The delay in rolling out Samsung One UI 7 to the Galaxy S series has not been fully explained by Samsung with a single, definitive reason, but several factors have been highlighted through official statements and user speculation based on available information. One UI 7, built on Android 15, officially launched with the Galaxy S25 series on January 22, 2025, but older S series devices like the S24, S23, and S22 have faced a slower rollout, with the stable version only starting to reach them as of April 7, 2025, in some regions like Korea, and April 10, 2025, in the US.
One key factor appears to be the extensive refinement process for this update. Samsung has described One UI 7 as a significant overhaul, with a new interface designed for AI integration, a simplified home screen, and features like the Now Bar. Sally, a Samsung software official, noted that planning for this version began two to three years ago, suggesting a longer development cycle to ensure a polished experience. The beta program, which started in December 2024 for the S24 series and extended over multiple builds, indicates Samsung has been focused on fixing bugs and optimizing performance, possibly contributing to the delay as they aimed to avoid releasing an unstable update.
Another possible reason is strategic prioritization. The Galaxy S25 series shipped with One UI 7 pre-installed, and some speculate Samsung delayed the update for older devices to boost S25 sales. Users on platforms like Reddit and X have pointed out that this gap—where only S25 owners initially had the stable version—might encourage upgrades, especially since the S25 series saw strong sales (1.3 million units in South Korea in 21 days). However, this theory lacks direct confirmation from Samsung.
Technical challenges could also play a role. The update’s complexity, including smoother animations and enhanced Galaxy AI features, might require additional time to ensure compatibility with older chipsets in devices like the S23 and S22. The beta testing, which stretched over three months with five builds for the S24 series, supports the idea that Samsung encountered issues needing resolution before a wider rollout.
Finally, Samsung’s staggered rollout approach—starting with newer flagships like the S24 series and gradually moving to older models—reflects their typical strategy, but the timeline has been slower than previous updates like One UI 6, which rolled out within a month of Android 14’s release in 2023. While competitors like Xiaomi and OnePlus delivered Android 15 faster, Samsung’s focus on a major UI redesign and quality control seems to have extended the process.
In short, the delay likely stems from a mix of a lengthy development focus on a significant update, potential strategic sales tactics, and the need for thorough testing, though Samsung hasn’t explicitly pinned it on one cause. The stable rollout is now underway, hitting the S24 series first, with the S23 and S22 series following in the coming weeks.
