17 hours Ago By Jamie Harris
SAMSUNG users should prepare to receive a major free upgrade for their smartphones with some exciting new features. The South Korean tech giant is expected to launch a brand new Galaxy S25 series tomorrow (January 22) but that doesn't mean existing Galaxy owners will be left behind. Samsung regularly works on a refresh for its Android software, known as One UI.
Tests have been underway for One UI 7, the next version that will probably land on the Galaxy S25 series at launch. The first set of beta testing started in December but now the firm has confirmed that the next release is "stable" and ready to go. It's not clear when the Android update will arrive and the process is usually rolled out by device and country.
That said, it's highly likely the newer your handset is, the further up the pecking order it will be - so Samsung Galaxy S24 owners will no doubt be among the first after the S25. There has been a number of rumours about what Samsung's new version of Android 15 will include but it's likely to focus on more AI tools after last year's big move. One feature that has been confirmed is a new Now Bar that provides essential information on your screen without having to open any apps.
Annika Bizon, a director for Samsung UK & Ireland, recently told The Sun: "Innovation that is simple, accessible and offers real-life benefit will win this battle as AI becomes a companion, learning your individual routines in life. "The Now Bar – a feature that’s coming to our next Galaxy smartphones is a good examples of this in reality. "It learns your everyday actions and most-used apps, bringing them into one space.
"You’ll be able to control entertainment, get directions to your next meeting or start communicating in other languages from one convenient access point. "We know accessibility is a barrier to AI adoption – that’s why we have committed to make AI as widely available as possible. "We now have over 4 million people actively using Galaxy AI in the UK and are proud to be rolling out AI features into our wider computing range including the Galaxy Book5 Pro and Galaxy Book5 360 at CES.
" Samsung is set to unveil the latest Galaxy smartphone devices at an event in San Jose on Wednesday, which kicks off at 6pm UK time / 1pm ET. The other big rumour fans are waiting to hear about is the possibility of a Galaxy S25 slim. Tips from Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun Whether you're using a Samsung smartphone or a device by another company, it's important to ensure yours is ready for updates.
Firstly, it's wise to keep photos and files backed-up just in case - this too is pretty standard practice for your day-to-day usage. But it's also key to point out battery. Your phone will need at least 20 per cent battery to install the update when it lands, so be sure to be comfortably above that.
You'll need a bit of spare storage space for the large download file too, so make sure you're not at the maximum. When downloading these sorts of updates it's best to do it via Wi-Fi than your data - it's quicker and won't eat through your data allowance. Top image copyright: Getty / Samsung.
