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It’s not good news for millions of Samsung Galaxy users
Updated on September 26 with new update suggesting Samsung’s One UI 7 Beta is preparing for release and the deadline for its account requirement expiring.
Even as Samsung flagship devices fly from shelves, there’s bad news coming for million of Galaxy owners who have paid significantly more than $1000 for a latest, greatest smartphone. And with the launches of Apple’s iPhone 16 and Google’s Pixel 9, there’s little room for mistakes with competition fiercer than we’ve seen before.
Unfortunately for Samsung and its Galaxy users, the Korean giant’s biggest challenge looks again to have taken a bite out of its offering. Unlike Apple, which controls the full iPhone hardware and software combination, Samsung needs to work within Google’s complex Android ecosystem which causes constant delays. And while that impacts new features, it also hits security and privacy, which is Apple’s sweet spot.
Security delayed is security denied, which is bad news given the huge advances that Android 15 will bring to Samsung and the surprising wait to get them. As 9to5Google warns, “Samsung still doesn’t know when the first One UI 7 beta with Android 15 will be released… Samsung was supposed to release its first One UI 7 beta update over a month ago, but it’s been delayed indefinitely and, apparently, the company has no firm plans for when its first look at Android 15 will actually arrive.”
It will be a source of understandable frustration that just as Samsung seems in a state of flux as to when its own Android 15 release will see daylight, Pixel users are being told they could get the generally available update as early as October 15. “Google pushed Android 15 to AOSP back on September 3,” Android Headlines has said, “but the update is not scheduled for Pixel devices until October. We are now able to share exactly when that update will be available–that’s October 15.”
And while today it looks like the One UI 7 beta may finally be near, there’s no confirmation and certainly no word on an actual release date. From a security standpoint, any delays to the rollout of an OS update that includes a range of important security updates, including theft protection, partial screen sharing. enhanced WiFi security, and scam defenses seems a mistake. But Samsung’s update decisions look likely to cause much more serious alarm for Galaxy users.
Two of the best security updates coming with Android 15 may not come to Galaxy anytime soon. The first is cellular defense, which warns users when a real or likely rogue network is repeatedly pinging their device for hardware and SIM identities, which can be a prelude to an attack or interception, and similarly it defends against a phone being knocked down to a less encrypted—again often rogue—network.
This update requires collaboration between modem and device, and is an area where Samsung has decided not to play before. Google has also warned users to completely disable 2G for the same reason, but as SammyGuru warns, “Unfortunately, Samsung devices do not offer this function in globally—the option is available in some countries. Flagship models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra also lack this fundamental tool. The device can be forced to 2G-only mode but you cannot disable 2G.”
On this, EFF has criticized Samsung for “not taking any steps to include the 2G toggle from vanilla Android… failures to act [that] suggest Samsung considers its users’ security and privacy to be an afterthought. Those concerned with the security and privacy of their mobile devices should strongly consider using other hardware.”
The second key update is Google’s live threat detection, which uses on-device AI to scan to flag apps that may be behaving badly to enable a user to shut them down ahead of any more universal Play Protect action is taken. When announcing this critical update during May’s I/O event, Google said that “Pixel, Honor, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Sharp, Transsion, and other manufacturers are deploying live threat detection later this year.” Samsung was not mentioned at that time.
Whether or not Samsung’s Android 15 includes all features, users will want it as soon as possible. But SamMobile has added its own warning regarding the timing of the Android 15 beta, never mind the actual release. Albeit an update today suggests that the beta is being teased and could arrive soon. All hints and maybes, though.
In an update it says “isn’t pleasing,” SamMobile says that “last year Samsung rolled out Android 14-based One UI 6.0 Beta right before SDC23… the brand should have released One UI 7.0 Beta by now as the SDC24 is only a few days away (starts on 3 October 2024). However, we don’t have any sign of the new update.”
Samsung is not standing still and is taking its own steps to better protect Galaxy users, including defaulting to maximum protections, making sideloading as difficult as possible, and enhancing security across its ecosystem. But users will rightly expect the full suite of Android defenses as well. I have approached Samsung to ask about live threat detection, cellular defense, 2G disabling and the timing of Android 15.
Meanwhile, for millions of users it remains a case of wait and see, albeit we we have now seen another tease that suggests Samsung’s One UI 7 Beta might indeed be imminent, with one user posting on X on September 26 that “Samsung is preparing for Android 15, as they have added support to the Members, Knox, and Wonderland apps. Could this mean the One UI 7 beta is just around the corner?”
Worth a quick reminder then which Samsung devices are likely eligible for the upgrade. As collated by SammyFans, the list is likely as follows:
Galaxy S Android 15 Update List
- Galaxy S21
- Galaxy S21+
- Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Galaxy S21 FE
- Galaxy S22
- Galaxy S22+
- Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Galaxy S23
- Galaxy S23+
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Galaxy S23 FE
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy S24+
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy Z Android 15 Update List
- Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Galaxy Z Flip 6
Galaxy Tab Android 15 Update List
- Galaxy Tab A9 / A9+
- Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro
- Galaxy Tab S8 / S8+ / Tab S8 Ultra
- Galaxy Tab S9 / S9+ / S9 Ultra
- Galaxy Tab S9 FE / S9 FE+
Galaxy A/M/F Android 15 Update List
- Galaxy A06
- Galaxy A05s / A15 / A25 /A35 /A55
- Galaxy A14 / A24 / A34 / A54
- Galaxy A33 / A53 / A73
- Galaxy M14 / F14
- Galaxy M34 / M54 / F54
- Galaxy M35 /M55 / F55
No confirmation yet on timelines, or what functionality and features will make it into the beta or full release. All we do know is that Samsung is tracking behind Pixel and from the information given thus far, some key security features are likely missing.
Meanwhile, there’s another update problem that you may encounter as you wait for the beta or full release of One UI & to hit your device, one that has slipped the notice of most users but which has now come into effect.
The deadline has just passed for Samsung users (who haven’t already done so) to create a Samsung account to enable downloads from Galaxy store to install. Various outlets have picked up on the change in policy, advising users without Samsung accounts to rectify that to ensure that no updates or installs get caught out.
As Phone Arena warns, “Even if Galaxy Store is not where you usually get your apps, you’ll probably still need to create a Samsung account sooner or later, otherwise, some of the apps you already have on your phone may stop getting updates.”
The site goes on to explain that “at the moment, the Galaxy Store app works as it did before the requirement was imposed when you are simply browsing it and, for me, it also started the download process when I wasn’t logged in, but, for completing the installation process, you must log in to a Samsung account.”
Meanwhile, 9to5Google warns that “Galaxy Store now requires a Samsung account, but doesn’t tell you until it’s too late… It’s not until you actually go to download an app that a pop-up requires you to sign in, and there’s no way to skip. A link for ‘Forgot password or don’t have an account?’ just prompts you to create an account, rather than letting you skip… The same applies to app updates. Even if you have pending app updates for system apps, they won’t go through unless you sign in. In fact, you can’t even see available updates without signing in.”
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