When news broke that Samsung’s One UI 7 wouldn’t be released this year, there was a lot of complaining on the internet. Users are speculating whether Samsung is having development issues or whether there is a more serious issue with Android 15, given that Google hasn’t released any updates for its Pixel smartphones either. I did. I think there is something deeper. This isn’t necessarily a sign of trouble, but a sign of things to come as manufacturers work on their promises of extended software support.
Android version no longer matters
This is more marketable
We are already seeing changes in the way companies promote new features. Important upgrades are no longer tied to a specific Android or One UI version. Instead, Google and Samsung highlighted Gemini and Galaxy AI. I think manufacturers will continue to remove features and unlink new features as marketability increases. It’s easier to sell a product like Galaxy AI to people for a long time than to enjoy a once-a-year fleeting boom when a new Android version is released.
Profitability is also higher. Without a full-scale uprising, it will be difficult to charge users a monthly fee for Android 15. However, businesses can and will charge monthly or annual fees for Galaxy AI and Gemini Advanced. It’s not ideal, but it’s definitely what’s in front of us.
Important upgrades are no longer tied to a specific Android or One UI version.
I don’t care if Android releases are delayed, especially since they don’t have features tied to them that are needed for new devices. I would have been annoyed if Google had released the Pixel 9 series without Gemini’s many promotional features. And whether One UI 7 is released or not, we are confident that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will be released with a set of new Galaxy AI features. However, it’s not all about marketing, as there are practical reasons why the Android version is less important.
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Manufacturer promises support
It’s time to deliver updates
There are also technical benefits to separating functionality from Android versions. Samsung and Google promise seven years of software support and Android upgrades for new phones. Ultimately, the addition of more intensive AI will cause older chipsets to scream, resulting in slower performance and upset users. Instead, the Android version will be an iterative backend upgrade, adding developer options and possibly new paint. Substantive feature removal is reserved for Galaxy AI or Gemini updates. This will make it easier to optimize future Android versions for older hardware and prevent companies from backtracking on their commitments.
This will allow Samsung to ship Android 18 on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The problem is, our phones won’t come with a virtual Galaxy AI 3.0. It’s going to be frustrating, and many people will feel cheated, but I believe we’re heading there, and we’re already starting to see the impact with the Android 15 delays.
It’s okay even if there are few functions
Phone performance needs to be prioritized
We recently took a look back at the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. It’s been several years since official support ended, but it’s still fully functional. Instagram and Facebook scrolled fine, and while apps took an extra second to load, it wasn’t an outrageous experience. We don’t know how Galaxy AI will work on the Snapdragon 845, but it probably won’t need to.
If manufacturers separate support and features, they may be able to get upgraded Android versions and security patches regardless of whether the company determines that the old hardware is ready for the new features. We would appreciate it if you could provide us with secure software to run banking apps on traditional mobile phones. You won’t necessarily have to abandon new AI capabilities either. Businesses can choose devices that can handle AI functions that run server-side, reducing the burden on chipsets. Overall, there are a lot of possibilities, and companies are laying the groundwork to give them that flexibility.
Support matters, but what you think doesn’t matter
I can’t list more One UI 7-specific features that I’m excited about. We know the UI aesthetics are changing, and I’m sure there are other improvements under the hood as well. However, major headline features are no longer tied to Android releases. This may be an annoyance to some people in the future, but I think it’s for the best. Companies can keep their promises to support our phones for longer, and we benefit from being able to use our beloved devices for several more years. If you don’t always have access to the latest and greatest AI features, that’s okay. I’ve made peace with it. I hope you can too.
