An interesting case with Samsung: the affordable Galaxy S26 FE received the update first
Published 1 hour ago | By Nouman Shakeel
An unusual situation has emerged regarding software updates for Samsung's flagship phones. The company's relatively affordable Galaxy S26 FE has received the stable version of One UI 9 ahead of the premium Galaxy S26 Ultra.
According to reports, the Galaxy S26 FE received the One UI 9 update in late August, whereas the Galaxy S26 Ultra—which costs nearly twice as much—remains in the beta phase.
How did the update schedule change?
Samsung's Galaxy S series was long known for being the first to receive new Android and One UI updates. Typically, the company would update its flagship S-series phones before rolling out the new software to foldable, FE, and other models.
However, this order has changed with the Galaxy S25 and S26 generations. The primary reason cited for this shift is a change in Google's release schedule for major Android versions.
The impact of Google's schedule change
In the past, major Android updates were usually released between August and October. Meanwhile, Samsung would launch its foldable series in July or August; consequently, new Android versions generally became available after the foldable phones had launched, allowing the S series to receive the update first.
Google has now shifted the release timing for major Android updates to around June or July. As a result, Samsung's foldable phones are entering the market already equipped with the new Android version.
Due to this schedule, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and subsequently the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, were launched with the new One UI version, and FE models are also benefiting from this change.
| Device | One UI 9 Status |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 FE | Stable Version Released |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Beta Stage |
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Launched With New One UI Version |
| Galaxy Z Flip 7 | Launched With New One UI Version |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Launched With New One UI Version |
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | Launched With New One UI Version |
No detriment to expensive flagships
This situation does not imply that the Galaxy S series has suffered any disadvantage. The actual shift is that foldable and FE phones have benefited from launching with newer versions of Android and One UI; consequently, the relatively affordable S26 FE managed to receive stable software ahead of the high-end S26 Ultra this time around.
