Galaxy phone and tablet users are eagerly awaiting the stable rollout of One UI 7. Samsung recently confirmed the timeline for this update. Interestingly, the upcoming Galaxy S25 series will launch with One UI 7 already installed.

This raises questions about the future of the software, especially after a Galaxy S25 running Android 16-based One UI 8.0 was discovered in the Geekbench database. This recent sighting is not a standalone occurrence. Earlier reports in March ignited speculation that Samsung may be starting a closed beta program for One UI 8.0.

These rumors were significant enough that a member of the One UI development team felt the need to address them directly. The Galaxy S25, with a newer build of Android 16, was spotted on Geekbench, a widely recognized CPU benchmarking platform. Interestingly, this marks an earlier appearance of Android 16-related builds compared to previous years; for instance, Android 15 builds for Samsung devices only emerged in May 2024.

This suggests that Samsung could potentially accelerate the development of One UI 8.0 in contrast to the more prolonged schedule for One UI 7.0. The extensive changes in One UI 7 were cited by Samsung as a reason for the delays in its rollout. In contrast, One UI 8 will build on the existing framework of One UI 7, allowing the company to focus on optimization and introducing new features rather than extensive foundational work.

Moreover, Google is also expediting the development of its Android versions. With a new development model in place, it’s possible that Android 16 could be officially announced by June, notably earlier than the customary August or September schedule. This bodes well for both consumers and developers looking forward to enhanced software experiences.