Samsung hasn’t yet started the One UI 7.0 beta program, but there will soon be one. The One UI beta program is generally available for eligible Samsung Galaxy devices in the US.

Typically, the latest flagship models like the Galaxy S series (Galaxy S24 and S23) and sometimes newer foldable (Fold6 and Fold5) devices are included in the initial rollout of the One UI beta program. Older flagships and some mid-range models might also join the beta program later.

The beta program often starts in select regions with countries like the US, South Korea, India, and Germany being among the first to receive access. However, no exact schedule is provided for when each country will join.

Specifically, the One UI beta program in the US has been available through select carriers. T-Mobile often participates in Samsung’s One UI beta programs. It is among the first carriers to support beta versions in the US.

Additionally, unlocked Samsung Galaxy devices in the US can join the beta program. Other carriers like Verizon and AT&T don’t offer the beta program for the carrier-locked Galaxy devices. However, unlocked models on these networks can still participate in the beta program.

For the US, you can sign up through the Samsung Members app, which is necessary for participation. To get the beta, you need to follow this:

1. Download the Samsung Members app from the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store.
2. Log in with a Samsung Account.
3. Look for the banner or notice about the One UI Beta Program and register.

While exact release dates can vary, based on the information available, the One UI 7 beta is anticipated to start around November for eligible devices, with a full release expected in January alongside new device launches, the Galaxy S25 series.

After the Galaxy S20 series, Samsung has dropped monthly update support for the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S20 FE 5G smartphones. This means that these devices will no longer receive monthly security updates.

Samsung just recently revealed its updated software plan for November 2024. It shows that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S20 FE 5G smartphones have been shifted from the monthly to the quarterly update plan.

Now, these Galaxy S20 FE phones will receive software updates every three months. Back in April 2024, Samsung mistakenly moved the Galaxy S20 FE phones to a quarterly update plan, along with the Galaxy Note 20 series. However, the company quickly reverted them to the monthly update plan. Now, the quarterly update plan is back in place for the Galaxy S20 FE phones.

Notably, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the first smartphone in the Galaxy S Fan Edition series, offering premium features at an affordable price.

Launched in 2020, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S20 FE 5G phones initially came with Android 10. They are currently running Android 13-based One UI 5.1. These devices are not eligible for Android 14 or later OS updates. Now, they have also dropped support for monthly updates.

Even though the Galaxy S20 FE phones will no longer receive monthly updates, they are still functional and continue to work well. Users will still get support for important updates for apps, but the main drawback is that the phones won’t get the latest security patches every month, which could affect their overall security.

If you are looking to upgrade your Galaxy S20 FE smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE could be a good choice. This smartphone comes with the latest software and features, making it a great option for those looking for an upgrade.

November 2024 Update Plan: Samsung offers security patches for over 140 Galaxy devices

As a long-time Samsung Galaxy user, I am familiar with many of the key innovations and developments in the smartphone industry. In the ever-evolving smartphone technology, software updates play a crucial role in enhancing device performance, security, and features.

The world’s best smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics, is rumored to be bringing a significant software update method to its upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S25 series, with the introduction of seamless software updates. This feature, if implemented, could change things up for how its phones manage software upgrades. It would bring Samsung in line with what users have come to expect from competitors like Google.

Importance of Seamless software update?

Having seamless updates makes life a lot easier for smartphone users. Normally, updating a phone’s software means being without your device for several minutes or even longer (in major software update cases) while the system prepares, installs, and reboots. This process can be a real pain, especially if you’re out or right in the middle of something important.

With Seamless updates, you don’t need to worry about the time-consuming process. It allows the phone to download an update in the background and install it to an inactive partition. When you reboot your phone, it switches to this updated partition, minimizing downtime. There’s a safety net; if something goes wrong with the new software update, the phone can revert to the previous version easily, reducing the risk of serious issues like “bricking” your device.

If the Galaxy S25 rumors turn out to be true, Samsung might finally introduce a feature that many users, particularly beta testers of One UI, have been eagerly anticipating.

From my own experience in One UI beta testing, the lack of seamless updates often meant extended times without phone functionality during updates. This could change with the S25, making beta testing more accessible and less difficult.

Samsung has provided updates effectively in the past, but they’ve never been seamless like Google‘s. By adopting the seamless updates method, Samsung could show they care about user experience just as much.

About the history, Google introduced seamless updates with Android 7.0 Nougat in 2016, setting a benchmark for Android device updates. Here’s how Google does it:

Google uses A/B system partitions where one partition (A) runs the current software, and updates are installed on the other (B) without interrupting the user. The whole process happens in the background, and once they’re ready, a reboot is all that’s required to switch to the new version.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Source – Sammyfans)

How will it change the Galaxy S25 series experience?

The Galaxy S25 series users will have a great experience with the seamless software updates. The update would be downloaded and installed on an inactive system partition. When you decide to reboot or it happens automatically, your phone will switch to the updated system without the long wait typically associated with updates. The actual time your phone is unusable might only be the boot time, significantly less than the current update processes.

The Galaxy S25 will be breaking new ground here, bringing this crucial feature to the table before any other Samsung phone. It’ll be the only model in the Galaxy family.

Alongside this feature, there’s expected to be a larger display for all models, with the S25 Ultra possibly featuring a more rounded back for comfort. It is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, promising exceptional performance. The series is rumored to launch in January 2025 with the Android 15-based One UI 7 software.