Samsung’s software team seems to have found its stride. After One UI 7 got off to a sluggish start, the company managed to turn things around, rolling the update out to dozens of devices within a month. It’s a marked improvement over last year. And while One UI 7’s rollout is still wrapping up, Samsung is already looking ahead to One UI 8, which will be based on Android 16.
Beta testing could begin as early as this month, at least according to recent reports. But, as with every major version bump, not all Galaxy phones and tablets will make the cut.
Who’s Not Invited to the One UI 8 Party?
Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed which devices are in or out. But based on its software update policy—typically three years of OS upgrades for mid-range phones and four for flagships—we can make a few educated guesses. Below is a list of devices that received One UI 7, but are unlikely to go any further.
Ineligible Devices (Likely No One UI 8 Update):
- Galaxy S21
- Galaxy S21+
- Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022)
- Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro
- Galaxy A14
- Galaxy A14 5G
- Galaxy M33
- Galaxy M14
- Galaxy M14 5G
- Galaxy F14 5G
Samsung may always surprise users with an extra update, but historically, once a device hits its limit, that’s usually it.
What’s Next for One UI 8?
While Samsung hasn’t detailed its plans yet, the stable One UI 8 build is expected to debut with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in the second half of 2025. That puts the timeline somewhere around July or August, shortly after Google’s Android 16 release in June.
If the early momentum continues, Samsung could deliver One UI 8 updates faster than it did with One UI 7. But again—if your device is on the list above, it might be time to start considering your next upgrade.
