After the newest One UI 7 subject, I can’t suggest Samsung telephones

Shortly after Galaxy S23 homeowners up to date to One UI 7, many observed just a few issues had been lacking. Log video assist, Movement Pictures, AI Audio Eraser, Picture Ambient Wallpaper, and AI-powered well being insights in Samsung Well being — all core options of One UI 7 on the Galaxy S25 collection — are nowhere to be seen within the software program working on Galaxy S23 handsets.

All of the extra damning is that a minimum of one S23 Extremely proprietor has gotten all of those options to work on their cellphone with no downside. So, what provides? Is that this a mistake on Samsung’s half? A easy oversight that might be corrected? Or, is the corporate purposefully withholding these options for newer units?

We aren’t solely certain but, however I do know one factor. The extra Samsung retains fumbling its One UI 7 rollout, the much less inclined I’m to suggest its telephones going ahead.

I’ve written about One UI 7’s messy rollout just a few instances now, and with each article about it that I publish, I believe, “Absolutely, this needs to be the final time Samsung messes up.” Nonetheless, the corporate has persistently confirmed me unsuitable.

The saga of how we received right here is already well-documented, however the gist is that this: Samsung’s One UI 7 rollout is among the messiest we’ve seen in fashionable Android historical past. It took Samsung six months after Android 15’s rollout to Pixel telephones earlier than Samsung lastly began transport One UI 7 to the Galaxy S24 collection and the Galaxy Z Fold 6/Z Flip 6 — after which one other month after that earlier than One UI 7 was prepared for older telephones.

Additional, these six months had been stuffed with delay after delay and poor communication. And when Samsung lastly began One UI 7’s public rollout, the replace needed to be briefly pulled as a consequence of bugs. The entire thing was as disorderly because it will get.

And now, right here we’re as soon as once more. Virtually instantly after One UI 7 began touchdown on older {hardware}, we study that it’s not the replace we had been anticipating. It’s nonetheless One UI 7, however it’s lacking an extended checklist of some fairly vital options — options that, from what we will inform, are totally able to working on (a minimum of a few of) the telephones they’re being withheld from.

It’s regular for firms to restrict some software program options to extra fashionable smartphones. Samsung, Google, Apple, and each different model does it. However when that occurs, we anticipate a disclaimer about it forward of time. Samsung by no means did something of the type. Mixed with proof that these options can run on older telephones, Galaxy S23 customers have each proper to really feel betrayed.

This can be a pretty important subject by itself, but when it had been the primary screw-up we’d seen with One UI 7, it’d be a lot simpler to have a look at level-headed. Nonetheless, it’s a difficulty on high of many earlier months of points, and it’s all piled up in a method that I’m struggling to miss.

At this time limit, contemplating every thing that’s occurred with One UI 7 over the previous few months, I discover myself considering twice about whether or not I’m comfy recommending a Samsung cellphone proper now.

First, it was the truth that Android 15 had been publicly accessible for months with none communication from Samsung about when its telephones would get the replace. When One UI 7 was lastly accessible, Samsung botched the rollout and needed to put it on maintain. Now, with older units getting One UI 7, customers are discovering that among the options they thought can be accessible aren’t there.

There’s loads to love about Samsung’s smartphone {hardware}, and One UI 7 total is a extremely sturdy replace — considered one of my favourite items of Samsung software program in years. However when Samsung is seemingly incapable of getting One UI 7 in of us’ palms, each on time and with the options they anticipate, it’s a must to say sufficient is sufficient.

This stuff matter. How Samsung treats you and helps your $1,000+ smartphone issues. The whole lot that’s occurred with One UI 7 has made it really feel like Samsung disagrees, and this newest subject of withholding options from telephones which can be simply two years outdated — telephones which can be able to dealing with these options — reinforces that feeling.

When that’s the case, I’ve a tough time seeing why I ought to suggest a Galaxy S25 Extremely over a OnePlus 13 or Pixel 9 Professional. Should you’re looking for a cellphone proper now and are taking a look at a Samsung one, all of this could offer you pause, too. That’s to not say you shouldn’t think about or purchase a Samsung handset ever once more, however, a minimum of proper now, it might be higher to keep watch over the corporate from the sidelines.