A Botched One UI 7 Rollout Tarnishes Samsung’s Otherwise Stellar Update

Samsung has a bit of a problem right now. The biggest player in the Android space has flat-out fumbled the One UI 7 rollout. It is an exceptional update, but they’re kind of messing up the whole thing, what is next? Well, let’s get into it.

Delays on delays…for days

After months of delay, Samsung finally started pushing out One UI 7 a couple of weeks ago, only to abruptly pause the update for no clear or obvious reason. Samsung’s statement about the delay doesn’t offer any clarity, vaguely hinting at a possible issue. But, of course, there’s a possible explanation floating around.

To simplify, Samsung essentially pulled the firmware for the One UI 7 update for Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 devices just days after it was pushed out. Samsung confirmed this, initially saying they’ll share an updated schedule “shortly.”

One of the biggest gripes here is that the company’s statement barely acknowledges the abrupt nature of the delay. It does not offer any explanation for what may have happened, only vaguely hinting that there might be an issue of some kind.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. It seems like Samsung discovered a bug that prevented some Galaxy S24 owners from unlocking their devices. On Reddit, a few users posted about a bug with a squished and stretched lock screen, making it unusable. It’s unclear if that’s the specific bug, but it would definitely be a showstopper. 

There are also reports pointing to battery drain issues and a security loophole with Samsung’s “Secure Folder” feature, which isn’t exactly ideal for people who require the function on work-issued handsets. We might never know the real pinpoint reason for the pause, but One UI 7 is shaping up to be Samsung’s messiest software launch ever. It really is at this point.

Galaxy users can’t seem to catch a break, because with both the initial One UI 7 delay and there is going to be another delayed or staged rollout. The Korean tech giant released a new updated schedule. The biggest frustration is that it pushes some – emphasis on “some” – devices to July.

That’s a bit of a kick in the teeth because what the heck have all the extensive One UI Betas been for? It felt like it had been running forever. If beta updates don’t squash bugs, then what is the point of running a public-facing preview?

As I alluded to a second ago, a new notice in the Samsung Members app, initially spotted on Reddit, indicates that Samsung has apparently pushed some devices back to July in the latest One UI 7 schedule. 

The original schedule was updated earlier in the month, but obviously, those dates are no longer valid for practically all devices. Most have been pushed back just a little bit, but the Galaxy S23, for example, is now slated to get One UI 7 in May instead of April. The Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 are still listed for April, and at least at the time of this video going live, the rollout appears to have restarted.

The full rollout schedule now stretches all the way to July. The only upside is that the Galaxy Tab A9 is the last device slated to get updated that late, but here’s the updated schedule:

• For April it’s limited to the Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6.
• In May, a whole bunch of devices, including the S23 series, Z Fold 5 and 4, and various Galaxy Tabs, are getting One UI 7.
• June is a clean-up rollout, with even more devices, including the Galaxy A series, M series, F series, and more cheap Galaxy Tabs, all getting Android 15.
• Only the Galaxy Tab A9 is set to be updated in July.

One of the few complaints I have is that this new One UI 7 schedule shows the month each device should get the update, but the worst thing is it might not be the exact order. So, Samsung might release yet another schedule, but this is the most current one.

The optics of a slow One UI 7 rollout

It’s hard to ignore the pattern here. Samsung, a company that absolutely dominates the Android space, accounting for almost 1 in 4 Android phones sold globally, seems to be struggling with software updates. This isn’t just a minor hiccup; it erodes trust and raises questions about their ability to deliver a smooth user experience.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: “Software updates? That’s not a big deal!” But in today’s world, it absolutely is. Software is the backbone of our smartphones. It dictates performance, features, security, and in lots of ways as someone who prefers Android over other operating systems: overall user satisfaction.

A botched update can turn a premium device into a buggy mess, leading to frustration and disappointment. What annoys me more is that One UI 7 is an absolute home run. It’s brilliant. I’d even go so far as to say it might be my favourite version of Android right now. Samsung has made a conscious effort to listen to critical feedback and act on that to at the very least adjust, tune, and refine the experience to run better on more devices.

Wait…Android 16 is coming soon, though?

To add another layer of frustration to this whole One UI 7 rollout situation, leaks for One UI 8, the Android 16 update, are already popping up. It’s wild! While Samsung is still trying to get One UI 7 out the door, we’re getting details about the next version. Please make it make sense.

These leaks show that One UI 8, from what we’ve seen so far, appears to be a fairly minor update focusing on refinement and under-the-hood changes. Which, honestly, is probably what’s needed after such a major redesign in One UI 7.

Some of the changes in One UI 8 include:

• “Now Brief,” a feature currently exclusive to the Galaxy S25 series, coming to the Z Flip 6.
• Log support in the camera app for video, providing more flexibility for editors.
• A translucent new menu and an updated “added recently” section in the File Manager.
• A two-tab design for “Receive” and “Send” in Quick Share.

While these changes sound good, they make the One UI 7 rollout fumble even more confusing. If Samsung is already working on One UI 8, they really need to make sure that update is perfect. They can’t afford another botched rollout. Also, what’s going to happen to the monthly patches that devices should get? Are they going to be missing until the bigger Android 15 update arrives?

Samsung needs to get its act together. It needs to prioritize software stability and timely updates, communicate clearly with its users, and be transparent about delays and issues. It’s not just about pushing out the latest version of Android; it’s about delivering a polished, reliable experience that enhances the value of its devices.

The One UI 7 debacle is a wake-up call. Samsung needs to address these software issues head-on, or they risk tarnishing their reputation and losing ground to competitors who are hungry to take their crown. The Android world is watching, and we’re all hoping Samsung can turn things around.

Okay, that’s my take on the whole Samsung One UI 7 situation. What do you guys think? Are you experiencing these issues? Are you waiting for the update? Let me know in the comments section below.

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