Here's when Samsung Galaxy devices will get Android 16

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The updates continue rolling out this month

Galaxy S25 Edge vs Galaxy S25 Ultra.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

Android 16 is finally arriving for Galaxy phones and tablets with a release schedule that will last through at least November.

The latest iteration of the Google mobile OS isn't a huge update like the iPhone's iOS 26, but it does provide the Material Expressive 3 redesign. Plus, One UI 7 was Samsung's big overhaul of its Android skin, with One UI 8 acting as more of a refinement update, since it's arriving just six months after that software release.

New features include an expansion of Now Bar and Now Brief to more devices, improved multitasking, AI-powered Portrait Studio, and a new Quick panel design on Galaxy tabs.

An official Samsung community forum post appears to confirm that a bulk of the compatible devices will receive the update in October. A conclusive schedule has not been released beyond that.

Here are the Samsung devices getting Android 16 in the coming weeks, or that already have access:

Out of the box

galaxy s25 fe cameras

(Image credit: Future)

The initial rollout of One UI 8, based on Android 16, started on September 15, with some newer devices already having the update out of the box.

This year's S25 lineup was the first to receive the Android 16 update as part of the global rollout.

Galaxy S series phone getting Android 16

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

As mentioned, Android 16 has already been rolling out to S25 phones for the last month. Last year's Galaxy S24 phones started receiving the update in late September, according to Samsung watchers like Tarun Vats.

Samsung has officially said its S22 handsets and the Galaxy S21 FE will get One UI 8, but the update hasn't been spotted yet. Meanwhile, the S23 lineup should be seeing the update now.

With the way the rollout has seemingly operated so far, I suspect the older handsets will receive the One UI 8 update in October or early November at the very latest.

Foldable phones

Galaxy Z Fold 6 shown in hand

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

As mentioned the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 shipped with Android 16. The older Galaxy foldable devices should update October and November based on the current schedule.

Galaxy A handsets

Samsung Galaxy A56 back

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Some of Samsung's midrange A series of phones are slated for One UI 8 with the Galaxy A56 getting it first. The rollout to these phones appears to be by individual model rather than series.

The Galaxy A56 got Android 16 in September, followed by the A36 and A55, while the A26 should be able to download the update in October.

Galaxy Tab S tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus with keyboard and S Pen

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

A wealth of Galaxy Tab S tablets are getting the update, with the just-released Tab S11 and S11 Ultra coming with Android 16 / One UI 8 pre-installed.

Most of these are supposedly going to update in October, with the Tab S8 families slated for November.

Based on information we've seen from Samsung and Samsung watchers, the above devices should have Android 16 and One UI 8 but the first week of November.

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Scott Younker
Scott Younker
West Coast Reporter

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.

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