Samsung has detailed the release timeline for the One UI 8 update for a variety of Galaxy phones and tablets, allowing owners to get a clearer sense of the arrival date for the stable update.
The firm is focusing mainly on its latest flagships and foldables first, before a swift pass across midrange devices and tablets soon after.
What’s rolling out first in Samsung’s One UI 8 update
That won’t be the case for long, though — Samsung plans to push stable builds of One UI 8 out to the Galaxy S24 series, alongside both Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 models and some of its mid-rangers such as the A56 5G and A36 5G. That places last year’s flagships and this year’s foldables toward the front of the line in keeping with Samsung’s pattern of updating premium devices before turning to the rest of its range.
All other qualifying models are expected next month. The company has traditionally grouped updates by device family — S series and foldables first, followed by the A series mid-rangers, then finally bringing it to Galaxy Tab models — meaning everyone gets a compressed rollout in relatively short order instead of months-long drips and drabs.
Brazil provides weekly timeline for Samsung’s One UI 8 rollout
The Brazilian Samsung Newsroom has shared a schedule that can be considered more than just month-by-month estimates, with target weeks for specific devices being penciled in.
Although the specifics refer to the Brazilian market, this added granularity is an indication of where Samsung’s testing has reached and usually reflects the timing globally, subject to carrier approvals and regional variants.
If Brazil is getting One UI 8 on top models this month and the rest next, other key markets generally stay in sync. The company’s Korean community moderators have also posted a month-by-month schedule, which backs up our belief that most eligible devices shouldn’t be waiting all that long once the first wave drops.
Eligible devices and Samsung’s support policy
Samsung has been aggressive about supporting software longevity for lots of its newer models — having promised long windows during which it will send out both major OS updates and monthly security patches. That policy means dozens and dozens of phones and tablets released throughout the past several cycles — especially those in the S, Z, and A families — are due for One UI 8. The full Galaxy S24 clan, today’s increasingly stylish foldables, and the latest A-series phones like the A5x line are expected to be among the first in line, with tablets like the Galaxy Tab S9 series following not too long afterward.
There’s good reason for the company to have confidence in this pace. In past cycles, Samsung has updated millions of devices within weeks when a flagship debuts, often beating other Android makers. Analysts say that the vertically integrated engineering of Samsung and its early access to platform code allow it to get certified faster and more widely deployed.
Regional differences still apply across markets and carriers
Specific dates can depend on country and carrier. Unlocked devices are the first to receive updates, then carrier-locked models take just a little longer while the network gives its stamp of approval. North America and some parts of Europe are sometimes a week or two behind open-market regions because of additional testing, but the gap seems to have been closing over the last few generations.
Owners can check on progress in the Software Update section of Settings and/or keep an eye out for notifications delivered through the Samsung Members app. Note that, as usual, availability can come in waves for a few days in an effort to balance the server load and catch last-minute issues.
Why this rollout matters for Samsung Galaxy users worldwide
One UI is the cornerstone of Samsung’s device experience, and its major updates usually bring important changes to performance, privacy, and everyday usability. Fast, predictable updates ensure the installed base is safe and uniform — a must for corporations that run fleets of devices and for consumers who hang on to their phones longer.
Armed with a clear schedule and week-level targets for at least one market, Samsung is projecting confidence in its ability to manage its software pipeline. If the company keeps with tradition, One UI 8 should land for most recent Galaxy owners in short order.
Credit: Samsung Newsroom (Brazil) and posts from Samsung’s Korean community moderators about the per-device rollout window.