100x Space Zoom and 3x optical zoom, so the new model's specs should at least match that.

Of course, all the same AI photo editing tools will almost certainly be carried over to the new model. This includes features such as Generative Edit, Sketch to Image, and more. Whether or not image capture overall is better remains to be seen. One area the Galaxy S24 struggled with was photos that include motion, so the hope is that the S26 will improve on this. Our reviewer Brady Snyder noted some improvements with the Galaxy S25, but there's still work to be done.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: Which should you buy?

(Image credit: Android Headlines)

Will the Samsung Galaxy S26 be named among the best Galaxy phones? It's unclear, but if you're looking at base-model comparisons between the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Samsung Galaxy S24, you're probably best off waiting for the new model to see what improvements it offers and make a decision from there.

If you're in a rush and need to get a new phone before that model is scheduled to be released — likely in February or March — the Galaxy S24 still has a lot of life left in it. If you already own it, there's no need to upgrade yet unless the Samsung Galaxy S26 offers compelling upgrades that make it worthwhile, or your carrier offers a killer trade-in deal.

New technology is always a game of chicken. Do you wait to see what the new model has to offer? Sometimes, it's incredible, and you kick yourself for having jumped the gun on an existing model too soon. Sometimes, it's an iterative update, and you realize it wasn't worth waiting. It's a tough decision, but with limited details so far on the Galaxy S26, you'll have to make that judgment call.

Based on speculation, it could be just another iterative update. Feature-wise, you'll be able to update the S24 with new AI features and Samsung One UI 8.5 anyway. I'd recommend keeping it for now. If you still find the S24 new for a fantastic price and you're upgrading from a much older phone and want things like AI integration, that model is still a great option.

Samsung Galaxy S26

Wait and see

Samsung continues to innovate with its smartphones, but when it comes to the entry model in the Galaxy series, there are sometimes concessions that are dealbreakers. With most of the hottest new features set for the Ultra variant, if you want to upgrade, you might look to consider that model instead for a bigger level up.

It still has AI

With access to all the wonderful AI features to which we have become accustomed and a basic experience with decent specs, if an entry model phone is what you want, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is still a good option. It might be two years old, but with seven years of software and security updates, five left by 2026, it has lots of life left.

Samsung halts One UI 8 update for Galaxy S24 in South Korea

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:03:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung suddenly pulled the One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S24 series from its servers in Korea, stopping both OTA and Smart Switch downloads.
Reports suggest the update was pulled for the Galaxy S24 FE too.
Despite the rollback, users who already installed the update haven’t reported serious bugs or crashes, suggesting Samsung’s move was precautionary.

Samsung has quietly pulled the One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S24 series in South Korea, marking another twist in what’s supposed to be the company’s smooth Android 16 transition.

The update, which initially rolled out to the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra in late September, was suddenly pulled from Samsung’s servers and removed from both OTA and Smart Switch channels, SamMobile reports. As a result, users in Korea can no longer download or reinstall the software.

What makes this even more interesting is that this isn’t an isolated incident. A few days ago, Samsung also halted the same One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S22 lineup a week after its rollout. That earlier rollback hinted that something was off with Samsung’s latest software build, and now, with the S24 series facing the same pause, it’s clear the issue might run deeper than expected.

According to reports on X, Samsung also pulled the firmware for the Galaxy S24 FE.

Attention Galaxy S24 users ❗️Samsung has pulled One UI 8 build from the OTA server Korea 🇰🇷 👀S24 series:CYI9 (OneUI8) ➡️ BYG8 (OneUI7) S24Fe:CYI9 (OneUI8) ➡️ BYG2 (OneUI7)#Samsung #OneUI8 #GalaxyS24 #GalaxyS24fe pic.twitter.com/H2csnVBbA9October 17, 2025

No major user complaints (for now)

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

It is surprising that users who have already installed the update have not reported major bugs or widespread issues. That makes this sudden halt even more surprising, as it seems Samsung’s decision was preemptive rather than reactive. The company might be dealing with a subtle underlying glitch or a problem that only appears under certain regional configurations or carrier settings.

Interestingly, the suspension appears to affect only the Korean market for now. The One UI 8 update remains available in other regions, at least as of this writing, and it's unclear whether the rollback could expand to other regions.

Still, the delay might hint that Samsung is rechecking its regional firmware builds before pushing them further. It’s also worth noting that the One UI 8 rollout for the Galaxy S22 series in Korea still hasn’t resumed.

For now, S24 owners in Korea who already installed One UI 8 can continue using it without problems, but those who haven’t yet updated are stuck waiting for Samsung’s next move.

The company hasn’t made any public statement about the reason behind the halt, but given its recent pattern, it’s likely working on a fixed or patched version of the firmware.

Android 16 finally lands on Samsung's 2024 flagships with One UI 8

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:34:45 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung rolls out One UI 8 update for Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 starting in Korea.
The update is first rolling out in South Korea, with a wider global release expected in the coming days.
One UI 8 adds a 90:10 split-screen ratio, improved Samsung DeX, Now Bar support, and security upgrades.

Just a week after releasing it for the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung has now rolled out the major One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S24 series and all 2024 foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.

According to various posts on Samsung's community forums, the company has begun releasing the stable build in South Korea (via Tarun Vats on X). The update is reportedly only available for users who were on the beta build for now, but it seems like other stable users should be getting the same update soon. The update is about 400MB for beta testers, while the stable release is expected to be closer to 4GB.

There's no word on the release of One UI 8 for these phones in other regions, including the U.S., Europe or other parts of Asia, but considering Samsung has started releasing the update in its home country, the wait shouldn't be too long. You can expect a wider release in the next few days.

Not available in the U.S. or Europe just yet

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Samsung was late in delivering Android 15 (One UI 7) earlier this year, but with One UI 8, the company has turned things around, becoming the first non-Google OEM to release Android 16 for flagship devices. With the latest release, One UI 8 is now available on 11 different Samsung Galaxy models, from Galaxy S24 Ultra to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Beyond upgrading the underlying OS to Android 16, One UI 8 brings several new features. The new features include a 90:10 split-screen ratio that lets you run two apps almost full screen side by side and switch between them quickly.

Samsung DeX has also been improved, which is now based on Android 16's Desktop Mode, offering immersive full-screen windows. Additional upgrades include better support for Now Bar apps and various security enhancements.

For now, the One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6 is limited to South Korea, but Samsung should be rolling it out in other markets soon. We'll keep you updated as and when we know more about a global rollout.

Samsung's One UI 8 Beta Program appears for the Galaxy S24, older foldables overseas

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:15:00 +0000

What you need to know

An X tipster reports spotting the One UI 8 Beta Program in the U.K. and South Korea for the Galaxy S24, Flip 6, and Fold 6.
The patch appears to be roughly 3GB and includes the recent August security patch for the devices.
Users trying to get into the program in India have reported difficulties, potentially indicating Samsung ongoing preparations.
Samsung confirmed that even more past-gen models will see One UI 8 testing, like the Galaxy S23, in September.

Several of Samsung's past-gen Galaxy devices are picking up its promised Android 16 beta in two countries.

Earlier today (Aug 13), Tarun Vats on X posted a heads-up about the Galaxy S24 receiving the One UI 8 (Android 16) beta in the U.K. (via GSMArena). Vats spotted build numbers for the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra in the region, marking the start of their beta program. Samsung's official changelog appearing on devices states U.K. users will find a ~3GB download size for One UI 8.

Moreover, the changelog informs users that only the unlocked version of the S24 models is eligible for this test. The August 1 security patch is also rolling in for users who're signing up for the beta program in the U.K.

A separate X post states the One UI 8 beta is starting in South Korea for the Galaxy S24 series, as well as the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Fold 6. While the program's appearance in these two countries indicates its slow rollout around the world, some users are reporting a curious occurrence in India. Some users seeking out the beta program in India report a banner that says "recruitment closed." It's left many users on X bewildered as to what's going on.

Perhaps this will be rectified as the week winds down. We should also see the beta program begin in the U.S. soon, too.

A One UI 8 Adventure

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung confirmed the One UI 8 Beta Program would go live for the S24 series, alongside its Flip 6 and Fold 6, this week. The only issue is that the beta's appearance is seemingly two days late, as Samsung originally proposed an August 11 start. Regardless, the Korean OEM confirmed the program's initiation in India and the U.S., the U.K., and South Korea. We've seen reports for two out of four so far; now we just need to wait for the rest.

In September, Samsung teased even more devices would hop aboard the One UI 8 testing train, such as the Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, Tab S10 series, and other mid-range models.

At the end of July, One UI 8's fourth beta rolled out for the Galaxy S25. We're hoping that we're on the final stretch of this beta program for the latest flagship model, as Samsung hauled in a bunch of fixes for the trio. The company already has its Good Lock ecosystem in order for One UI 8, further signaling the software's (hopeful) impending release, now that we've moved into August.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Heads up, Galaxy users: One UI 8 Beta arrives for more devices next week

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 20:24:31 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung announced today (Aug. 5) that it will be expanding its One UI 8 Beta to more devices.
The beta program will start rolling out on August 11, and will be available for Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6 in India, Korea, the U.K. and the U.S.
In Sept, the Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, Tab S10 series, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A35 5G will be eligible get the new software beta.
Samsung also hinted at expanding its One UI 8 beyond the new Galaxy Watch 8 series "later this year."

Samsung is finally expanding its One UI 8 beta's reach to more devices later this month. According to the company's announcement earlier today, the rollout will begin with the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and Z Fold 6 on Aug.11.

With the One UI 8, users can expect to see advanced multimodal capabilities, intuitive AI experiences right at their fingertips to eligible devices in the U.S., U.K., Korea and India.

While some devices are just receiving their first beta, the Galaxy S25 series has already reached its fourth beta of One UI 8. This comes as Samsung's latest foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 , Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE, have launched with a stable version of One UI 8, which may cause other Galaxy owners to feel a sense of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

However, this feeling of missing out seems to be short-lived as Samsung further states in its blog post that it will continue to expand the software to older Galaxy phones as well. " The beta program is planned for roll out to even more devices in the following month, including Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, Tab S10 series, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A35 5G," the announcement added.

One UI 8 beta brings with it much-needed tweaks to existing apps and integrates more of Galaxy AI into the device. It also adds new features to Samsung's core apps, including Samsung Health, Reminders, Routines, Internet, Calendar, Contacts, and more, making multitasking on the phone a breeze.

The update also brings a refreshed Quick Share UI that makes it easier to send and receive files, additional accessibility options for users with sight and hearing impairments, plus fixes to UI elements like Auracast.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Furthermore, Samsung adds that while beta versions of One UI 8 continue to roll out to its phones, the stable version of One UI 8 will be released for more Galaxy devices beyond the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 starting in September.

Finally, Galaxy Watch users can also breathe a sigh of relief as the Korean OEM confirmed that One UI 8 Watch will expand its availability to more watch models beyond the Galaxy Watch 8 series later this year. "This update will deliver motivational health features and a more refined, intuitive interface to an even broader range of Galaxy users," the blog post stated.

That said, it is important to note that the Beta version of the software will only be available for users who've signed up for the beta program via the Samsung Members app.

One UI 8 Beta could show up on more Galaxy devices soon, leak claims

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 22:22:54 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 8 Beta could be coming to older Samsung models like the Galaxy S23 and S24 series.
According to noted tipster Tarun Vats on X, Samsung could be releasing the One UI 8 beta update for these devices sometime later this month and in early July.
However, the tipster states that these timelines aren't set in stone and are subject to change, based on the company.

One UI 8 Beta just dropped on the Samsung Galaxy S25 series last week, and we're now hearing some chatter that older Galaxy devices will also be receiving the update.

Prominent tipster Tarun Vats posted on X, stating that he is "hearing from sources that Samsung might roll out the One UI 8 beta" for Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 devices. Vats claims that the Galaxy S24 series will get the new One UI 8 Beta as early as the end of this month, while the Galaxy S23 users may have to wait until mid-July for the update to show up.

Great news for Galaxy S24/S23!Hearing from sources that Samsung might roll out the One UI 8 beta for:* Galaxy S24 – End of June/Early July* Galaxy S23 – Early to mid-JulyAs always, take it with a grain of salt—Samsung's timelines love to surprise us! pic.twitter.com/BHnnNXKQJIJune 2, 2025

He also mentioned that these timelines are subject to change as the company may be fine-tuning the update for the said devices. Additionally, Samsung's "surprise" decisions regarding the early release or last-minute delay of updates could also affect these schedules.

That said, with the One UI 8 Beta drop, Samsung did confirm in a lengthy blog post that its next set of foldables will come with the new stable version of One UI 8 out of the box, running on Google's Android 16.

It kicked off the rollout for One UI 8 for Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, which shipped with One UI 7 out of the box earlier this year. One UI 8 brings all of Android 16's perks to the Galaxy S25 for the first time, and beta-enrolled users try out new features before they're publicly released.

Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central

To start, Samsung's AI Select tool is now faster than ever. According to Android Central's Nick Sutrich in his One UI 8 beta hands-on, it takes approximately 2.2 seconds to look something up.

One UI 8 also takes multitasking to the next level, introducing a 90:10 feature that allows you to resize a split window down to 10% of its normal size. This feature helps users switch between two apps with a single tap, without feeling like the app is squished up when the screen is split. Samsung's Weather app, Reminder, Health, and Auracast also receive major updates with this new release.

Considering the rollout of the new Beta has just begun, we can expect Samsung to gradually announce more beta versions and compatibility for additional devices. But as of now, there has been no official announcement about the extended rollout to older devices.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung Galaxy S24, features Galaxy AI for smarter communication and enhanced productivity. Captures stunning photos and videos with its advanced camera system, and enjoy vibrant visuals on its dynamic AMOLED 2X display. All packed into a sleek, durable design with impressive battery life.

Samsung's One UI 7 could be causing battery woes for some

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Fri, 02 May 2025 21:19:55 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 7 update is causing significant battery drain for Samsung Galaxy S24 and Z Fold 6 users.
Users are experiencing rapid battery drain even during periods when the phone is not in use, requiring frequent charging.
Some workarounds include clearing cache or waiting a week for usage pattern learning.

Several people have taken to Samsung forums and Reddit to report significant battery drain issues that are supposedly triggered by the new One UI 7 update. This has been seen specifically by Samsung Galaxy S24 series owners as well as some with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (first spotted by Android Police).

One UI 7 started rolling out more widely over the past couple of days after several delays and even a brief pause of the rollout by the company due to a 'serious bug.' However, the problems don't seem to end with this UI.

A Galaxy Fold 6 user on Reddit said that their battery capacity was basically cut by half following the One UI 7 update: "I now end the day with just 20%-25% battery, down from 45-50% before upgrading," they said.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The story remains the same with some Galaxy S24 Ultra users as well. They saw a huge drop in battery life since installing One UI 7. They stated that they lost close to 20% battery while the phone wasn't in use in less than three hours. Additionally, they're having to plug their phones in for charging more often than not.

While Samsung hasn't mentioned any such issues with the OS, some users suggest that clearing up cache could help the sitution, while others say that it is common for phones to act out during the first few days of the update. This could be because the device is leaning the user's usage pattern following the upgrade to One UI 7.

So the suggestion is to give your phone at least a week to settle in, before looking for ways to fix the battery issue. That said, if all else fails and you've passed the seven day mark, other users suggest factory resetting the device. While this sounds like a harsh workaround, it seems to have done the trick for many.

Android Central has reached out to Samsung about this and will update the article once we have more information.

Samsung joins in, sues the Indian government over its e-waste pricing policy

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:36:31 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung and LG have joined the bandwagon in suing/arguing India's new "floor pricing" policy for companies looking to recycle e-waste.
Court documents show India wants to introduce a "minimum payment" of 22 rupees (~25 cents U.S.) per kilogram.
Samsung states this change would be roughly "5-15 times the price currently paid."

Samsung is reportedly drawing attention to a policy change overseas regarding a wide range of e-waste.

Specifically, Reuters states Samsung is joined by LG are suing/arguing India's newly refined pricing policy behind big companies attempting to recycle their technology (via SamMobile). India is reportedly demanding "higher payouts" for companies looking to take care of e-waste responsibly.

For India's reasoning, the publication cites a statement from its court filings (not public), which says, "only 43% of the country's e-waste last year was recycled and at least 80% of the sector comprises informal scrap dealers." To rectify this, New Delhi proposes a "minimum payment" of 22 rupees (~25 cents U.S.) per kilogram to recycle consumer appliance waste.

This is what the country is calling a "fixed floor payment;" however, tech companies like Samsung and LG argue that this will benefit the recyclers more than solving the true issue.

While Samsung reportedly stated the proposed pricing plan was "5-15 times the price currently paid," others suggest India's pricing change could "triple" expenses for recycling e-waste. Meanwhile, the publication cites an LG statement that says "fleecing companies and taxing them" won't help India achieve its goal.

A Focus on E-Waste

(Image credit: Android Central)

E-waste is a hot topic for companies in places all over the world, especially where the market is huge. Take the EU, for example, which mandated that all smartphone batteries should be removable/replaceable by the consumer by 2027. The European Council adopted a new rule across the region in mid-2023, stating OEMs must shift toward this new mentality to improve the amount of battery waste.

The region also ruled that producers should seek to collect 63% of portable battery waste by 2027. Moreover, the collection of lithium portable battery waste should hit 80% by 2031.

Of course, consumers can do their part to recycle their old devices or ones that may have broken. More often than not, folks in the U.S. can take their rundown devices to stores like Best Buy or Home Depot and have them recycle the items appropriately. It's worth noting that not everyone will have the same options available, so you might have to do a little research.

A rule of thumb would be to ask any place that sells devices about potential recycling spots.

The Galaxy S24 FE has crashed back to its Black Friday price — but is the 'flagship killer' still worth it?

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:18:27 +0000

Samsung fans, rejoice: the Galaxy S24 FE just scored its biggest discount since Black Friday. Head to Amazon right now and you'll get a straight $150 carved off the "Fan Edition" device, a deal that knocks the price down to a quite-reasonable $499.99 (or $559.99 if you go with the 256GB configuration).

But even with a sweet Amazon deal in tow, you might be wondering if the 2024 smartphone is still worth it at this price range. After all, the Android landscape is overflowing with midrange options at the moment, and choosing the right cheap Android phone for you might seem easier said than done. Needless to say, I've had hands-on experience with all of the best devices on the market, so let's break it down to see if the S24 FE is going to meet your needs.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE 128GB: ~~$649.99~~ $499.99 at Amazon

Head to Amazon today and you can score a whopping $150 off the Galaxy S24 FE, knocking the price of the unlocked Samsung phone down to $499.99 (or $559.99 if you opt for the 256GB version). There's also up to $785 of Amazon credit up for grabs if you trade in an old or broken device through the retailer. View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want flagship-level specs in an affordable package; you're looking for a phone with great cameras, long software support, and Galaxy AI features.

❌Skip this deal if: you'd prefer using a Pixel, Motorola, or OnePlus device; you need the best battery life in a phone.

Don't get me wrong, the Galaxy S24 FE is a great smartphone, coming complete with snappy Exynos-powered performance, a spacious 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and seven years of OS upgrades guaranteed. You also get 8GB of RAM, some pretty decent cameras, and all of the latest Galaxy AI features.

The only problem is that the phone now faces some stiff competition in the form of devices like the Google Pixel 9a and the OnePlus 13R. So which of these midrange beauties is the best choice?

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Starting at $499.99, Google's latest midrange masterpiece boasts better battery life than the S24 FE — and it ships with Android 15 — but the "Fan Edition" Samsung device is otherwise a better and more powerful phone. Without any discounts, choosing between the S24 FE vs the Pixel 9a would be a pretty tough decision, but thanks to this price drop, the S24 FE is a no-brainer.

Things get a little more complicated when you compare the S24 FE with the OnePlus 13R, however, namely because the latter phone features a better display, battery life, and 256GB of base storage. It's also not too difficult to find a deal that knocks the OnePlus 13R to $499.99. With that being said, I still give the Galaxy S24 FE the edge, but that's only because the Samsung phone gives you seven years of OS and security upgrades straight out of the box, which means you could be enjoying the "Fan Edition" experience for many years to come.

Samsung's exclusive camera feature on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is restoring Coral Reefs

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:06:33 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung's initiative "Coral in Focus" has been helping marine researchers restore coral reefs in in Fiji, Indonesia, and the United States.
The company developed an exclusive camera feature called "Ocean Mode" on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which improves images captured underwater.
This mode reduces blue tones in pictures, providing more vivid photos of coral reefs, while incorporating other tools like optimized shutter speed and multi-frame image processing
In collaboration with Seatrees, a non-profit, a total of 11,046 coral fragments were planted to restore 10,705 square meters of coral reef habitat.

Samsung has been working with marine researchers across three regions, helping them restore and study coral reefs for the past year, as a part of its initiative "Coral in Focus." It partnered with Seatrees, a nonprofit organization that has been working on identifying new ways to restore coral ecosystems.

In a detailed post, the company revealed that scientists have been using Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's "Ocean Mode" instead of bulky underwater camera equipment to capture vivid pictures of coral reefs in Fiji, Indonesia, and the United States.

This camera feature, exclusively developed for the coral reef project, significantly reduces blue tones in pictures, which are prominent in underwater photography. Additionally, this feature also minimizes the blurring of images during movement, "optimized by shutter speed and multi-frame image processing." Potentially reducing the challenges that people face when capturing images underwater.

(Image credit: Samsung)

The Ocean Mode also helps with capturing multiple shots at a pre-set time interval, instead of having the user manually press the shutter button each time they want to click an image, which could turn out to be very tedious when underwater.

This mode allows the user to pre-set the time, the number of images that need to be captured, and all they have to do is click on the shutter button once. The phone will then click a series of images that are essential for researchers when creating accurate 3D models of these reefs.

It's important to note that this feature isn't available on the standard Galaxy S24 Ultra devices on the market.

(Image credit: Samsung)

This has helped marine researchers produce "seventeen 3D models of coral reefs to analyze the health and growth of reefs." And a total of 11,046 coral fragments were planted to restore 10,705 square meters of coral reef habitat, which is roughly the size of 25 basketball courts, Samsung added.

This automated photography approach not only saves time but also ensures that each shot delivers accurate images of these coral reefs, contributing to effective analysis of these tiny aquatic animals.

This project is a part of Samsung's broader "Galaxy for the Planet" initiative that was started in 2021. Samsung has also been recycling discarded fishing nets and incorporating the material into its smartphones since the Galaxy S22 series.

Samsung's refurbished Galaxy S24 units are a bad deal, buy these instead

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:17:17 +0000

Samsung is beginning to sell refurbished Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra models through its Certified Re-newed program at a discount — but the savings aren't enough to offer a compelling value. In many cases, savvy shoppers can buy new Samsung Galaxy S24 series phones at prices lower than what Samsung is offering with its refurbished devices.

We've done the hard work for you, finding the best deals that put Samsung's Certified Re-newed offers to shame.

What are the perks of going with a Samsung refurbished unit?

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

There are certainly advantages to buying a Galaxy phone through the Certified Re-newed program. For starters, all refurbished Galaxy devices sold by Samsung get a brand-new OEM battery, which is more than most third-party refurbishers offer.

You also get "the same one-year limited warranty offered on new smartphones," according to the company. While some other renewed devices might claim to offer warranties for their products, only ones sold by reputable brands — like Samsung and Best Buy — can truly be trusted. Even Amazon's Renewed program merely offers a 90-day blanket return policy, but nothing thereafter.

For added protection, you can purchase the Samsung Care Plus plan with the optional Theft & Loss add-on, which is available for new Galaxy devices but not third-party refurbished ones.

Is that enough to sway you toward a refurbished Galaxy S24 from Samsung. Maybe, but the prices will probably leave a sour taste in your mouth:

Samsung Galaxy S24, Black, 128GB: $620 ($799 MRSP)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, Black, 256GB: $800 ($999 MSRP)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, Black, 256GB: $1,020 ($1,299 MSRP)

Those prices would be passable if the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup was still new, but it isn't. The Galaxy S25 series is here, and it has taken over. So, if you buy a phone through Samsung's Certified Re-newed program, you're getting a year-old phone and one that's been refurbished for only a slight discount.

Oh, and you can buy new Galaxy S24 phones for cheaper

The egregious part of Samsung's refurbished pricing model is that you can purchase brand-new Galaxy S24 units for cheaper than the Certified Re-newed units.

If you do want a refurbished device, you can save even more by going with a third-party program like Amazon Renewed or Best Buy Geek Squad Refurbished. We've already pointed out the potential downsides of going with a third-party refurbisher, but both Amazon and Best Buy offer free returns. If anything is awry, you can always play it safe and return the refurbished device for a full refund.

But again, the key thing to remember is that you don't have to go with a refurbished device to save. We found a brand-new Galaxy S24 Ultra on Amazon for just $880 and it's unlocked. That's $140 less than Samsung's Certified Re-newed Galaxy S24 Ultra and about $420 less than the device at MSRP.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB): ~~$1,299.99~~ $880.00 at Amazon

Compared to the cost of a refurbished unit from Samsung, this Galaxy S24 Ultra deal is a steal. If you want to save even more, you can pick up an Amazon Renewed version of the Galaxy S24 Ultra for just $759.00.View Deal

The same trend continues when we look at the Galaxy S24 Plus, the midsize variant of the Galaxy S24 lineup. You can get the international model of the Galaxy S24 Plus in brand new condition for $730 on Amazon, which is $70 less than the Samsung refurbished price and nearly $300 under MSRP. If you want the U.S. model, Walmart has it for just $720.

Why would you buy the refurbished model when you can get a new one for less money?

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: ~~$999.99~~ $730.00 at Amazon

If you're craving a midsize Galaxy S24 model, you can grab a new Galaxy S24 Plus on Amazon for $70 less than Samsung's refurbished option. You have plenty of choices, too: Walmart has a Galaxy S24 Plus for $720 and Amazon has renewed phones as low as $529.View Deal

Finally, the smallest Galaxy S24 costs $620 refurbished from Samsung and only $557 on Amazon. That's merely $63 in savings, but remember you're getting a new device and saving a few bucks by avoiding the Samsung Certified Re-newed program and using Amazon instead.

Samsung Galaxy S24 (128GB): ~~$799.99~~ $557.00 at Amazon

Amazon undercuts the Samsung’s refurbished pricing for the base-model Galaxy S24, too. It’s available for less than $600, unlocked and brand new. If you can live with an Amazon Renewed device, there are Galaxy S24 models as low as $415.View Deal

There are plenty of reasons you might want to be part of the Samsung Certified Re-newed program — the biggest of them being that you help save the planet by reducing e-waste. However, Samsung made buying refurbished a tough decision by setting Galaxy S24 prices way too high. For reference, they're higher than the Galaxy S23 refurbished prices announced on the same date last year by between $30 and $100.

So, if you're intrigued by the refurbished Galaxy S24 models, consider grabbing a new model from a third-party retailer instead. Or, if you're dead-set on getting a new battery, one-year limited warranty, and Samsung Care Plus overage, perhaps the Galaxy S25 series is a better value for only a few hundred dollars more.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Galaxy S24 series gets Certified Re-Newed with a price drop and Samsung Care Plus

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:00:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung announces its Galaxy S24 series has entered the Certified Re-newed lineup.
This delivers a completely refurbished phone with 100% authentic parts from Samsung and a one-year limited warranty like its new Galaxy phones.
Consumers can grab Samsung Care Plus and its Theft & Loss add-on to protect their re-newed phones further.
Those interested in the Galaxy S24 Ultra can grab its 512GB at a reduced $1,139.99 price.

As you might've expected, Samsung is updating its Certified Re-newed selection of Galaxy phones with a familiar trio.

The company announced today (Apr. 22) in a press release that the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra are available via its Certified Re-newed lineup. With availability beginning today, as well, Samsung states consumers will be granted "the same one-year limited warranty offered on new smartphones." Additionally, consumers can grab Samsung Care Plus alongside the Theft & Loss add-on, if they'd like.

On the other side, the Korean OEM reiterates the hallmarks of its Certified Re-newed lineup. Like all others, the Galaxy S24 series has been given 100% authentic parts with a brand-new battery, too.

The post highlights some major features the Galaxy S24 series offers, like Galaxy AI. We're all aware of Samsung's intense focus on creating the "AI Phone," and its past-gen series is no different. The Galaxy S24 delivers Photo Assist for "next-level" photo edits and Note Assist, which summarizes content for users in neat bullet points. Of course, there are others brought on by Google, like Circle to Search.

Meanwhile, Samsung Wallet is there for Certified Re-newed Galaxy S24 users for a one-stop shop full of your important cards and IDs.

So fresh, so clean

(Image credit: Samsung)

The Certified Re-newed Galaxy S24 series is available today (Apr. 22) for consumers exclusively on Samsung's website. Specifics for each device are listed below:

Galaxy S24 Ultra Certified Re-Newed comes in Titanium Black, starting at $1,019.99 for the 256GB storage variant, and $1,139.99 for the 512GB option
Galaxy S24+ Certified Re-Newed is available in Onyx Black starting at $799.99 for 256GB and $919.99 for the 512GB option
Galaxy S24 Certified Re-Newed also comes available in Onyx Black, starting at $619.99 for 128GB, and $669.99 for the 256GB option

Also, Samsung is running a trade-in deal regarding its expanded renewed phone lineup. According to the post, consumers can trade-in a device and receive a "minimum of $250 guaranteed value" toward a re-newed S24, S23, or S22 phone. Of course, you may only trade-in a smartphone that "qualifies," which should be detailed via Samsung's official website.

Moreover, the company states this trade-in deal will be present for a "limited time" and while supplies last.

Samsung's One UI 7 rollout returns with a new build for the Galaxy S24

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:30:47 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung's One UI 7 rollout has resumed for the Galaxy S24 in South Korea as of today (April 17).
The continuation features a brand new build after Samsung was forced to suspend One UI 7 shortly after its April 10 debut in the U.S. and Europe.
The major OS upgrade suffered from a "serious bug" that reportedly impact Galaxy S24 users' ability to unlock their phones.

Samsung's Android 15-based OS upgrade is reportedly returning for users in one region today (Apr. 17).

A post on X by Tarun Vats is drawing awareness to One UI 7's rollout restart for the Galaxy S24 series (via SamMobile). Users expecting the update globally may have to wait a while longer (still) as Vats states the build was spotted in South Korea. However, what users should look out for is build vS928NKSU4BYD9 for the Galaxy S24 series whenever it hits your device.

Interestingly, the provided screenshot details the updated One UI 7 build is ~292MB. It's likely the smaller size will impact those who received the massive upgrade before Samsung's pause. The update originally launched with a 5GB download, so this might jump slightly for those who never got it to begin with.

Of course, it's worth keeping your eyes peeled as we finish the week. With One UI 7's resuming in South Korea, it's likely global regions will see it in mid-April next week.

Troublesome Times

Breaking ‼️ Galaxy S24 series One UI 7 rollout resumed with a new build in KoreaBuild Version: S928NKSU4BYD9/S928NOKR4BYD9/S928NKSU4BYD9Rollout will expand to other regions soon. pic.twitter.com/5eeBtN3eCIApril 17, 2025

One UI 7's rollout started on time on April 10 for users in the U.S. and Europe for the Galaxy S24 series. Alongside the past-gen slab phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 were included, similar to how Samsung worked its rollout in Korea. However, Galaxy user excitement dwindled severely once the Korean OEM paused the update following a "serious bug."

Samsung pulled the patch four days later on April 14 after it identified a critical issue with its software. A tipster reported that the bug gave some Galaxy S24 users problems with unlocking their devices. Samsung not only suspended its rollout in the U.S. and Europe, but also in China and Vietnam, to name a couple more.

Samsung then informed Android Central it's been forced to update its One UI 7 rollout schedule to better reflect the times.

Speaking of, one person on Reddit seems to have discovered what this new schedule could be, following a supposed Samsung Members app notification. The alert reportedly states One UI 7 should be available for the Galaxy S24, Flip 6, and Fold 6 in April. A few other older devices could begin seeing it in May.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

This hidden Galaxy S24 FE feature needs to be on all Samsung phones

Nicholas Sutrich — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:27:31 +0000

Android Central Labs

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central Labs is a weekly column devoted to deep dives, experiments, and a focused look into the tech you use. It covers phones, tablets, and everything in between.

I'm a little late in the game, but I finally got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in late March so I could do some additional testing. I enjoy camera deep dives and display analysis for Android Central Labs, and while I fully expected this to be a run-of-the-mill Samsung release, the display really surprised me.

But it's not the color accuracy or some other "normal" display metric that impressed me. It's the High Brightness Mode (HBM). This special mode exists on all modern phones and typically turns on when the automatic brightness sensor detects something as bright as sunlight. But the Galaxy S24 FE's does something different from every other Samsung phone I've tested: it switches to DC dimming, unlocking the full brightness potential of the display.

Typically, all Samsung Galaxy phones with AMOLED screens use PWM dimming at all brightness levels, withholding the display's true maximum brightness level. Not only that, but PWM dimming makes people like me feel awful within just a few minutes, hurting my eyes and giving me a headache. That gives the S24 FE's HBM a unique advantage that other Samsung phones don't have, and it makes me wonder why Samsung doesn't use it more often.

Forcing high brightness mode

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

My normal display testing procedure involves a light meter to determine brightness levels and flickering potential, a microscope to see the subpixel arrangement and if the display dithers, and a flashlight to force High Brightness Mode so I can separately measure how a display behaves in the sun.

It was during this flashlight test — where I turn on the torch on a smartphone and hold it near the top of the display — where I found the S24 FE's special mode kick in. Theoretically, we could make Samsung flagships more eye-friendly by forcing High Brightness Mode on all the time and then using a screen dimmer app to reduce the brightness a different way, but we have to figure out how to force HBM all the time in the first place.

I checked all my usual sources on Reddit, Telegram, and even among other groups of tech journalists and no one seemed to know how other than what I had already done. It's not exactly viable to walk around holding a flashlight up to your phone, so there had to be another way.

High Brightness Mode is something that only kicks in when a bright light source (like the sun) is shining on the display.

Searching the Google Play Store for apps that do the job returns lots of results. I spent money on several apps but none of them worked. Google has changed a lot on the backend of Android in recent years and system-level functions like HBM aren't typically accessible to apps without root access, so this was a dead-end.

So I turned to ADB, the command line solution for all your Android modification needs. I dialed down into /sys/class/backlight/panel and found the max_brightness setting I was looking for. You can force HBM on some Android phones by using a command like "echo 1 >> /sys/class/backlight/panel/max_brightness" to change this setting to 1, which means "enabled."

Unfortunately, I got a "permission denied" response, which meant I had to have root access to do this. Rooting a Samsung phone is bad news, as it trips Knox security and requires all kinds of tomfoolery to get things working properly again so, yet again, this was a dead-end.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

High Brightness Mode often doubles the display's peak brightness, unleashing its full potential.

So then I got more desperate. What could possibly trick a sensor into thinking it's in the sun? I tried applying a piece of foil to the screen, but that didn't work. Light sensors are passive acceptors of light, not producers, but I hoped the foil would cause some kind of loop by reflecting the display and causing it to think it was under brighter lighting conditions. Oh well.

Maybe taping an LED to the screen and covering it would work? Sure, this was a potential solution but it not only requires some kind of external power supply for the LED, but it's obviously not a full-time solution as it's both bulky and trashy looking.

No, the only real solution is for Samsung to allow users to enable High Brightness Mode manually, something we'd have to petition en-masse to achieve.

High brightness, full potential

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE's high brightness mode is the only AMOLED-powered Samsung Galaxy phone I have in my posession that switches away from PWM dimming to DC dimming. If you're not familiar with PWM dimming, here's the quick gist.

AMOLED has the ability to quickly turn on and off its pixels, delivering better motion resolution with little to no ghosting, unlike some LCD panels. But AMOLED also has a problem: reducing voltage can sometimes introduce lower color accuracy and random noise patterns. Engineers have cleverly borrowed pulse width modulation (PWM) from other types of electronics — like fans and pumps — which turns the voltage off and on to "regulate" the amount sent to the component.

On the display side, this essentially turns your phone's display into a strobe light. Normally, you can't see this strobing because it's done so quickly. Instead, your eyes perceive the display as brighter or dimmer depending on how long the display stays off during this flickering behavior.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

But while this behavior ensures better color accuracy and smoother details in some circumstances, it also introduces negative health effects and artificially limits the maximum brightness of your phone's display. Flagship Samsung phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra never reach their actual maximum brightness potential because they use PWM dimming at all times, even during high brightness mode.

DC-like dimming doesn't just unlock the display's full brightness potential, it also makes it more eye-friendly for people sensitive to flickering.

You can see this illustrated in the image above. On the left side, you'll see what Samsung calls "100% brightness" with the "extra brightness" option enabled. It's pretty obvious the display isn't actually outputting "100%" brightness as the thick black lines detected with a 1/6400 camera shutter speed show how long the display stays off during the PWM dimming cycle. Clearly, "100%" in this case is an arbitrary number crafted by Samsung rather than the actual maximum output of the display.

The Galaxy S24 FE on the right is using High Brightness Mode, triggered by me holding a flashlight up to the top of the display for a few seconds. This recreates sunlight conditions and kicks the display up to its actual maximum brightness which, based on my measurements, is double the brightness level of "100%" brightness.

During this special high brightness mode, the display stays on most of the time and doesn't use the harsh PWM flickering cycle it typically uses at all other brightness levels. This dimming method is known as "DC-like" dimming on OLEDs because it more closely follows how a traditional lightbulb or LCD dims itself, which is substantially more eye-friendly than the artificial methods Samsung typically employs.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung devices are commonly about being everything to everybody, and it's time Samsung delivers on that promise with its displays.

It's actually quite surprising that Samsung doesn't give users full access to the different brightness modes available, including different dimming options, given the company's penchant for letting users fully customize their phones.

Instead, Samsung continues to limit its displays in bizarre ways. Not only do you only have access to about half the potential brightness of your display — or less on the Ultra models — but you're forced to use harmful low-Hz PWM dimming on most Samsung phones.

Samsung, it's time to give users the full range of choices they want on their displays. That "extra brightness" setting should mean enabling High Brightness Mode, not some arbitrary number you come up with. Users should be allowed to choose the dimming method that works for them, not just the one you decide on an arbitrary basis. Samsung devices are commonly about being everything to everybody, and it's time Samsung delivers on that promise with its displays.

Samsung's One UI 7 launch continues to be messy

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:09 +0000

After months of delays, Samsung finally rolled out the stable One UI 7 update to Galaxy S24 phones globally starting April 7 — only to pause the update just a week later. The latest delay has to do with a bug that prevented Galaxy S24 users from unlocking their phones. While it looks like the issue was predominantly affecting units in Samsung's home market, the manufacturer paused the global rollout just to be on the safe side.

It's frustrating that Samsung is continuing to run into issues on the stable One UI 7 build, considering the brand ran a lengthy four-month beta testing program that was meant to iron out these problems. I understand the need to be cautious with these things — particularly if it affects something as basic as unlocking a phone — but Samsung should have done a better job addressing these issues well before it got to the stable release.

I reached out to Samsung for a statement regarding the delay, and the brand noted that the "rollout schedule is being updated to ensure the best possible experience." In typical Samsung fashion, it didn't answer what caused the delay, when the update might start going out to phones again, and what it is doing to prevent any additional roadblocks.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Thankfully, there are no issues on devices where One UI 7 comes pre-installed. The Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and A56 debuted with the Android 15-based build, and having used the software on the A56 extensively, I didn't run into any bugs or crashes. It's clear that all the lingering issues have to do with upgrading phones running One UI 6 and older to the latest iteration of the software.

As to why that's the case, Samsung made considerable changes to One UI 7; as I outlined in my review, the update is packed with new features, including a cleaner visual design, vertical app drawer, split notification pane, overhauled camera interface, better image and video editing features, changes to battery management, security updates, and a suite of new AI additions.

While Samsung used a point release last year to integrate some of these changes — debuting One UI 6.1.1 down the line — it is bundling all the new features into a single release with One UI 7, and that may have also contributed to the extended beta testing program and incessant delays with the stable rollout.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Samsung wouldn't confirm when it would resume rolling out One UI 7 to Galaxy S24 devices globally, nor would it say when users in India might receive the update. While the update started going out to phones in South Korea, U.S., U.K., and select western markets, Samsung India didn't even announce plans to deliver One UI 7 to customers using its flagships in the country yet.

In a similar vein, there's no telling when Samsung's older mid-range phones might get the update — with global Galaxy S24 units and Z Fold 6 yet to make the switch, it will be a considerable wait before Samsung's 2024 and older devices make the move to One UI 7. While I like the update as such, the constant delays and bugs is reminiscent of the OxygenOS 12 debacle — albeit with greater consequences.

Stable One UI 7 finally rolls out for Samsung Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 models

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:19:01 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has begun the stable One UI 7 rollout for Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 users who are using beta and non-beta versions of the operating system.
The update weighs around 5.2GB and includes new features, improvements, and Galaxy AI innovations, along with the latest April security patch.
Older models like the Galaxy S22 series, Galaxy Z Fold 4/Flip 4/3, S24 FE, and S23 FE, are expected to receive the update next month.

'Tis One UI 7 rollout day (Apr 7)! Samsung has kept its promise and begun rolling out the stable build for Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 users in Korea and other regions.

According to Tarun Vats via his X post, Samsung has released the stable One UI 7 for Galaxy S24 users first, who were already on the beta version in Korea. These are supposedly the build numbers for the trio-bearing F956NKSU2BYCK/ F956NOKR2BYCK/ F956NKSU2BYCG versions. Similarly, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 users in the Korean region have also started getting the stable release.

Breaking!Galaxy S24 Series: Samsung releases the stable One UI 7 update for beta users in Korea.Build Version: S928NKSU4BYCG/S928NOKR4BYCG/S928NKSU4BYCGRepost pic.twitter.com/k4RAzwthXBApril 7, 2025

The rollout seems to have quickly reached non-beta users too who are using the Galaxy S24 series with the S928NKSU4BYCG/ S928NOKR4BYCG/ S928NKSU4BYCG build numbers. Non-beta users on Galaxy Z Flip 6 in the same region have also received the stable One UI 7 update.

It is the much-anticipated Android 15-based One UI 7 update, which seems to be a sizable one as it is around 5.2GB and also contains the latest April security patch. Although Samsung started releasing beta versions of One UI 7 for the Galaxy S24 series and the aforementioned foldables last year, the stable release has been delayed when compared to the previous iterations’ rollout.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The One UI 7 is a notable upgrade as it brings tons of new features, improvements, and more Galaxy AI innovation. The Galaxy S24 series was promised with seven years of OS upgrades, and this stable marks as the first one as they shipped with One UI 6 when launched last year.

While the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 are the first ones to get the stable One UI 7 starting in Korea, the predecessor models, including the S24 FE, are expected to be receiving it within the same month.

Korea: One UI 7 Rollout Schedule ‼️🧵We can expect similar timelines for other regions, too April:Z Fold5, Z Flip5, Tab S10+/Ultra, S23 series, S24 FEMay:Z Fold4/Flip4/3, S23 FE, A34, A35, S22/S21 series, Tab S9/S8 series, A16, Quantum4Repost pic.twitter.com/Un4W0xRWVCApril 7, 2025

Further, Vats has also managed to get what seems to be the official rollout schedule of One UI 7, which further reveals other Galaxy devices on when to expect the stable rollout. These include the Galaxy Z Fold 4/ Flip 4/ 3, S23 FE, A34, A35, S22/ S21 series, Tab S9/S8 series, A16 — all are tailored to get the stable One UI 7 release next month.

As the stable One UI 7 rollout has begun in the Korean region we expect it to be a broader rollout across regions this week. However, users in the U.S. are expected to start getting the update starting April 10, as promised before.

Older Samsung Galaxy phones and foldables could get One UI 7's Now Brief

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:36:53 +0000

What you need to know

A tipster claims there's evidence in the Galaxy S24's One UI 7 beta code that points towards the possibility of Now Brief support.
Nothing works; however, the tipster was able to discover the Now Brief's official page and app options.
A Samsung exec recently stated that not every major AI feature in One UI 7 will hit older devices due to hardware limitations.

Amidst the One UI 7 anticipation, it seems a few of Samsung's older devices could receive a Galaxy S25 feature.

There's a chance Samsung could drop a version of One UI 7's Now Brief on one of its past-gen Galaxy series, at least according to Mehmet Kaya on X (via SamMobile). The rumor started after the tipster allegedly discovered the feature while searching "Activity Launcher" in the latest OS beta. The tipster states searching for Now Brief will bring up its respective page full of feature details, as well as its list of supported Samsung apps.

However, they add that users won't see it in action during the beta. In their thread, the tipster states Samsung has "disabled it," which could indicate more work is required before it can be seen.

Another user, That Josh Guy, chimed in, stating these whispers of Now Brief for the Galaxy S24 appeared in One UI 7 Beta 4. The user states the small "traces of code" don't give a live example but only hint at its base functions and pages where users can customize it or update it. Their post states they had to go "root level deep" to even access the core of the function, which seemingly indicates the ability for the Galaxy S24 to run Now Brief.

It's not clear if Samsung plans to bring the Now Brief to the past-gen series when One UI 7 launches or

Breaking. Now brief feature is available in s24 series. Oneui 7 beta 6 is also hidden but I've uncovered with activity launcher.@tarunvats33 @SamMobiles @theonecid @UniverseIce pic.twitter.com/uvLoHZOJAuMarch 31, 2025

Interestingly, the publication notes that the same code was discovered in the One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6.

This discovery leads us back to a recent interview with Samsung's EVP and head of Framework R&D, Sally. During the discussion, Sally highlighted that not every One UI 7 feature will arrive for Samsung's past-gen devices. They stated major on-device processes, like the Personal Data Engine, are extremely reliant on the phone's or tablet's available hardware. As such, the engine requires Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite to operate.

Sally added that more affordable phones will likely miss out on the bulk of One UI 7's major AI features since the available hardware isn't strong enough. One question that remained was whether or not the Now Bar/Now Brief would arrive on older phones. Nothing is confirmed, but evidence of the feature could indicate that this specific feature isn't so hardware-reliant.

Either way, Samsung confirmed One UI 7 will arrive on April 10 in the U.S. However, its fully detailed rollout schedule was discovered on its Czech Republic website, potentially giving us an idea of what to expect.

Quick! Grab over $100 OFF the Galaxy S24 FE before Amazon's Spring Sale ends

zacharydvisconti@gmail.com (Zachary David) — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:55:04 +0000

The latest in Samsung phone deals is here just as spring arrives. For this year's Amazon Big Spring Sale, the retailer has sprung a 16% discount on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, offering $100 in savings on this phone that's typically a little pricey for what you get.

This particular deal is for the 128GB configuration, and the latest Samsung FE phone sports a large 6.7-inch SuperAMOLED display that users love. It also features a 50MP rear camera and 10MP front camera, 8GB of RAM, and the classic Galaxy ecosystem that buyers have come to love.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (128GB): ~~$649.99~~ $547.99 for Amazon's Big Spring Sale

The Amazon Big Spring Sale is here with all the best deals of the season, including over $100 off for the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. Most of all, we like this generation's "Fan Edition" phone for the slightly upgraded 6.7-inch SuperAMOLED screen, as well as a boost in battery life from the previous generation. Plus, get access to a wide range of Galaxy AI features and compatibility with other Galaxy devices.View Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale ends March 31st: see the best deals

✅Recommended if: you're looking for a phone with a vibrant AMOLED display; battery life is a major selling-point for you when it comes to phones; you want a phone that comes with the latest AI features, without going with the latest-gen phone.

❌Skip this deal if: you want an even more affordable smartphone than this; you like smaller phones; you'd rather upgrade to the S25, S25 Plus, or S25 Ultra.

Samsung launched the S24 FE last September, featuring a vibrant 6.7-inch SuperAMOLED display, as well as a 4,700mAh battery, both of which were upgrades from the S23 FE. At the time, we said this phone was a little pricey for the offering, but over $100 off might be just the right price point for interested parties. However, the screen features a quick 120Hz refresh rate, while Samsung says battery life can last up to 28 hours of "watching" time, or 81 hours of listening time.

The "Fan Edition" S24 also boasts 8GB of RAM, a 50MP primary rear camera lens, AI features such as Generative Edit, Slow-mo, Portrait Studio, Circle to Search, and more. Additionally, those with other Samsung devices will find user-friendly compatibility, with added Galaxy features such as extended displays, quick file transfers, special lossless listening codecs, and more.

Samsung's sixth One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24 rolls out as launch nears

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:53:18 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is reportedly rolling out One UI 7 Beta 6 to its enrolled Galaxy S24 users.
The update is similar to what arrived for its foldables a the changelog highlights a series of previously teased AI improvements in One UI 7, like Sketch to Image.
Samsung confirmed One UI 7 will start arriving in the U.S. on April 10, but an overseas schedule might hold more clues for users.

It seems Samsung's 2024 flagship phones are in for one more software beta before the big day arrives.

A post by Tarun Vats on X states Samsung is reportedly starting to roll out One UI 7 Beta 6 to enrolled Galaxy S24 devices in its Beta Program (via SamMobile). The patch was brought to the tipster's attention on social media via another user, who claims it's been spotted in India. The latest beta version rocks firmware version ZYCE; however, the publiction states it's also been appearing for phones "globally" in the program.

Interestingly, the changelog is a little familiar. According to Vats' snapshot, the Galaxy S24 series is picking up new One UI 7 features like a "press and hold" function to launch its digital assistant.

There are also several AI-based features arriving on the most recent past-gen series:

Call recording summary converted to text
Create your own stickers and images
Summarize webpages
Edit video sounds
Natural language-based search in Settings

Galaxy S24 receives the One UI 7 beta 6 update in India.Build version: S928BXXU4ZYCE/S928BOXM4ZYCE/S928BXXU4BYCERepost pic.twitter.com/0F8SEykG02March 26, 2025

Samsung is fixing a few bugs on the S24 series regarding its battery animations and UI errors in its media controller.

If these "new features" hitting the S24 series seem familiar, it's because Samsung recently brought the same set to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6's beta. That patch for the foldables was roughly 1.2GB in size. There's a chance users with the S24 series could see a similar size, considering the update's strong similarities. Moreover, the changelog's mention of "editing video sounds" and sticker/image creation points us to Samsung's Audio Eraser and Sketch to Image AI features.

The latter was mentioned during Samsung's teasers earlier this year, where the company said it wanted the feature to be more "multimodal." Users will have the choice of using an S Pen, written descriptions, or their voice with the AI to generate an image.

As previously stated, there's speculation that this could be the final beta the Galaxy S24 sees before Samsung's official debut of One UI 7. With six betas under our belt, the company is preparing to rollout the new sofware upgrade on April 10 in the U.S., three days after it goes global. Something to keep in mind is a rollout schedule for the update that appeared on the company's Czech Republic website.

Users in the region are seemingly receiving the update for the Galaxy S24, Flip 6, and Fold 6 on April 10 — like the U.S., but it's unclear if the remainder of the schedule is what we should expect. It states the Galaxy S24 FE, S23 series, Flip 5, and Fold 5 should receive it "a week later" alongside more important dates for other devices.

One UI 7 arrives on April 10 in the US — three days later than the global release

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 20:34:03 +0000

What you need to know

The One UI 7 update will be available for the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in the U.S. on April 10, the company announced.
The rollout of One UI 7 is already delayed in general when compared to previous versions.
On the other hand, Samsung also announced the fifth One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24 Ultra in the U.S.
The update introduces a new camera feature and fixes issues such as lock screen notification glitches, and Now Bar controller problems, amongst others.

Looks like the wait for One UI 7 for people in the U.S. got longer— by three days.

While we recently learned that One UI 7 is finally arriving on Galaxy phones in the second week of April, users in the U.S., however, have to wait a couple of more days.

In a new One UI 7 announcement post, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Z Flip 6 will be getting the Android 15-based update on April 10. It makes it three days behind the global release, which is slated for April 7.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

While the reason behind the delay is unspecified, it isn’t that alarming as it is just a matter of days — and it still makes the rollout of the One UI 7 within the same week.

Other than the devices mentioned above, older devices like the Galaxy S23 series, S24 FE, S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and tablets like Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S9 series will be receiving the Android 15-based update in the following weeks after the April 7 and April 10 rollouts in the corresponding regions.

Yes, the One UI 7 rollout has been significantly delayed when compared to the previous iteration rollout. While many anticipated that it would be happening alongside the Galaxy S25 series launch back in January, it didn’t happen, and the Korean tech giant continued rolling out the One UI 7 beta updates for the Galaxy S24 models.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Speaking of, the company had recently rolled out its fifth One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24 Ultra in the U.S. — making sure the One UI 7 update rollout hits smoothly when it goes official in April. The latest firmware not only introduces a new camera feature but also fixes notable bugs in the operating system.

The primary fixes include glitches with lock screen notifications, Now Bar controller issues, and font overlaps in the interface amongst others. Alongside the fixes, there are a bunch of improvements as well.

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The Galaxy S24 Ultra's new One UI 7 beta is crushing bugs before its April debut

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:50:32 +0000

What you need to know

The fifth One UI 7 beta just landed in the U.S., pushing the Galaxy S24 Ultra one step closer to its stable Android 15 release in April.
This update smooths out issues like glitchy lock screen notifications, a wonky Nowbar controller, and those tiny, hard-to-see widget icons.
Samsung patched up the Gallery edit button for better reliability and made media playback notifications display in real time.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra in the U.S. just received its fifth One UI 7 beta update, rolling out a few days after Samsung made it official. This update brings the phone one step closer to the stable Android 15 release, which is set to drop in April.

This update brings a fresh camera feature to the table while squashing a bunch of bugs.

Bug fixes and UI tweaks

Highlights include fixing a glitch with lock screen notifications, smoothing out display hiccups with the Nowbar controller, and tackling those annoyingly tiny icons in the widget settings.

On top of that, it cleans up blurry transparency effects, sorts out wonky font and image overlaps, and tightens up the spacing in the quick action menu.

Furthermore, the Gallery’s edit button should now work more consistently, and notification history errors have been patched up.

Samsung has also tweaked media playback notifications, making them show up in real time.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The latest beta isn’t leaving the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus out of the fun—it’s bringing Log video support to these models too. That’s a feature that was exclusive to the S24 Ultra in Beta 4, so now more users can get in on the action.

Log Video, which first debuted with the Galaxy S25 series, lets you shoot videos with a wider dynamic range. This means you’ve got more flexibility to tweak colors and fine-tune your footage during editing.

Samsung has locked in April 7 for the stable One UI 7 rollout. However, U.S. users will have to wait a bit longer because Android 15 will start hitting Galaxy devices in the country on April 10, as per Samsung US.

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: It's a tough choice

roydon.cerejo@gmail.com (Roydon Cerejo) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Google Pixel 9a

Budget AI king

The Google Pixel 9a offers plenty of flagship features at just $500, but it's not the best at everything. It misses out on a telephoto camera, the processor isn't exactly "gaming-grade," and the display doesn't have the strongest protection — three qualities that the S24 FE possess.

Pros

Much bigger battery than S24 FE
Latest Tensor G4 chip as Pixel 9 series
Ships with Android 15, seven years of updates
Lighter than Samsung
IP68 rating
Starts at $500
120Hz pOLED display with higher peak brightness

Cons

Display is not LTPO, older Gorilla Glass 3 protection
No Wi-Fi 7
No telephoto camera
Polycarbonate back

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

For Samsung fans

The Galaxy S24 FE takes an already great phone and injects it with more power in order to support newer Galaxy AI features. It costs a bit more than the 9a, but you get a more potent SoC, telephoto camera, 8K video recording, and a sturdier display.

Pros

Flagship-level specs
Seven years of software support
Snappy performance
Good set of cameras
IP68 rating
Gets discounted often

Cons

Wired charging speed is not great
Smaller battery than 9a
Larger footprint might not be for everyone

Samsung's FE series has been an excellent choice for anyone who wanted a flagship phone, without the flagship pricing. The latest one is the Galaxy S24 FE, which has all the right upgrades we were hoping for but at the wrong price. Now that it has been a few months since it launched, you can find the base model for close to or under $500, which is what it should have cost in the first place. This also makes it a direct competitor to the new Pixel 9a, which also starts at $500.

The Pixel 9a offers most of the features of the more expensive Pixel 9 at a lower price. It's the same thing with the Galaxy S24 FE and the Galaxy S24, but here, the FE offers more value by offering better specs. Confused about the Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE? Let's clear those doubts, shall we?

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Design

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is larger than the Pixel 9a due to the much larger screen, but it is slimmer at just 8mm. Not much could be done about the weight, though, which is 213 grams, so you will feel the heft in your pocket. The Pixel 9a has a more compact size and is quite a bit lighter at 186 grams.

The Pixel 9a comes in Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony (pink), and Iris (purple). The Galaxy S24 FE also has pastel shades of Mint, Blue, Gray, and Graphite.

The Galaxy S24 FE has a more premium build thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on the back and front, while the 9a has Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and polycarbonate on the back. The Pixel 9a also has a very distinctive look, which gives it some freshness. The FE looks like any other Samsung A or S series phone, which is to say, a bit boring.

The Pixel 9a finally gets upgraded to an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, putting it on par with other flagship phones. The Galaxy S24 FE matches this, too, so both have an equal chance of survival when dunked in water.

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Display

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

The Pixel 9a and Galaxy S24 FE have bright and sharp displays, but Samsung's offering is better for viewing media and gaming due to the larger size. The 6.7-inch AMOLED panel has a Full HD+ resolution, a pixel count of well over 300ppi, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of up to 1,900 nits. Having Gorilla Victus Plus glass on the FE is a nice bonus for top-end scratch protection.

The Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch pOLED screen with a similar resolution, adaptable 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness rating of 2,700 nits. The display's scratch protection is pretty out of date, though, with just Gorilla Glass 3. Neither of these phones has LTPO panels, which can vary the refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz to save battery.

The cost-cutting continues with the fingerprint sensors in both models. The Pixel 9a and Galaxy S24 FE use optical fingerprint sensors and not ultrasonic ones.

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Hardware and battery

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

The Pixel 9a is priced at $499 for 128GB and $599 for 256 GB. You get 8GB of RAM across both variants. Samsung's official pricing for the Galaxy S24 FE is still $649.99 and $709.99 for 128GB and 256GB variants if you buy it from Samsung.com. On Amazon, though, certain colors of the S24 FE dip below $500 for the base model, and this phone gets good discounts during sales.

In terms of raw performance, there's no contest, as the Galaxy S24 FE should easily beat the Pixel 9a with its more potent Exynos 2400e SoC. It's essentially the same flagship 2400 chip found in the Galaxy S24 series but with a slightly lower CPU clock speed. The Tensor G4 chip in the Pixel 9a isn't known for its brute strength, but it's more efficient in gaming and AI tasks than before. Samsung is the way to go if you're a gamer or need strong processing power in your phone.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

The Pixel 9a comes back swinging with a much larger battery capacity of 5,100mAh compared to the 4,700mAh in the Galaxy S24 FE. The fact that Google has managed to squeeze this in and keep the weight down is amazing. We've not tested the 9a yet, but we're confident it should last longer than the S24 FE with similar workloads.

Charging speeds are not particularly impressive on either phone. The Pixel 9a can do 23W with Google's 45W charging brick, while Samsung can do 25W. The Galaxy does support quicker wireless charging at 15W with the right charger, versus 7.5W on the 9a.

Specifications
Category	Google Pixel 9a	Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
OS	Android 15 (seven years of updates)	Android 14 (seven years of updates)
Display	6.3-inch Actua pOLED, 2,424 x 1,080 (422 PPI), 60–120Hz, up to 1,800 nits (HDR) or 2,700 nits (peak brightness), Gorilla Glass 3	6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,340 x 1,080 (385 PPI), 120Hz, up to 1,900 nits (peak brightness), Gorilla Glass Victus Plus
Chipset	Tensor G4	Exynos 2400e
RAM	8GB	8GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB
Rear cameras	48MP (ƒ/1.7, 82º FoV, 1/2") main + 13MP ( ƒ/2.2, 120° FoV) ultrawide	50MP (ƒ/1.8, 80º FoV, 1/1.57") main + 13MP ( ƒ/2.2, 123° FoV) ultrawide + 8MP (f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, 1/4.4") telephoto
Front camera	13MP, ƒ/2.2, 96.1º	10MP, ƒ/2.4
Ingress protection	IP68 dust and water resistance	IP68 dust and water resistance
Connectivity	5G bands, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC	5G bands, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
Security	Optical in-screen fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock	Optical in-screen fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Battery & charging	5,100mAh, 23W wired, 7.5W Qi-certified wireless	4,700mAh, 25W wired, 15W Qi-certified wireless
Dimensions	154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm	162 x 77.3 x 8 mm
Weight	185.9g	213g
Colors	Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony, Iris	Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Cameras

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has a much better rear camera setup with a third telephoto camera, something the 9a lacks. There's a 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, a 12MP ultrawide with autofocus for macro shots, and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The latter will probably deliver good results only under good lighting, as it is a small sensor.

The Pixel 9a lacks a telephoto, but we know Google's Super Res Zoom can deliver pretty amazing results even with digital zoom. The 9a has a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide. The Pixel also supports many AI features like Add Me and Reimagine, to name a few. The S24 FE also gets some Galaxy AI features from the S24 series like Instant Slow-Mo. The Galaxy can also shoot in 8K resolution, something that the Pixel 9a can't do.

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Software

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Both phones offer a suite of AI features and equally long software support of seven years, so your choice would ultimately depend on what features you would actually use. The Pixel 9a comes with Android 15, so you're already on the latest version the moment you take it out of the box. Another advantage is that the 9a will always be among the first phones to get the latest flavor of Android and security patches, so you'll be up to date before others.

Samsung has been pretty prompt in issuing updates of late, and we can expect the same for the Galaxy S24 FE. There are plenty of Galaxy AI features to explore here, too, like Photo Assist, Circle To Search, Sketch To Image, Live Translate, and Interpreter. One UI also offers a good amount of customization to the interface, and it's one of the better-looking skins out there.

That said, we are waiting for the Galaxy S24 FE to receive the One UI 7 update, which should begin rolling out in April.

Google Pixel 9a vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Which should you pick?

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

If you're not restricted by a budget, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is the one I'd pick for the better performance, telephoto camera, and more premium build. If you can find the base model for nearly $500, it's even better. Samsung is offering the same length of software support as Google for the FE, which is another feather in its cap.

The Pixel 9a is a great option if you want a more compact phone without compromising on camera quality. It's likely to become one of the best cheap Android phones without any sales, and it should be able to deliver better battery life than the FE. It's not the best phone for gaming, and you might need a screen protector as the glass isn't as resilient as the FE.

Software will also play a big role in your decision. The 9a should always get the latest Android version before the Galaxy, and many prefer the clean, uncluttered interface of Pixels.

Google Pixel 9a

Budget AI king

The Pixel 9a offers most of the features of the Pixel 9, but at the same great starting price of $500. This makes it cheaper than the Galaxy S24 FE, making it one of the best cheap phones out there.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

Feature packed

The Galaxy S24 FE is more expensive than the 9a but it justifies that by offering more power, better rear cameras, and a more flagship-level build quality.

Samsung finally sets a date for the One UI 7 launch

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:49:37 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has announced the official rollout of One UI 7, which is set to begin on April 7.
The Galaxy S24 series alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 will be the first set of devices to get the Android 15-based operating system.
Older devices like the Galaxy S23 series, S24 FE, S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and tablets like Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S9 series will be getting the One UI 7 in the coming weeks.

Can we just say, better late than never?

The much-anticipated One UI 7 update of Galaxy devices finally has a launch date. Samsung has announced that the official rollout will begin on April 7.

According to the announcement post, the first set of devices to experience the latest operating system includes the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

The company further notes that other eligible devices comprising Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, and the older Galaxy foldables like Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 will be receiving the update gradually in the coming weeks. There are also tablets, which will be receiving the update like the Galaxy Tab S9 and the more recent Galaxy Tab S0 series.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 7 for devices like the Galaxy S24 series in beta last year. The devices have already received a couple of betas over the past few months. The Galaxy S25 series, however, has been the first set of devices to come with stable Android 15-based One UI 7 out of the box as they launched in January.

Meanwhile, the predecessor models were expected to be getting the official builds around the same time; it appears Samsung has taken its sweet time to roll out the official builds a couple of months later. Also, this is a first from Samsung — a delayed OS roll-out compared to the previous One UI versions.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Regardless, it is encouraging to see the launch date of One UI 7 despite the delays as the betas have showcased some of the interesting features the operating system is bringing to the Galaxy phones — and it is considered the most notable update compared to last year’s version. The first set of changes that Galaxy users can expect with the One UI 7 include a simplified Home Screen, redesigned One UI widgets, and a Lock Screen, which additionally provides customizations.

This new OS will bring the Now Bar, which is powered by Galaxy AI sits on the lock screen, and supports real-time updates for apps like Timers, Google Maps, and Spotify, for example. Other notable AI features comprise AI Select, Writing Assist, Drawing Assist, and Audio Eraser. Google’s Gemini integration is also expected to be another notable improvement with the One UI 7 update.

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Samsung's mid-range phones get One UI 7 ahead of the Galaxy S24

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:43:59 +0000

Samsung usually does a good job with software updates, but that isn't the case with One UI 7. While most other manufacturers rolled out the Android 15-based update to their flagships, Samsung is still on the beta channel, with a stable release slated for the month of April. To put things in context, Google plans to release Android 16 in June, so by the time the Android 15 update rolls out to most Galaxy S24 models around the world, the next version of Android will be ready.

This isn't an issue with the brand's Galaxy S25 devices, which debuted with One UI 7. Samsung launched the Galaxy A36 and A56 in recent weeks, and the mid-range devices also run One UI 7 based on Android 15 out of the box, meaning they have the update ahead of the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra models.

In characteristic fashion, Samsung hasn't said why the update is taking so long, only noting that it has seven beta builds planned out. The interminable wait means last year's Galaxy S24 models will be the last flagships to make the switch to Android 15; Xiaomi has traditionally been the laggard in this regard, but even the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra got the stable Android 15-based update at the start of the year.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Like Google and Honor, Samsung guarantees seven years of Android updates to its flagships, but the fact that the update isn't available six months after the debut of the stable Android 15 build is worrisome. Unlike recent releases, One UI 7 has plenty of new features, including the Now Bar and Now Brief, even more AI utilities, and a cleaner visual design that's been a long time coming.

Of course, all the new additions are meaningless if it takes Samsung this long to roll out the update to its phones, and it's interesting to see how Chinese manufacturers are now doing a much better job in this regard. OnePlus, for instance, delivered the stable Android 15 update to its phones back in October, and it was followed by OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi, who started their updates at the end of the year.

The lengthy wait combined with the accelerated release of Android 16 means Samsung has to scramble to deliver these updates to its older phones. And talking about the Galaxy A56, while the brand didn't change too much with the device (yet again), the phone could be a decent choice if you need a mid-ranger in the U.S., where most Chinese manufacturers don't sell their products. This isn't the case outside the country, as even budget phones like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro are a much better choice.

Ultimately, it's the Galaxy A models that contribute to Samsung's bottom line in a more meaningful way than the Galaxy S series, so it is understandable that the brand is turning its attention to releasing new models instead of delivering updates to its older phones.

I compared the Galaxy S25 Ultra's camera against three of the best competitors and one thing stood out

andrew.myrick@futurenet.com (Andrew Myrick) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

A few times every year, we get new flagship smartphones that promise to "change our world" or try to help us "reimagine" what a phone is capable of. We've reached a point where just about every launch event is accompanied by a promo video that's been recorded using whatever phone is being announced.

This continued with the Galaxy S25 Ultra despite the only change being an upgraded 50MP ultrawide lens. It also marks the third year that Samsung has relied on the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 as its primary lens. Even still, Samsung's flagship devices are regularly touted as being among the best for mobile photography.

So, with that in mind, we decided to put those claims to the test against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro. I also included the Galaxy S24 Ultra just to see whether it's really worth upgrading, purely for the cameras.

Before diving in, I want to assure you that all of the pictures you see were taken with the default settings. The images were not manipulated in any way, as to provide as balanced of a comparison as possible.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

Kicking things off, I compared the two phones that will likely dominate the market in 2025: the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The first picture in the gallery makes use of the ultrawide lens from both devices, with the iPhone definitely having a warmer tone.

Besides that, the pictures look fairly similar, capturing the same amount of detail. I have to admit that it was pretty darn cool being able to see the S25 Ultra manage to capture the bird as it was flying in front of me in the top right corner.

In the picture of the birds mostly chilling on the dock, the S25 Ultra again produced a "cooler" image than the iPhone. However, the iPhone's picture is a bit brighter, making it a bit easier to notice a few more details. That being said, there's nothing quite like capturing a bird as it takes off, and it was pure luck that I was able to get this image from the Ultra.

If you can't tell, there's a recurring theme with these phones, with the iPhone producing warmer tones, even if just slightly. Such is the case with the pictures in front of Tudor Hall here in St. Mary's County. There's really not much else to say here other than that I'm pretty happy with both phones so far.

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

With this image from the Tudor Hall Garden, it was the first time I noticed that the Galaxy S25 Ultra managed a brighter image. It's kind of a difficult picture to process, with the glare from the sunset affecting both phones in some capacity.

The thing about taking pictures on your phone is that they can look pretty good on smaller screens. However, after seeing the iPhone's picture of the sundial, I was surprised to see that it just... doesn't look good. There aren't nearly as many details as the S25 Ultra, which becomes apparent when looking at the hedges surrounding the sundial.

With the last image above, we have another difficult scenario to process. Not only is the sun setting, but the lights from the restaurant are all over the place. When you start trying to pixel-peep, the iPhone actually captures more detail, especially if you look at the "OPEN" sign on the right side of the pictures. However, I'd have to say that the Galaxy S25 Ultra managed to take a picture that better resembled what I was actually seeing.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Last, but not least, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was given a chance to really flex its muscles a bit. Both phones were set to 25x zoom, as that's as far as the iPhone's digital zoom will let you go. Looking at the plaque, the text is legible in the iPhone's picture, but it looks a lot like it was generated by AI. Meanwhile, that's not even close to being the case with the S25 Ultra, as it's obvious that Samsung has the upper hand when it comes to telephoto images.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

When you're walking around trying to take pictures with four different phones, there's really not much time to analyze what you've captured. At the moment, I didn't realize how similar the pictures are between the Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Even while I was putting together the side-by-side examples, I ended up needing to double-check the pictures just to make sure I wasn't messing anything up.

In fact, a lot of what I said about the iPhone's pictures in the previous section rings true about the Pixel 9 Pro. And that includes the picture of the birds on the dock, as it's brighter than the picture from the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

However, unlike the iPhone, I was actually able to capture the bird spreading its wings before taking off. Considering that both Samsung and Google have had issues with moving subjects, I couldn't be happier to see the improvements made culminating in what we have now.

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

If you're wondering why a couple of the comparison pictures are different here than the other sections, your guess is as good as mine. When I went back to try and find the pictures on the Pixel, they apparently yeeted themselves from the phone. Thankfully, I took plenty of other pictures to make up for that, but I still don't know what could've happened.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 9 Pro manages to keep up with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, producing images that are both crisp and clean. And while the S25 Ultra looked more "true to life" with the picture of the bar, the Pixel 9 Pro did the same with the image of Duke's.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

As for the telephoto digital zoom test, it again was done at 25x in order to keep things the same across all of the devices. That's despite the Pixel 9 Pro and its Super Res Zoom being capable of delivering a 30x digital zoom.

One thing that surprised me about the Pixel 9 Pro is that it managed to make the text on the plaque look both less and more AI-enhanced than the S25 Ultra. There are some artifacts around some of the letters, but the 9 Pro also makes it look like someone went and traced over the words to make them appear bolder. Even still, I was quite impressed with how things turned out, as everything is clear and legible.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

The last phone that I compared the Galaxy S25 Ultra to was its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. On paper, the only difference between the two is the former features a 50MP telephoto lens compared to the 10MP sensor on the latter. In theory, that should mean that we end up with pictures that look more similar than the other phones.

And for the most part, that's exactly what we have here. Even in the third image, with both devices using 25x zoom, you'd have a tough time telling them apart if I didn't tell you which picture came from which phone.

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

If you need any more proof that these phones are using identical hardware, it doesn't get much better than the gallery of images above. With the exception of the sundial, the garden and front of Tudor Hall look practically identical. The differences are even more subtle than I thought they would be, which should make those who decided against upgrading feel good about the decision.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

That being said, the super zoom comparison tells a different tale. It was almost like the Galaxy S24 Ultra didn't even try to sharpen the image at all. Instead, it almost feels as though it softened the picture. In fact, the S24 Ultra was the only phone of the four to do this, which definitely surprised me.

For the sake of full disclosure, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently running the latest One UI 7 beta. Seeing as the software isn't yet final, there's a non-zero chance that the beta software played a part in how this image was processed.

A sight to behold

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Something strange, for me at least, when I was on my way back home. For the first time ever, I actually pulled off to the side of the road to take a picture.

After the weather being quite uncooperative for the past couple of weeks, it was refreshing to have the clouds break and the sun shine through. Add in the fact that the time between sunset and dusk happens to be my favorite time to take pictures, on top of the clouds still clearing out, and it was just one of those "man, the sky looks beautiful moments."

So, I pulled over the car, rolled down the window, and just wanted to see whether any of these phones could recapture what I was seeing.

Andrew Myrick / Android Central

Out of all four phones that I used after pulling off to the side of the road, I think that the Pixel 9 Pro was the best. There are more details in the clouds, along with more vibrant colors that don't look fake.

While the iPhone seemingly managed to capture more light, the sunset fell victim to Apple's image processing. On the flip side, it's obvious to me that Samsung has made some substantial tweaks to the image tuning with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

When looking at the two Ultra pictures side-by-side, it just feels like something is off with the S24 Ultra. Again, we might just have to chalk this up to the One UI 7 beta, but we won't be able to know for sure until the final version is released.

Picking a winner

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Without burying the lede, I honestly think you couldn't go wrong with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Unless Samsung manages to work some magic with One UI 7, I don't think the Galaxy S24 Ultra does enough to warrant consideration when it comes to more difficult photos.

However, while I can't pick one device over the other, there is something that helps the Galaxy S25 Ultra stand out. Navigating through Samsung's Camera app is a much easier experience than the others.

Not in terms of just being able to take out your phone and snap a picture. But in actually trying to adjust the zoom, making sure all of your settings are correct, and giving you access to the bucket of tools that Samsung provides. If you just want a point-and-shoot camera, you'll be fine no matter what phone you decide on.

But if you care about more than tapping the shutter button, then Samsung is the clear winner. This might not be the case forever as Google continues to make improvements to its own Camera app. So we'll have to see what the future could bring.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

It sure looks like the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the one to beat if you want the best camera experience in a smartphone. But, it's not leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, unlike in previous years.

Samsung expands the March 2025 update to more devices

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:08:57 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung's March update patch is out and it brings fixes to over 11 critical items.
The security patch will be rolled out to the Galaxy S23 and S24 series, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and up.
Delivery time of these updates will vary based on the device model as well as the region, Samsung explains.

Samsung announced that it's bringing a couple of bug fixes with the March security patch update. While security patches don't bring in features, they help the available features on the device work better.

The March update has started to roll out to devices as we speak, fixing over 51 items that needed attention. Of these, 11 items were critical fixes, while the rest were high-priority items. Samsung says that this is a maintenance release for major flagship models as part of the monthly Security Maintenance Release (SMR) process. This means it includes not just Samsung's bug fixes but also some of Google's patches as well.

So far, the devices already receiving the March security patch (via 9to5Google) include the Galaxy S23 series and later, the Galaxy Z Fold 4/Z Flip 4 and later, and the Galaxy A55.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung mentions some of them on its updates page, like incorrect default permissions on the Galaxy Watch's gallery, which could allow local attackers to access data in the Galaxy Watch Gallery, improper access to Wifi on the Galaxy Watch—fixing an issue that allowed hackers to update MAC address of the watch.

Other than that, it fixes issues with sensitive communication in Settings and accessing Auracast broadcasting, among others. However, Samsung mentions that other items included in the update will not be disclosed publicly at this time.

The publication adds that Samsung first began rolling out this patch to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 last week and is going to continue rolling them out to the above-mentioned devices as well.

The company notes that devices eligible for the upcoming security patch need to have their devices with an up-to-date OS. And that delivery times of the said security patch will vary based on the phone's model as well as the region the user is in.

That said, Galaxy devices are getting more than just security updates this month as the company confirms it is expanding One UI 7 beta programs to Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6, Galaxy S23 series, and Galaxy Tab S10 series at various points this month. To join the One UI 7 beta program, you can apply in the Samsung Members app with an eligible device. That said, the Korean OEM is all geared up to launch the official, stable version of the software to all devices starting in April.

Samsung releases yet another One UI 7 beta update for the Galaxy S24

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:06:01 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung quickly released a One UI 7 beta update, its fifth for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
The patch comes just days after the fourth beta was seeded and fixes a bug that caused Visual Voicemail to crash.
It's still unclear when One UI 7 will release publicly for Galaxy S24 owners.

Samsung's delays bringing One UI 7 to older devices have been well-chronicled, and that continues as the company seeded its fifth beta update for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series today, Feb. 21. The minor update is appearing for U.S. users on AT&T and Verizon to start, and is available as an OTA update for users in the One UI 7 Beta program, as reported by SamMobile.

This update comes just days after the fourth One UI 7 beta, and carries a version number of S92xU1UEU4ZYBB. It's available for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra if the device is enrolled in the beta program already. It's relatively small, with an update size of roughly 450MB, according to SamMobile. The exact size of the update may depend on your device and carrier. The patch might arrive in other regions and networks in the future.

To see if your Galaxy S24 is eligible for the update, open the Settings app and navigate to Software update > Download and install.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The latest One UI 7 beta update comes a few weeks after Samsung acknowledged that the operating system's release for older phones would be delayed. In a community post Feb. 6, the company said it planned to release a fourth beta update fixing a bug that "causes the display color temperature to appear more yellow than intended." Of course, if you're keeping track at home, the update released today is the fifth One UI 7 beta update for Galaxy S24 owners in the U.S.

According to the patch's release notes, this update includes a fix for a Visual Voicemail crash problem reported by testers.

It's unclear when One UI 7 will reach stability for the Galaxy S24 lineup and other Galaxy phones. Shortly after the Galaxy S25 debuted, Samsung pledged to bring it to older devices "imminently" and that users should expect it sometime in Q1 2025. We don't know if that timetable has been pushed back due to the latest round of delays.

7 years of updates aren't what you think they are and Samsung just proved it

jerry.hildenbrand@futurenet.com (Jerry Hildenbrand) — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:00:00 +0000

A Samsung EVP (Executive Vice President) has pretty much confirmed that the Galaxy S24 will miss out on multiple One UI 7 (Android 15) features because they are designated as "hardware reliant." You shouldn't be surprised about this. Disappointed, maybe, but not surprised.

This highlights something most people aren't thinking about — a company can support a phone for seven years, but it can't make newer features work on older hardware every time. Seven years of updates doesn't really mean what you think it means.

Android & Chill

(Image credit: Future)

One of the web's longest-running tech columns, Android & Chill is your Saturday discussion of Android, Google, and all things tech.

This is not a bad thing, even if it feels like a bad thing. Samsung explains that many of the AI features depend on what Samsung calls the Personal Data Engine and that engine isn't supported on older chips; it needs the Snapdragon 8 Elite in order to work properly.

We'll see more of this as Agentic, or "thinking" AI features, are developed, and you should expect to see some features on the Galaxy S26 that will not come to the S25. And that's OK.

You should not buy a phone because you expect something in the future. A phone should do everything it is advertised to do, be mostly bug-free, and be supported to do those things as long as possible. Having seven years of support means your phone will probably outlast your battery.

This isn't a Samsung thing. It's not even an Android thing. We're seeing the exact same from Google with the Pixel series and there will be multiple features that can't be used on the older hardware. The iPhone is the same, with iOS features becoming more hardware-dependent as AI is further integrated into the operating system.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

I love this. You might not, and we can disagree, but knowing that a phone I buy in 2025 will still be supported and perform as expected in 2030 is excellent. I do not expect any new features and the ones that are developed are a bonus. Hopefully, any new features work as they should.

Phones are at a point where hardware is only a limiting factor when companies leverage those small incremental features they bring. Even more so when a company develops its own chip — either a full SoC package or custom coprocessors — that have a specific use.

Apple is a great example — the A16 Bionic inside the iPhone 15 is as powerful as the chip that powers a typical laptop. It should be able to handle anything iOS has to offer. It's limited when it comes to AI because Apple dedicated parts of the newer chip to perform these functions.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/Android Central)

The Snapdragon or Tensor chip isn't nearly as powerful when it comes to raw processing, but they are more than a CPU, and parts of the chipset are doing very specific things. These parts just aren't inside older phones.

Forcing new features to work with "inferior" hardware would only make the features worse. Engineers love to develop new stuff and want everyone to use it, and phone makers love to lock new features behind the purchase of a new phone, but the reality is that sometimes there are real reasons why an older model can't do what it needs to do.

What's really important is that phone manufacturers are beginning to realize (or care) that we don't need to buy a new phone every year or even every two years. Some of us don't want to. I doubt very many people will use the same phone for seven years — even I would upgrade before then — but knowing that you could is awesome.

Now, we just need every phone maker to get on board and provide customer service as long as Samsung, Google, and Apple do, even if it means some of the new flashy stuff won't be included.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Ultra-powerful

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung's latest flagship, with all the bells and whistles you think you might need, like a powerful chipset, a 200MP quad-camera system, and a built-in stylus. The Snapdragon 8 Elite powers Galaxy AI features that older phones just can't handle.

One UI 7 update could finally land on the Galaxy S24 FE next month

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 04:27:59 +0000

What you need to know

A new leak hints that the Galaxy S24 FE could get One UI 7 around March 31, 2025.
If the leak is legit, the main S24 models (Ultra, Plus, and vanilla variants) will likely get One UI 7 before the S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 lineup is still stuck on One UI 6.1.1, even with the February 2025 security update.

A potential leak has shed light on the One UI 7 update timeline for the Galaxy S24 FE, even as the stable version remains elusive for the rest of the S24 series.

Looks like we might finally have a clue about when the Galaxy S24 FE will get One UI 7. Leaker Tarun Vats dropped a hint that it could land around March 31, 2025 (via Android Police).

Exclusive‼️ Sources say the One UI 7 update for the Galaxy S24 FE might drop on March 31, 2025 📅 I only have information for this device; expect a stable update for the S24 series earlier than the 31st.Repost pic.twitter.com/QaqGXGP1uzFebruary 10, 2025

Take this date with a grain of salt, though. While March 31 sounds like a solid target, firmware rollouts can be pretty unpredictable. Development timelines shift all the time, so things might still change.

Currently, the stable version of One UI 7 is only available on the brand-new Galaxy S25 series. While it’s expected to hit more devices, like the Galaxy S24, down the line, the S24 has been busy testing One UI 7 for the past few months. Interestingly, even with the February 2025 security update, the S24 series is still stuck on One UI 6.1.1.

If the leak is accurate, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24 Plus, and S24 may be first in line for the One UI 7 update, beating the S24 FE to the punch. So assuming the rumors hold up, the main S24 series could get it sometime before March 31.

Since the Galaxy S24 series has been the only one testing One UI 7 in the beta program, it is a safe bet that the S24 FE won’t be at the front of the line for the stable update.

Samsung's February 2025 patch for Galaxy S24 arrives amid One UI 7 delays

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:15:06 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is pushing the February 2025 security patch to the Galaxy S24 in Korea.
The update should appear for devices in other regions and cellular carriers soon.
The patch is based on Android 14 and One UI 6.1, and it comes as Samsung faces more One UI 7 delays.

One UI 7 finally debuted on the newest Samsung Galaxy S25 series, but owners of older Galaxy phones are still left waiting. It looks like that wait will continue a bit longer, because Samsung's February 2025 security patch is starting to roll out for Galaxy S24 devices in Korea — and it's built on One UI 6.1 and Android 14 instead of One UI 7 and Android 15 (via Android Police).

The news of Samsung's monthly update rolling out based on an older version of One UI comes just after a report revealed the company needed one more One UI 7 beta update before a public rollout. That's because it found a problem that "causes the display color temperature to appear more yellow than intended," per a Samsung community post.

The monthly update is appearing for users in South Korea with an update size of about 455MB, according to Tarun Vats on X (formerly Twitter). It'll soon arrive for Samsung Galaxy S24 owners in other markets, but may take a while to show up depending on your combination of region and cellular carrier.

Galaxy S24's One UI 6.1-based February update is live in Korea 🇰🇷 Build Version: S928NKSS4AYA1/S928NOKR4AYA1/S928NKSS4AYA1 pic.twitter.com/Y02MumxRSPFebruary 10, 2025

As the company details on its security updates page, the February 2025 update for the Galaxy S24 includes Google's patches in the Android Security Bulletin for this month. That includes one security vulnerability with a "critical" severity designation and 34 vulnerabilities with a "high" designation. Additionally, Samsung is patching seven issues that specifically affect Galaxy devices.

There are no new features in the February 2025 patch, and that's unsurprising. Samsung's upcoming One UI 7 upgrade is a massive one, with new features, a visual overhaul, and more. The existing Galaxy S24 series will feel fresh after that upgrade, but the wait for it has been a long one. Google delivered Android 15 to the Android Open Source Project a while ago, and One UI 7 still isn't here.

For now, Galaxy S24 users will have to settle for their February 2025 security patch. When the update becomes available for your device, you can install it by opening Settings and navigating to Software update > Download and install.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra just broke new ground for Android flagships

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 08:58:58 +0000

What you need to know

The Galaxy S24 Ultra broke into the top ten best-sellers list in 2024, marking a first for a Samsung flagship phone since 2019.
Samsung's focus on AI features and innovation helped the S24 Ultra stand out in the premium Android market, landing it in the ninth spot globally.
The Galaxy A15 took the crown as the best-selling Android phone across all price ranges, and the A15 5G became the top-selling 5G device worldwide.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra dominated the 2024 flagship Android market, topping sales charts and even being the only premium Android phone to crack the world's top ten best-sellers.

Samsung popping up in the yearly top ten best-selling phones list is pretty much a given. But its top-tier Galaxy S series hasn’t made the cut since 2018. That is, until now. According to Canalys’ latest report, the flagship line is making a comeback, sneaking its way back into that elite ranking (via 9to5Google).

Apple’s iPhone 15 rules the 2024 sales charts. But Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra just ended a six-year slump, as per the report.

Snagging the ninth spot on the global best-sellers list, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s win cements Samsung’s dominance in the premium Android phone segment.

(Image credit: Canalys)

According to the report, the S24 Ultra’s strong sales come down to Samsung doubling down on AI features and keeping the innovation game tight.

Apple and Samsung went head-to-head for smartphone supremacy in 2024, but Apple barely pulled ahead with 225.9 million shipments against Samsung’s 222.9 million. These numbers might change, but for now, it looks like Apple finally stole the crown as the world’s top smartphone brand.

While the Galaxy S24 Ultra grabbed the spotlight in the premium space, the Galaxy A15 stole the show as the best-selling Android phone across all price ranges. On top of that, the Galaxy A15 5G dominated the 5G market, becoming the top-selling 5G phone worldwide.

Even with solid specs, no premium models from Chinese brands like Honor, OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, or Xiaomi managed to crack the best-sellers list.

Despite their absence from the list, Chinese OEMs still saw solid growth in 2024. Xiaomi stood out with an impressive 15% year-over-year jump, shipping over 168 million smartphones worldwide.

Overall, the global smartphone market saw a solid rebound in 2024, with shipments hitting 1.22 billion units, up 7%, according to Canalys. This recovery comes after two years of decline, driven by longer replacement cycles, smart restocking by vendors, and the ongoing growth of emerging markets.

Does the Galaxy S25 Ultra support the Galaxy S24 Ultra S Pen?

roydon.cerejo@gmail.com (Roydon Cerejo) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:51:09 +0000

Does the Galaxy S25 Ultra support the Galaxy S24 Ultra S Pen?

Best answer: Yes, the S24 Ultra's S Pen will work with the S25 Ultra, except for the Bluetooth functionality. The S25 Ultra does not support a BLE S Pen which means you can't enable Air Actions by simply using a Bluetooth S Pen from the older model.

Missing Bluetooth functionality in the Galaxy S25 Ultra's S Pen caused a huge uproar among fans

It's funny how one little missing feature that less than 1% of users actually used (according to Samsung), caused such a big hullabaloo online. We all knew that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra dropped Bluetooth functionality from its S Pen. This seemed to disappoint many fans of the feature called Air Actions, which let you navigate the menus, snap a photo, and control other actions with just a press of the S Pen's button and a few gestures, without ever touching the display.

Then came a blog post on Samsung Business Insights which seemed to suggest that a new version of the S Pen would be available that would bring back Bluetooth functionality. This reignited hopes that the S25 Ultra could get Air Actions after all, but this was swiftly debunked by none other than Samsung itself who quietly removed all mention of this separate S Pen from its blog post. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is still one of the best Android phones even if it lacks this small perk from the previous model.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

While using the S24 Ultra's S Pen as a remote shutter is a cool party trick, I don't think it really matters in the grand scheme of things. By removing Bluetooth functionality from the S Pen, we got a lighter stylus and that's something many will appreciate. The S Pen Fold Edition for the Galaxy Z Fold series didn't have Bluetooth either, and I don't recall there being a big hue and cry about that.

On the matter of using the S24 Ultra's S Pen with the S25 Ultra, the basic functionality should still work. Remember that the S25 Ultra won't be able to charge the S Pen from the S24 Ultra because the new model doesn't have that tech built-in. It's understandable why people are so confused because Samsung's messaging hasn't been exactly clear. Even right now, the support page for the S25 Ultra's S Pen explicitly highlights this message, "Air actions are not available with the Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen." This leaves room for interpretation that there might be an optional/ upcoming S Pen that could support Air Actions."

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Best of the best

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the latest flagship that boasts of a powerful new chip, lighter design, larger display, and a host of new AI features. Air Actions has been dropped from the S Pen's feature list, but it's not the end of the world if you ask us.

One test proves the Galaxy S25 Ultra's battery and charging improvements

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 18:31:17 +0000

What you need to know

A YouTuber placed the Galaxy S25 Ultra in two major battery tests to check its supposed longevity and charging improvements.
One charging test marked swifter charging speeds over the S24 Ultra while a battery drain test displays Samsung's work at extending its life cycle.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra launched on January 22 alongside the S25 and S25 Plus, three phones designed to become your "true AI companion."

Consumers haven't even gotten their pre-ordered Galaxy S25 devices yet, but one lucky user put the latest Ultra through a battery trial, and let's say it pulled through.

YouTuber, Benjamin Aboagye (Lover of Tech), published a video, which pits the Galaxy S25 Ultra in a major test of battery charging strength. In the initial test, Aboagye placed the latest Ultra on a charger and discovered that the device could go from 0% to 70% charge in 30 minutes. It's worth noting that Samsung upgraded this year's high-tier device with 45W fast charging.

However, continuing the test showed that the device could reach maximum charge in just under an hour at 57 minutes.

Elsewhere, the tech enthusiast started a live stream where they placed several Android phones together for a battery drain test.

The stream ran for roughly eight hours. In that time, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which boasts a 5,000mAh battery, lasted seven hours and five minutes from full to empty. The test was riddled with different apps running videos and more to push the involved devices to the limit. Samsung's Ultra model ended the test in second place while the OnePlus 13 lasted the longest at seven hours and thirty-seven minutes.

Users can check out the full battery drain test to see how an old and brand-new Galaxy S24 Ultra fair against two of the latest Android phones today.

📢⚠️ALERT⚠️📢S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max vs S24 Ultra EXTREME Battery Draim Test LIVE!23rd January 2025 6:45pm GMT UKhttps://t.co/nz3WaxAedZYou won't wanna miss this one! pic.twitter.com/umIau6rCgbJanuary 23, 2025

Battery and charging are seemingly important this year as Samsung seeks not only to boost its longevity but also how quickly the user can get back to scrolling. During launch, Samsung estimated that its S25 Ultra could reach a 65% charge in roughly thirty minutes, but recent tests show that it's more like 70%. This is in contrast to the S24 Ultra, which clocks a 60% charge in thirty minutes — 10% less.

Moreover, last year's Ultra is much slower in reaching maximum charge as the YouTuber's test highlights the hour and ten minutes needed for the predecessor.

What's curious though is that Samsung's 2024 model also contains a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging. So, while Samsung has likely worked some of its magic into the S25 Ultra, its custom Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is probably helping, too.

Android Central has published its hands-on of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The phone is loaded with Samsung's Galaxy AI enhancements, a new lock screen helper, and more of Google's AI model, Gemini. The latest Ultra is likely the most AI-driven device today with the many features that users can open up and experiment with if they desire. Some hardware changes seem to make a world of a difference for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well.

The Ultra model would be nothing without its two other siblings: the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25 Plus, which sport similar designs to 2024, but with some next-gen bonuses to take us into the new year.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Most AI-driven phone

Samsung just launched its new Galaxy S25 Ultra at Unpacked and it's arrived to become your "true AI companion." With a refreshed UI and more, the S25 Ultra features the Now Bar and the Now Brief for recommended, personalized entertainment suggestions on your phone. More importantly, Galaxy AI and new Gemini tools might make your day a little easier.

The Galaxy S24 lineup suddenly scores major discounts at Best Buy, days before Samsung Unpacked is set to kick off

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:13:44 +0000

The upcoming S25 series may be dominating the airwaves, but while everyone else is waiting for Unpacked to arrive, Best Buy has quietly dropped some of the best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals this side of Black Friday.

Head to the retailer's site now and score up to $300 off the 2024 flagship series, no strings attached, with additional savings up for grabs when you activate or trade in through the retailer.

Reserve your Galaxy S25 preorder and get a $50 voucher and up to $1,250 of trade-in credit (no purchase required)

Samsung Galaxy S24 128GB: ~~$799.99~~ $649.99 unlocked | $549.99 with activation at Best Buy

Currently $150 off at Best Buy, the Galaxy S24 is a compact Android phone with a 6.2-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, powerful Snapdragon chipset, and seven years of OS updates guaranteed. Activate the device through your carrier and Best Buy will hook you up with an additional $100 off, plus up to $460 of trade-in credit.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 256GB: ~~$999.99~~ $749.99 unlocked | $649.99 with activation at Best Buy

The Galaxy S24 Plus is a perfectly-balanced smartphone with a QHD+ display, seven-year software promise, and all of the useful AI features you could ever want in a modern device. Best Buy is currently carving a straight $250 off the unlocked phone, and you can add another $100 to that discount if you activate today. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB: ~~$1,299.99~~ $999.99 unlocked | $899.99 with activation at Best Buy

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was easily one of the most powerful Android phones released in 2024, and now you can get your own for as little as $899.99 with carrier activation at Best Buy. The premium smartphone boasts a generous 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a built-in stylus, plus a superb AI-powered chipset, reliable two-day battery, and Samsung's seven-year software promise. View Deal

The deals on display include $150 off the base model Galaxy S24, while the unlocked Galaxy S24 Plus and S24 Ultra will receive $250 off and $300 off, respectively. If you don't care about preordering an S25 when the phones are unveiled next week, this is pretty much the perfect way to score an excellent unlocked phone at well under the retail price.

For everyone else, the Galaxy S25 series is set to be revealed during Samsung Unpacked on January 22nd. Folks who confirm their interest via the Galaxy Reserve program will receive a $50 voucher and up to $1,250 of trade-in credit before the phones are even revealed. There's no purchase required and no obligation to buy if you change your mind later.

If you're looking for more Samsung savings, check out my guide to the best Galaxy S24 deals of January 2025.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra one year later: We want the Galaxy S25 Ultra more than ever

Nicholas Sutrich — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It's somehow been a year since Samsung announced the Galaxy S24 Ultra, a phone we touted as the best premium Android experience throughout 2024. Samsung launched the phone with a newly minted flat display, a unique anti-glare layer on the screen, a stronger titanium frame, and a stronger software update guarantee than ever.

At launch, it was clear what Samsung would need to do to make the Galaxy S25 Ultra a better phone. But while 2024's best premium phone launched strong, nagging issues crept up throughout the year.

The fancy new display was found to suffer from some strange quality and configuration issues, and some build quality issues with the glass have crept up after a few months of use. Samsung's Android 15 update was delayed several times, and while we're already on One UI 7 beta 3, the final version isn't expected until at least sometime in late January at the earliest.

One UI 7 has also been the source of much criticism and, funny enough, praise due to some major UI design changes. But while One UI 7's new design doesn't seem to be everyone's cup of tea, Samsung is delivering some major improvements for the S24 Ultra that will ultimately please fans in the end, especially as the newer Galaxy S25 series approaches.

Samsung Galaxy Reserve: free $50 credit, plus up to $1,250 of trade-in credit and more

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be announced on January 22nd, and Samsung is already offering up discounts for folks who register interest. Guarantee yourself a $50 voucher AND up to $1,250 of trade-in credit when you sign up for Samsung's Galaxy Reserve program. Only your name and email address are required to enroll, and there's no obligation to buy if you change your mind later on. Just fill out the form and the savings are yours. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display and design

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Ever since the Galaxy S24 Ultra's launch, users have been complaining about the display. Whether it was the graininess of the pixels or the permanent smudges that have started appearing on some people's phone displays, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's display has been a bit of a disappointment.

Complaints have revolved around a few problems, some of which can be considered major given the high price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. All Galaxy S24 Ultra units are affected by mura, which means that each pixel isn't reaching the same brightness level as adjacent pixels. This doesn't just happen at high brightness, and it exposes a quality downgrade we didn't expect to see in a Samsung flagship.

We've also seen several instances of people getting permanent "smudges" on their screens. Based on several examples, it seems like it's the result of the oleophobic layer rubbing off prematurely. There's no way to fix this if it happens outside of replacing the outer glass entirely, so it's best to put a screen protector on it as soon as you unbox it to prevent this issue.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung might have fixed the dull screen issue about a month after launch but the company is still seeing complaints of reduced display brightness and color banding across social media. Some of the brightness issues have to do with thermal management, as the phone tones down the brightness after a few minutes to keep it from getting hot.

However, the biggest issue is that Samsung artificially reduces the maximum brightness by using PWM dimming. This dimming method helps increase color accuracy on OLEDs at low brightness but Samsung is using it at all brightness levels for an unknown reason. Using PWM dimming at high brightness reduces the perceived brightness level of the display, something Samsung could fix it it offered a proper PWM-free dimming mode as rivals like the OnePlus 13 do.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's display has been the center of user complaints about the phone, ranging from display quality to early wear and tear on the glass.

We've also seen several reports of users on Reddit getting micro scratches on their displays despite claiming to be careful with their phones. Smartphone glass has evolved a lot over the years, but there seems to be something different about the glass used on the S24 Ultra. My unit also has a few micro scratches despite it not being my main phone throughout the year.

Every time I've used the Galaxy S24 Ultra over the past year, I've had issues using the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. While some folks prefer ultrasonic sensors, people like myself find them to be less reliable than optical sensors, especially when a screen protector is applied. Thankfully, the upcoming One UI 7 update addresses concerns of fingerprint sensor speed and accuracy and, so far in my testing, has made it substantially more reliable.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

If you love the square corners of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you might want to hold on to the phone for as long as possible as Samsung is said to be rounding them off with future phones.

But while the display might not be the best thing in the world, Samsung's design and build quality of the S24 Ultra's remaining hardware has shone through. The titanium frame has received plenty of praise and holds up well with use, although a few users have found that certain cases can scratch the frame. It's strange, for sure, but something to look out for if you're still rocking a pristine Galaxy S24 Ultra.

While Samsung has been using very square corners on the Galaxy S Ultra line since the Galaxy S22, rumor has it that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will do away with these for more rounded corners. Despite rounding out the corners, Samsung is reportedly making the sides of the phone completely flat all around.

This design would match that of the Galaxy S24 which received the flat treatment last year. Personally, I hate the flat side rail design and would rather see Samsung keep the curved sides from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which are much nicer to hold and make it easier to pick the phone up from a table or other flat surface.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Software and updates

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra arrived with the first seven-year update promise Samsung has ever made for its phones. While that sounds nice on paper, Samsung will be roughly four months late in delivering its Android 15 update by the time One UI 7 finally makes its public debut.

Android 15 certainly isn't the biggest update in the world but One UI 7 looks to be worth the wait. I tried out the second One UI 7 beta back in December and was generally impressed with what I saw. Samsung finally ditched the age-old paginated app drawer for a vertical app drawer by default, although you can switch back to the old style if you prefer that.

The company is also using a new design for its multitasking interface that looks almost identical to an iPhone. Some people might not be happy with the change for this reason, but it's far more practical than the awful old side-by-side design. This design makes it easier to quickly multitask as you can "peak" at the next few apps while scrolling through the tiles while the previous design only showed one app's tile at a time.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung is also borrowing Apple's split notification pane design, making it so that the phone's notification pane only appears when swiping down on the left side of the status bar, while swiping down on the right side brings up a full-screen quick toggles pane. This design is polarizing as it's contrary to standard Android design, but some folks prefer the larger quick toggles pane to be the default.

Regardless of your preference, nearly everything can be customized out of the box to suit your preferences. The only exception, for now, is the multitasking interface, which usually requires Samsung Good Lock to change. Thankfully, Samsung is said to be giving Good Lock a total overhaul when One UI 7 officially launches later this month, so you should be able to change it if you're not a fan of the new design (or like one of the many alternatives Samsung has always offered).

Samsung's real strength has long been offering something for everyone, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra's software experience perfectly embodies that mantra.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance and battery life

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

As we expected when Samsung announced it last year, ray-tracing on phones hasn't caught on yet. Diablo Immortal launched its big ray-tracing update, but we haven't seen a huge push for using this technology on phones, presumably due to battery life and performance constraints that phones uniquely face when compared to consoles or PCs that push the same tech.

Overall, though, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra still delivers stellar real-world performance. Newer phones like the OnePlus 13 significantly outpace it in terms of performance and thermal limits, but that's fully expected from a new generation. For its part, the Galaxy S24 Ultra never feels sluggish, but Samsung tends to throttle brightness quite a bit when the phone starts to get warm.

This keeps performance high and prevents the phone from overheating, but it's annoying to have to deal with low brightness at the worst time: in the bright sun. Outside of this situation, however, the S24 Ultra performs admirably and should please even the pickiest of users, even a year later.

Overall performance is still fantastic even a year later, but the phone's display dims too quickly when the phone gets hot.

One problem that only feels worse with time, however, is the dreadfully slow charging speed. Samsung, Google, and Apple's phones all still charge incredibly slowly, even with a "fast" 45W charger. Phones like the OnePlus 12 can fully charge in about 30 minutes with the charger included in the box, but Samsung phones still take well over an hour.

Some people have gotten through this by having a great wireless charger on their desk or in their car, but it doesn't replace the proper fast charging that most Android brands offer. At the least, battery life is still great a year later and more software-side tweaks in One UI 7 should further help keep battery life great over the seven-year lifespan of the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Camera

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

When I published the Galaxy S24 Ultra camera review last year, I marveled at the improvements Samsung had made. The company had gone from mediocre to the best in most situations, barring just one big area: motion capture.

While the Galaxy S24 Ultra offered up some options to help reduce blurry moving subjects — usually kids or pets that won't hold still — its performance was still worse than the competition. As of a year later, this hasn't changed a bit. If anything, Samsung looks worse than ever because even OnePlus has fixed the same problem that plagued its phones for a long time.

Android Central

Outside of blurry moving subjects, the Galaxy S24 Ultra still suffers from an incredibly irritating slow shutter speed problem. When you press the shutter button to take a picture on a Galaxy S24 Ultra, there's a truly annoying lag that takes place in the camera viewfinder. I don't see this on any other phone on the market and it's something Samsung needs to address on the S25 Ultra.

Samsung still does an excellent job of portrait photos, but I've been less impressed with the phone's camera this year than I was last year. Low-light shots aren't as good as the Pixel 9 Pro or OnePlus 13, and even daytime portrait shots aren't as vibrant or beautiful as I expect. While photos from some newer Android phones might be better, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's video recording quality is still top-notch among Android phones.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Is it still worth buying?

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

With the Galaxy S25 Ultra on the cusp of being officially announced, you're probably wondering if it's still worth buying the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While I can't fully answer that question until the Galaxy S25 Ultra is actually announced, we know for sure that you can get a Galaxy S24 Ultra deal that will save you hundreds versus waiting a week or so to preorder a Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The first question is how picky you'll be about any potential display issues you're bound to run into with the S24 Ultra. The display has garnered the largest number of complaints I've seen about the phone over the last year, and while some of them are from power users who nitpick the smallest details, plenty of problems have been noticed by folks who aren't tech-savvy, too. There's no guarantee that Samsung will fix any of these with the S25 Ultra, but it'll likely address at least a few.

You'll also need to consider the camera, which may be the biggest reason to choose something else. If you primarily take pictures of your kids or pets, you should consider a OnePlus 13 or a Pixel 9 Pro. Both take far better pictures of moving subjects, with the Pixel taking a slight edge in this category. If this particular photography category isn't big on your list, the S24 Ultra could be a great pick.

Lastly, you may want to consider grabbing a OnePlus 13 over either a Galaxy S24 Ultra or a potential Galaxy S25 Ultra for battery life and charging speed. Samsung phones, along with iPhones and Pixels, have long been among the slowest-charging smartphones on the market. That's never been truer in 2025 when phones like the OnePlus 13 take 20 minutes to top-up the battery while an S24 Ultra might take an hour and a half.

Why wait for the S25 when you can score up to $950 OFF the Galaxy S24 Ultra right now?

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 18:46:59 +0000

The Galaxy S25 series may be dropping later this month, but you don't need to wait to score some excellent Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals. Pick up the powerful (and soon-to-be last-gen) smartphone directly from Samsung and you'll score up to $750 of trade-in credit AND $200 of instant savings with select color variations.

Reserve your Galaxy S25 for $50, up to $1,250 of trade-in credit

Skip the trade-in process altogether and you'll still receive $500 off, totally clobbering the S24 deals that we saw during Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The exclusive color variants that give you the deal are Titanium Green, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Orange — so take your pick!

2024's most powerful smartphone gets a major discount ahead of the S25 launch

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB: ~~$1,299.99~~ From $349.99 with trade-in | $799.99 without at Samsung

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in one of the exclusive Titanium color variants and you'll get $200 off alongside $750 of potential trade-in credit. If you don't have an old or broken phone to send in (or you're simply not getting enough credit), skip the trade-in process for $300 of instant savings. All things said and done, you're guaranteed to get at least $500 off the super-powered smartphone, and that's no small feat. View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want a large and powerful Android phone with great cameras, AI features, and years of software support.

❌Skip this deal if: you'd rather wait for the Galaxy S25 to come out; you don't like any of the S24 Ultra's exclusive color variants.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was easily one of the best Android phones released in 2024, with loads of AI features, a gorgeous AMOLED display (with built-in stylus), and one of the best cameras Samsung has ever produced. You also get seven years of OS/security updates guaranteed.

As noted in our Galaxy S24 Ultra review, our biggest issue with the phone was its price. Thanks to this deal, and the imminent arrival of the S25 series, that's no longer such an issue.

Of course, the big question is whether you should buy this phone now or wait for the Galaxy S25 lineup to arrive. The new flagship series is likely to be revealed during Samsung Unpacked on January 22nd, and there are certain to be a ton of Galaxy S25 preorder deals going live shortly thereafter. The choice is yours, but either way, you can rest easy knowing that you've gotten your hands on some of the best hardware in the biz.

News Weekly: Samsung S25 full renders leak, OnePlus 13 and 13R launches, and more

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000

News Weekly

(Image credit: Android Central)

News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, we look into a massive Samsung Galaxy S25 series leak ahead of launch, OnePlus 13 and 13R launch globally, Qualcomm confirms its presence at Samsung's Unpacked event, One UI 7 gets its third Beta update and Qi2 will debut on more Android phones this year.

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Major Samsung S25 series leak with full specs and renders

(Image credit: Dbrand)

Read more here and here.

It's been quite the week of leaks for Samsung, so to speak. First, the specs of the devices leaked online, followed by the full renders with over 75 odd pictures of what we think is the actual Samsung S25 series.

The morning of Jan. 10 started off with pictures of official renders of the alleged Samsung Galaxy S25 series that were posted by Android Headlines. First up we see the S25 Ultra pictures that show rounded corners and an entirely flat display and sides for the phone. The back of the device is shown with its rumored four-camera array and lenses that could have black rims. The publication states the Galaxy S25 Ultra could see the following colors upon release: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver Blue, and Titanium White Silver.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus pictures reveal that they look a lot like their previous models, and each device features rounded corners, a triple camera array, and thin bezels. However, the only visible change is with the lenses, as those could grab the same black rings as the Ultra model. They are said to come in four colorways: Silver Shadow, Ice Blue, Navy, and Mint.

Android Headlines

Along with the renders, the entire spec sheet of the models was also leaked by the same publication. The trio's entire spec sheet shows that the Ultra is rumored to grab a 6.9-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. For its cameras, the device could see a 200MP primary lens, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 10MP telephoto.

The S25 and S25 Plus could see a 6.2-inch Full HD Plus display and a 6.7-inch display, respectively. They will have a triple camera array featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens. Both handsets will also have a 12MP selfie shooter on the front.

Back in September, in collab with @Androidheadline, I provided the very first and early look at the #GalaxyS25 Series.In addition, today we joined forces again to bring you #GalaxyS25 #GalaxyS25Plus #GalaxyS25Ultra full specs sheets!😏You're welcome👉🏻 https://t.co/qRMywd6X3b pic.twitter.com/GCVrLKcvSaJanuary 10, 2025

For more on Samsung's upcoming flagship, visit our Galaxy S25 guide.

OnePlus 13 and 13R launch

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Read more here.

The OnePlus 13 and 13R have made their global debut and come packed with AI capabilities and powerful performance for next-gen users. The OnePlus 13 has a 6.8-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, and a larger 6,000 mAh battery. For the camera systems, OnePlus partnered once again with Hasselblad for a powerful triple camera system: a 50MP Sony LYT-808 main camera, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP 3X Triprism Telephoto camera, which is equipped to capture shots at more than 10X zoom.

Android Central's Nick Sutrich said in his camera review that the OnePlus 13 can stand tall knowing that "it's got one of the finest mobile cameras available today."

OnePlus 13R gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, with a 6.78-inch 1.5K ProXDR flat display, 6,000 mAh battery, and an upgraded camera system. The camera system has taken a step further when compared to the OnePlus 12R. Its main 50MP camera, equipped with the Sony LYT-700 sensor and OIS, helps shoot better images in low-light conditions. The camera can also capture swift moments like the OnePlus 13, with a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom for sharp, detailed portraits and an 8MP ultra-wide camera for capturing "expansive scenes."

The OnePlus 13 comes in three colors, Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn, and Black Eclipse, costing $899.99, while the 13R comes in two colorways — Nebula Noir and Astral Trail, which costs $599.99.

Both devices are currently available for pre-order.

Qualcomm sends a cryptic message to Samsung

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Read more here.

There have been several rumors floating around about the chip that is set to power the new Samsung Galaxy S25 series— the Snapdragon 8 Elite, although Samsung has not yet confirmed the above, Qualcomm seemingly put these rumors to rest this week when it replied to Samsung on the Unpacked tweet.

Samsung's tweet went live on Jan. 6, and just a day later, Qualcomm wanted to join in on the fun. The official account for the Snapdragon brand quoted Samsung's post on Jan. 7 with the cryptic message: "See you there."

While not a confirmation as such, this post from Qualcomm subtly hints that this specific Qualcomm chipset would fit perfectly in the S25 puzzle. Snapdragon 8 Elite is expected to bring in higher video quality, especially in low light settings, and overall improved performance of the phone — as seen in other flagship phones like the OnePlus 13.

See you there. 👀 https://t.co/Ao9dooQJ2VJanuary 7, 2025

Third One UI 7 Beta is out

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Read more here.

Samsung finally released the third beta of the One UI 7 in several regions. And users of the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, started getting the new Android 15-based One UI 7 beta 3 updates in Germany.

Per the changelog, the update brings improvements and several bug fixes. One of them is that Game Booster mode will have the ability to change the screen playback's default setting, change the FPS setting name and max value, and the ability to set the default scanning rate to 120Hz.

The other fixes include improvements to the lock screen, always-on display, and status bar battery icon (revamped with One UI 7). The issue with the volume key operation error while using Routine+ mode is believed to be fixed with the new update. Edge panel tools, which weren't displayed earlier, seem to have been fixed now.

Owners of the Galaxy S24 series who have enrolled in the One UI 7 beta program will receive this update. That said, Samsung is swamped with its upcoming Unpacked launch, where it will presumably launch One UI 7.

Qi2 is (finally) coming

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

Read more here.

According to a recent press release by Wireless Power Consortium, more Android flagship devices will start seeing Qi2 charging compatibility based on MagSafe magnetic charging. "We can expect an acceleration in Android devices with Qi2 built in during 2025," the presser stated.

That said, part of the announcement was to highlight the new Qi2 Ready, which gives Android OEMs a workaround to bring Qi2 without embedding magnets into the phone. Instead, they'll have to use magnetic cases to bring full Qi2 compliance.

Samsung also stated in the press release that it will bring phones with the new charging standard.

"You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025." This could only hint that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 series could be the first Galaxy phones to be compatible with Qi2 wireless charging and accessories. This could also be the start of a major Qi2 revolution after last year's HMD Skyline. And Samsung isn't the only phone brand helping bring Qi2 to more Android phones.

Google is doing the same, "Google is committed to the Qi2 wireless charging standard and increasing the penetration of Qi2 into Android handsets and other devices," the company said in a press release.

"Google is helping to achieve this goal by playing a leading role in the development of the upcoming Qi v2.2 standard, which includes Google's contribution of its own high-power wireless charging technology to WPC."

The Galaxy S25 Ultra needs to fix four major S24 Ultra display problems

Nicholas Sutrich — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 04:11:34 +0000

In some ways, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's display is the best Samsung has ever made. It finally upgraded the PWM dimming rate to match the iPhone, and Samsung's new anti-glare filter made it easier to see in the sunlight.

But problems were brewing under the surface and have slowly cropped up over the last year, leading us to wonder if Samsung will fix them in the upcoming Galaxy S25 series.

From grainy displays to dull colors, Samsung has some work to do on the quality and configuration of the display itself. We've also seen Galaxy S24 Ultra models with permanent smudge marks on the screen, a sign that the oil-resistant layer is wearing off prematurely.

Lastly, Samsung continues to be one of the only remaining companies that don't offer eye-friendly dimming options for folks sensitive to PWM dimming and flickering LEDs. Here's everything Samsung needs to improve on the Galaxy S25 Ultra's display to retake the crown for the phone with the best display.

Grainy displays

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Early on, users complained of grainy displays. While this is mostly noticeable at low brightness levels, some users have noted that they can see the grain even at regular or high brightness. This problem, technically known as "mura," is one we haven't seen so widely since the days of the Google Pixel 2 XL and it persists on Galaxy S24 Ultra displays today. You can see the uneven pattern in the image above which I captured using a microscope on my Galaxy S24 Ultra.

The grainy issue is caused by manufacturing defects where adjacent pixels aren't as bright as each other, making it look spotty or grainy. Pixels on an OLED are all individually lit and part of the manufacturing and calibration process is ensuring that each pixel meets a specific uniformity level.

It's not clear if Samsung is skipping this step or if the M13 generation is just particularly prone to this graininess issue. What is clear, however, is that no other phone with an OLED screen suffers from this issue in such a major way. One November rumor says that Samsung fixed the problem in the Galaxy S25 Ultra by using M13+ panels, but we'll have to wait and see if that's the case.

Permanent smudges

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Everyone has had to wipe down their smartphone display from time to time to remove smudges and dirt, but some unfortunate Galaxy S24 Ultra users have found that the smudges on their screens never go away.

This is believed to be caused by a premature degradation of the oleophobic coating on the outside of the display. This coating is applied to glass to keep fingerprints and smudges at a minimum, as it's naturally resistant to water, oils, and other liquids.

The result is a display that looks permanently dirty, and only a replacement of the glass will fix the issue. Worse yet, an Android Authority poll shows that potentially 50% or more of Galaxy S24 Ultra users are experiencing this problem. Our advice for Galaxy S24 Ultra owners without this problem is to get a good Galaxy S24 Ultra screen protector on your phone immediately.

Samsung needs to fix this problem on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's non-negotiable for a $1,200+ smartphone.

Better dimming options

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

As more and more research piles up, it's clear that using PWM dimming on displays and LED bulbs is causing health problems. Since I began writing about this problem nearly two years ago, I've been able to help lots of people get rid of the headaches they'd been experiencing daily by recommending smartphones and light bulbs that don't flicker.

Unfortunately, Samsung is one of the worst offenders of flickering displays. Those displays are only getting harsher and more painful every year since companies are obsessed with making them brighter and brighter. The solution is extraordinarily simple, but Samsung so far has refused to talk about it or make any sort of accessibility changes for the betterment of its users' long-term health.

U.S. users, in particular, have almost no flicker-free options to choose from since Samsung, Google, and Apple all now equip every phone they make with flickering displays. Samsung has a real opportunity to get things right with the Galaxy S25 series and take the lead on eye health as the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.

If companies like OnePlus, Nothing, Vivo, Xiaomi, Oppo, and many other brands can do it, Samsung can too.

Don't forget the fans

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

The last problem is the least egregious but one that probably irritated fans the most. At launch, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's display was duller than previous Galaxy flagships.

I praised the more realistic colors of the display in my Galaxy S24 Ultra review, and while Samsung did an excellent job of tweaking the colors to make them more realistic, the company seemingly forgot that some of its users love vibrant, highly saturated colors.

Samsung released a patch about a month after the S24 Ultra's release addressing the issue and providing a vibrancy slider for folks that wanted bolder colors. Hopefully, the company won't forget this option when it launches the Galaxy S25 Ultra sometime soon.

Samsung Galaxy Reserve: free $50 credit, plus up to $1,250 of trade-in credit and more

Although the phones won't officially be announced until January 22nd, you can already guarantee yourself a $50 voucher AND up to $1,250 of trade-in credit when you sign up for Samsung's Galaxy Reserve program. Only your name and email address is required to enroll, and there's no obligation to buy if you change your mind later on. Just fill out the form and the savings are yours. View Deal

Samsung rolls out a new update ahead of the big One UI 7 launch

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 18:50:30 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung's January security update arrived with about 51 patches focused on blocking vulnerabilities that allowed hackers to read or execute codes on the user's device without permission.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series was the first to receive the update in Korea, and now the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Fold SE have been added to the list.
Five "Critical" level fixes alongside 24 "High" level fixes that address issues with Samsung’s Messages, Notification Manager, and Bootloader.

Samsung is starting its year with a fresh patch of updates for its devices. The company's security update came in hot with about 51 patches that include 21 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures(SVEs), which are specific to Samsung. The rest of the 29 patches are Android bug fixes.

These patches aim to improve the security of the devices as part of Samsung's monthly Security Maintenance Release (SMR) process. The update was first rolled out to the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in South Korea for users who have the One UI 7 Beta 3 update. Today (Jan. 9), the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Fold SE received the security update.

A bulk of these patches focused on blocking vulnerabilities that allowed hackers to read or execute codes on the user's device without permission, and one of them even changed the configuration of device notifications without the user's knowledge on Android versions 12, 13, and 14. (Via SamMobile).

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

While Samsung didn't disclose what these vulnerabilities exactly were, Samsung's patch changelog mentions five "Critical" level fixes alongside 24 "High" level fixes. They address issues with Samsung’s Messages, Notification Manager, and Bootloader.

As of today, this security patch is available only on carrier-locked units in the U.S. and all devices in South Korea. However, according to its website, Samsung plans on releasing this update to all above-mentioned devices globally and said that "delivery time of security patches may vary depending on the regions and models."

Users can check for an update on their devices by heading to Settings > System & updates > Security update. Don't be too bumped if you didn't receive the update yet as it has been rolling out in phases.

Meanwhile, Pixel devices also received its January patch this week, rolling out for devices Pixel 6 and up. There were bug fixes for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series, but the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series only get security improvements.

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung is currently swamped planning for its next big Unpacked event set to take place on January 22 in California, finally revealing the Galaxy S25 series and stable One UI 7 to the world. For more about what we expect from this year's flagships, you can check out our ultimate Galaxy S25 guide.

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Samsung brings third One UI 7 beta for Galaxy S24 series in several regions

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:59:34 +0000

What you need to know

Galaxy S24 series across multiple regions is seeing a new One UI 7 beta update rolling out.
The firmware brings notable improvements alongside several bug fixes from the previous builds.
It is a sizable update bearing "ZXLJ" builds irrespective of region.

After a long wait, Samsung finally released One UI 7 in beta for the Galaxy S24 series late last year. Starting with the U.S., the company has already released two betas, and today (Jan 5), Samsung has started releasing the third beta in several regions.

The trio, the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, had started getting new Android 15-based One UI 7 beta 3 updates in several regions beginning with Germany, and as SamMobile notes, it is available for users in India and Poland as well. However, the latter two countries are getting the same update as beta 2, while the other countries have got two betas already (including the U.S.) — this marks the third significant beta update.

Finally ‼️ Galaxy S24: One UI 7 beta 3 update released in Germany Build version: S928BXXU4ZXLJ/S928BOXM4ZXLJ/S928BXXU4BXLJ pic.twitter.com/5vlGcJUJaUJanuary 6, 2025

Regardless, the firmware updates end with "ZXLJ" build numbers irrespective of the regions, and the changelog for all three Galaxy S24 series is fairly the same.

Per the changelog, the update includes loads of improvements alongside several bug fixes. Game Booster mode has a couple of enhancements, such as the ability to change the screen playback's default setting, changing the FPS setting name and max value, and the ability to set the default scanning rate to 120Hz.

Samsung Messages also gain a "Modify Exception" when saving an MMS image. The One UI 7 has introduced a vertical app drawer, and the scrolling interface will likely see improvements with the new firmware update. Quick panel closing operation will also seem better with the latest build.

Android Central

The notable fixes are the lock screen, always-on display, and status bar battery icon (revamped with One UI 7). Other notable things to note are the issue with volume key operation error while using Routine+ mode, which is believed to be fixed with the new update. Edge panel tools, which weren't displayed earlier, seem to have been fixed now.

Further, the third beta of One UI 7 is a sizable one bearing at least 1.2GB and comes with a January security patch. Needless to say, the owners of the Galaxy S24 series who are enrolled in the One UI 7 beta program are eligible for the latest update. If you haven't enrolled yet, the best way to experience these features is to wait for the stable release, which is rumored to be coming after the Galaxy S25 series launch, which is expected to happen later this month.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: How much better is the new one?

yorknectar@gmail.com (Judy Sanhz) — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:10:41 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

The newest plus-sized Galaxy

Packing a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip and a refreshed design, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is the best middle child yet. Best of all, it's priced the exact same as the Galaxy S24 Plus.

Pros

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
One UI 7 at launch
Same design as other S25 models

Cons

No camera upgrades
Relatively slow charging speeds
No Qi2/MagSafe support

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

The older Galaxy

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus has much to offer, such as a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection. It comes with Android 14 out of the box but upgrades to Android 15. You also get top-notch IP68 protection, meaning you can submerge your phone in up to 1.5 meters of water.

Pros

High-resolution 120Hz display
Seven years of OS and security updates guaranteed
12GB of RAM as standard

Cons

Audio quality isn't the best

With a bit of distance, it's quite easy to mistake the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus for its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Plus. That's because most of Samsung's improvements this time around come in the way of a speedy Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and new AI features. So, if you have a Galaxy S24 Plus, is it time to upgrade?

While the Galaxy S25 Plus might be plenty appealing to people with older Android phones, the truth is that it might not be the best fit for people that have a Galaxy S24 Plus already. But if you're in the market for a new phone, should you choose the discounted Galaxy S24 Plus or the brand-new Galaxy S25 Plus?

After reviewing the Galaxy S25 Plus, that's what this comparison will help you find out.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Design

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The Galaxy S25 Plus features the same triple camera setup seen in previous Galaxy models but with a style inspired by the Galaxy Z Fold 6. You'll find thin bezels around the outer perimeter of the rounded corner design and an LED flash to the right. This DSLR-inspired look represents a slight design tweak for the Galaxy S25 Plus. We're talking about those black rings surrounding the lenses, while the rest of the back panel remains simple.

The Galaxy S25 Plus's IP rating is the same IP68 rating as the previous model. The S25 Plus shares the design of the other two new models, with flat sides all around and an entirely flat front and back glass with rounded corners. It's also slightly smaller, with dimensions of 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm and a 190-gram weight.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus has an Armor Aluminum 2 frame with tough drop and scratch resistance. Samsung also added Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The S24 Plus measures 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm and has a glass back with a matte finish. The weight of the S24 Plus is 196 or 197 grams, making the Galaxy S25 Plus noticeably lighter.

The Galaxy S24 Plus comes in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow, with exclusive colors including Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange. The new model is available in Icyblue, Navy, Mint, and Silver Shadow, plus Samsung online exclusive colorways.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Display

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Both the new Galaxy S25 Plus and old Galaxy S24 Plus have the same 6.7-inch display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ resolution. The Galaxy S24 also has a 19.5:9 ratio and 513ppi density, giving it a sharp resolution. The Galaxy S24 Plus has excellent colors, and the phone also supports HDR10 Plus. The new model support ProScaler for QHD+, which uses AI to improve quality.

The Super HDR preview is visible in the viewfinder and gallery. Samsung also added a peak brightness of 2,600 to the Galaxy S24, and the Galaxy S25 will match or beat that.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Hardware

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The S25 Plus ships with a 4,900mAh battery. While the charging speed is unchanged, you'll still be able to charge at up to 45W with a cable. Unfortunately, there's MagSafe support here — only Qi2 support that requires a separate magnetic case to fully unlock.

Samsung stuck with the same cameras for another generation, meaning that the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S24 Plus are both headlined by a 50MP main sensor. There's also a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP, 3x optical zoom telephoto lens. You can record 8K videos with stereo sound and HDR10, which enhances the colors, brightness, and contrast of your phone's display.

Samsung also improved the S25 Plus connectivity options with NFC, GNSS, 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 7.

The new Galaxy S25 Plus' biggest improvement is in its Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. It's based on Qualcomm's laptop chips and is paired with 12GB of memory. By comparison, the Galaxy S24 Plus has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM. Storage options include 256GB and 512GB, and UFS 4.0 is also included.

Category	Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus	Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
OS	Android 15, One UI 7	Android 14 upgrades to Android 15, One UI 6
Display	6.7-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED display	6.7-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED, 1440 x 3120 pixels resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
RAM	12GB RAM	12GB RAM
Storage	256GB/512GB/1TB storage	256GB/512GB/1TB storage
Cameras	50MP wide-angle, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 12MP selfie	50MP wide-angle, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 12MP selfie
Ingress Protection	IP68	IP68 rating
Battery	4,900mAh	4,900mAh
Charging	45W wired and (up to) 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless	45W wired and (up to) 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless
Dimensions	158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm	158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7 mm
Weight	190g	196g
Colors	Icyblue, Navy, Mint, Silver Shadow	Amber Yellow, Cobalt Violet, Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, Sandstone Orange

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Software

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Galaxy S25 Plus launches with One UI 7, including a fresh design focusing on simplicity, new elements that bring positive feelings, and a unique One UI vibe. Samsung keeps adding goodies, such as improved motion dynamics and a new blur system.

With One UI 7, users get new visuals, such as updated widgets and icons, smoother animations, and a split Quick Settings and Notification Pane. The update also brings a flashy animation when charging your phone and useful gestures for adjusting brightness. Notifications also have a dedicated panel and a handy gesture for turning on Dark Mode.

If you use the camera app often, you'll notice a massive redesign for one-handed use, focusing on zoom options and easier access to modes. You'll get seven years of OS upgrades with both models, so longevity should be excellent.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus comes with One UI 6 out of the box but can be upgraded to One UI 7 when the update becomes available. Unfortunately, it has been delayed multiple times, and we don't know when the Galaxy S24 Plus will get the boost — or whether all features will be supported across models.

It has Galaxy AI, where you can use fun and helpful tools such as Circle to Search, Real-time translation, transcribing conversations into text with speaker labels, Chat Assist, Note Assist, AI Photo Editor, and more. All models in the S24 series get seven years of updates.

You can check out more of what to expect from the Galaxy S25's software by checking out our impressions of the One UI 7 beta.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Should you upgrade?

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The Galaxy S25 Plus got the much-anticipated Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, undoubtedly making the newer model a more tempting option than the older Galaxy S24 Plus. However, both phones are still very capable in 2025. If you have a Galaxy S24 Plus, it's safe to say you don't need to upgrade. With that being said, new buyers will love the speed of the Galaxy S25 Plus and its new AI features.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

The big-screen Galaxy

The Galaxy S25 Plus has same design as the other models and ships with the stable version of One UI 7 with all the Galaxy AI goodies. It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, which is a huge advantage.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

The older Galaxy

The Galaxy S24 Plus is still a great option with its 6.7-Inch LTPO AMOLED display. You can enjoy Android 14 out of the but upgrade to Android 15. You get a powerful processor and crisp colors when watching your favorite videos.

The Galaxy S24 might have faster fingerprint unlocks with One UI 7 beta

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 06:04:18 +0000

What you need to know

The Galaxy S24 series could see a fingerprint scanner boost with the next One UI 7 beta, speeding up unlocking.
Ice Universe leaked a preview video showing off the improved scanner, with sharper lock/unlock sounds also in the mix.
The third One UI 7 beta is expected to hit testers in early January, with the final update arriving after the Galaxy S25 launch.

The Galaxy S24 series might be getting a biometric upgrade, with a new report hinting that the next One UI 7 beta will bring big improvements to the fingerprint scanner experience.

Reliable leaker Ice Universe spilled the beans about the upcoming One UI 7 beta 3 update, saying it’ll speed up fingerprint unlocking on the Galaxy S24 series. The leak also hints at sharper lock/unlock sounds for the Galaxy S24. To back it up, the tipster even dropped a video of the improved biometric scanner on X.

Not only the sound is clearer, but also the fingerprint unlocking speed is extremely fast, which is faster than the previous version. pic.twitter.com/7tCIKgGrOWJanuary 2, 2025

It's fair to say that the Galaxy S24 series packs top-tier fingerprint tech, using ultrasonic sensors that outpace optical ones in speed and reliability. It works great even with wet hands, which has been a standout feature for Samsung’s flagship phones.

But earlier One UI versions sometimes caused slowdowns, making the fingerprint unlock feel sluggish. So, it's reassuring to learn that the next update might address this.

The snappier animations add to the speedier feel, but with Always-On Display active in the demo, it’s hard to tell how much faster the fingerprint unlock really is. SamMobile points out it might not feel as quick without Always-On Display.

Samsung’s One UI 7 beta testing for Galaxy S24 users is currently underway, giving them a sneak peek at the upcoming update. The third beta is expected to roll out to testers in the first week of January.

However, the final One UI 7 update will roll out to the Galaxy S24 series after the Galaxy S25 launch. On the other hand, users not in the beta program will need to wait a bit longer to get these updates.

One UI 7 brings a number of nifty upgrades, including improved Galaxy AI and plenty of new features. Samsung is taking its time with this update, showing its commitment to polishing everything before releasing it.

2025 could be very different for Google and Samsung — here's why

shruti.shekar@futurenet.com (Shruti Shekar) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:10 +0000

Off the Record

(Image credit: Android Central)

Off the Record is a weekly column written by Android Central's editor-in-chief. The column looks to expand and go in-depth on topics in the Android space without any limitations.

Google and Samsung had very different years in 2024. Google soared to the top, managing to have one of its largest lineup of devices launch in the fall and a successful year with expanding Gemini. On the other hand, Samsung had a bumpy road with a successful S24 and A series launch and getting on track with Galaxy AI, but it struggled with its series 6 foldable lineup.

It isn’t unheard of for companies to have a good or a bad year; that’s how the tech space works. There are ebbs and flows to success, and it doesn’t mean that a company is permanently bad or will always be seen as good.

I spoke to three industry research analysts who told me about why either company did well and areas of improvement for 2025.

Google needs to keep innovating

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

As I said earlier, Google had a great year. The company became a strong competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT by launching Gemini in more countries and, by the end of the year, launched Gemini 2.0 Experimental Advance for Gemini Advance subscribers.

It successfully rolled out stable Android 15 and even launched the Android 16 developer preview much earlier than usual. In the fall, Google launched its Pixel 9 series along with other products, and in the time I’ve been covering technology, it was the biggest launch of products I’ve ever seen Google do.

However, Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint Research, says it’s hard to tell whether the launch of Gemini AI on its Pixel 9 series of phones has helped with sales.

“[The] Gemini AI effect has yet to be seen fully to boost Google Pixel sales, however, it is definitely one of the key hooks in coming years for Google Pixel to bring flagship Gen AI experiences on the Pixel hardware,” he notes.

I would agree; I don’t think we’re at a point yet where people are buying a phone because of its AI capabilities. I don’t think there are enough features or average enough use case scenarios where people are using AI daily, and I believe people don’t know enough about AI.

That being said, one of my favorite features, and in my opinion, the best feature Google came out with this year, was Circle to Search. It is hands down the most innovative feature and one that I actively use on a daily basis. But apart from that, I really haven’t been using many of Gemini’s features on a day-to-day basis.

Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, agrees and adds that Google needs to focus on innovating Gemini for more general features.

“Google’s constant iteration and use of user feedback along with improvements in distribution and pricing along with increased marketing spend have helped the company gain share in the past few years. Having differentiating features such as great photography, call screening, Magic Eraser, and other AI features have helped along the way,” he says.

Ubrani adds that in 2025, he’d also like to see Google expand Gemini across all platforms and devices, not just smartphones. This is something that I hope Google prioritizes next year.

(Image credit: Google)

This year, Google also launched one of the biggest suites of products that I’ve ever seen a company do in a long time. More importantly, it launched the Pixel 9 series with Gemini integrated into it.

I think the Pixel 9 series is one of Google's best phone launches. While I had no issues with the phone, there can always be improvements, according to Anshel Sag, principal analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy.

“Google needs to improve the Pixel battery life, by moving to advanced nodes and using the best processors. The same goes for Wi-Fi connectivity and 5G, I was really disappointed how much of a downgrade the Pixel was on connectivity from my S24 Ultra,” he said.

And Google is likely planning to address this issue with rumors indicating that the Pixel 10 lineup will have the Tensor G5. Google has also allegedly finished its design and sent it along for manufacturing at TSMC, ending the era of Samsung-produced designs. TSMC tends to manufacture better chipsets than Samsung. For reference, Qualcomm used Samsung to produce the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a processor that was infamous for overheating and heavy throttling.

So, for all we know, the issue surrounding a slower battery might be resolved, making the Pixel 10 lineup an even more premium device.

I know Google will have a smooth 2025, but I just hope that when it comes to AI, it is really able to push the average consumer and help them understand how to use AI safely and efficiently daily.

2025 will be the rise of success for Samsung

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

It is widely known that Samsung bears the hat of having the best Android phones and is constantly the leader in the Android space. However, this past year, the company faced several challenges despite starting the year strong by launching its S24 series of phones.

But while the S24 was a great series, it didn’t really help improve the downward trajectory of Samsung’s sales. In April 2024, Samsung initiated a six-day workweek for executives to create "a sense of crisis" among the company's leadership team.

Where Samsung began to really struggle was after launching its Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, which in many tech circles was more of an iterative update to what it launched last year. The phones weren’t super exciting and weren’t as innovative as they have been in previous years.

Samsung noticed this to the point where, for the first time, Samsung Electronics' DS Division, Jeon Young-hyun, issued a rare apology for the company's failure to innovate. He acknowledged that outsiders are viewing the company's current situation as a "crisis" and vowed to make changes and improvements that will benefit investors, customers, and employees alike.

It came to a point where other companies were even mocking the release of the Z Fold 6 and how thick it was, like Honor engraving a tiny "world's smallest apology" on the hinge of a special-edition Magic V3.

(Image credit: Honor)

IDC also confirmed that Samsung had lost smartphone market share as of Q2 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023. The research firm also stated that while Samsung moved over 53 million smartphone units in the second quarter, its market share dipped to 18.4 percent, down from 20% in the same period last year. This comes at a time when other China-based brands like Xiaomi and Vivo have been innovating and expanding their market share.

Ubrani says, “Samsung has rested on their laurels for far too long, and it’s starting to catch up to them. Most Chinese smartphone brands have outengineered and out innovated them in recent years when it comes to things like foldables, battery life, gaming performance, cameras, etc."

For the longest time, Samsung has focused on competition with Apple when globally they’re competing with many more brands. To be successful, Samsung needs to realize that there’s more than just Apple. Samsung should leverage their scale to iterate faster and continue to invest in marketing like they used to do so during the pre-pandemic era.”

Shah also notes that the launch of the S and A series helped keep Samsung afloat, but if it wants to get its numbers back up, it needs to focus on innovating its foldables.

“The foldables performance has been disappointing, which [offset] the good traction for S and A series this year,” he said. “Samsung will have to protect its foldable leadership position as players such as Google, OnePlus and others are coming up with better form-factors. Designs and camera performance.”

I think Samsung is fine; it is not the type of company to fail, and it knows when to fix itself; case in point, the public apology. However, I do think that Samsung needs to stay focused on itself and not constantly look at what other companies are doing. Yes, to stay in the game, you need to see what others are doing, but looking too much will distract you.

Sag agrees, adding that Samsung needs to stop looking at what Apple is doing to innovate because its customers don’t care about Apple.

“Samsung needs to lean into what makes Android fun and exciting, people are not really switching between Android and iOS (Razr+ excepted). Samsung needs to figure out how to execute Galaxy AI in a more meaningful manner and get back its reputation as the carrier of the Android banner,” he said.

I would wholeheartedly agree that Samsung needs to remind its users why it’s the best innovator and why it was the first to introduce foldables and excite its users again.

I’ve been covering technology for many years, and 2024 has been a fascinating year for both Google and Samsung. I expect a lot from both companies in 2025, and I can’t wait to see how they innovate more.

This Samsung patent could signal the return of the 'curved-edge' Galaxy phone

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:09:54 +0000

What you need to know

A report cites a recently published Samsung patent that filed a concept for a 'curved-edge' display.
The design of the device in question seems similar to an Ultra-level phone (like the S23 Ultra); however Samsung details new improvements for durability.
Samsung made such displays popular, but they came with issues for screen protectors and accidental touches for the user.
A recent leak showed off the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25 Plus alongside a rumor that the series could debut on January 22, 2025.

Thin, flat phones are all the rage, but a newly discovered Samsung patent suggests it could revert that narrative.

According to MSPowerUser, Samsung recently published a new patent regarding a "new" phone design (via Android Headlines). The design that the document details isn't anything new as the Korean OEM reportedly filed a concept for a "curved-edge display" Galaxy phone. The initial illustration of this design looks familiar as we're able to note the slight curved-edge on its frame, which would (ideally) bend the display downward a touch.

Moreover, the drawing in question seems to suggest a curved display for an Ultra-level phone as it shows an S Pen in its slot on the left corner. Another illustration then shows the internal component structure to support the stylus and its slot.

Such a design would make sense for an Ultra model as Samsung has given that device specifically the curved treatment before.

The publication spotted another aspect of this recently published patent that concerns Samsung's apparent "improved durability" and "leak prevention assembly." The folks at Android Headlines state that the improved "leak" prevention likely regards the sealant used within the phone.

Regarding durability, Samsung is potentially working on a stronger display that, when curved like this, isn't so prone to damage.

MSPowerUser

There are no clear signs about whether or not we could see the return of this curved Galaxy phone design. The post speculates that this could fall into our hands for the Galaxy S26 or S27 series, but both are a long ways away.

Users haven't had such an obvious curved-edge display since the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is ever-so-slight, but it was a move toward the flat display trend. Android Central once polled its readers about their preference between flat or curved display and the result was unanimously in favor of the former. While you could say Samsung popularized the curved display — and, for whatever reason they scream "premium" — these screens come with issues.

Screen protectors have a tough time conforming to such a curved structure and there's always the accidental touch when holding it.

With the Galaxy S25 series coming up, we've seen leaked renders that continuously point toward a thin, flat era. It seems as though Samsung is doing this to better compete with Apple, which is something it's done considerably in other areas.

Nevertheless, the next flagship trio from Samsung is rumored to arrive on January 22, 2025.