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Android 14 has finally arrived – the latest version of Android is packed with dozens of new features that improve the security of your smartphone or tablet, while also adding new functionality that should improve the overall user experience on your device. With that in mind, hardware manufacturers are currently working to bring Android 14 to their many devices, and there’s bound to be some differences between each brand.
In the case of Samsung, the South Korean electronics giant finally pushed forward with the launch of One UI 6, which is set to arrive for several Samsung devices soon.
Android 14’s New Features
With Android 14, Google has added some rather useful software features that focus on making your smartphone, well, smart. As such, Samsung typically brings some of its own add-ons to Android 14 via its One UI software platform, which is currently in its sixth iteration.
Samsung has packed a ton of new functionality with One UI 6 and Android 14, which includes updates to system security, accessibility features, as well as appearance and the user interface. Here are some of the following One UI 6 features included alongside Android 14:
- New Quick Panel features including an instant access to brightness controls, time-based notification sorting, improved album art display and instant access to the full quick settings panel
- Clock repositioning for the lock screen
- Home Screen features including simplified icon labels, an auto-hiding taskbar, as well as two-handed drag and drop
- With DeX for tablets, users can now switch between DeX mode and tablet mode with the same homescreen layout for better consistency
- Camera updates which include custom home screen widgets, alignment options for watermarks, quick access to resolution settings, enhanced video size selection, and easier document scanning
- More secure sign-ins with passkeys via Samsung Pass
With that being said, these are some of the many new improvements that come with Samsung’s system-wide software upgrade, the rest of which you can check out here.
Samsung’s Official Android Update Policy
While Android has had a history of inconsistent software support across different manufacturers and devices, that’s not necessarily the case anymore. In fact, companies such as Samsung have improved their software support for several of their smartphones, from flagship models down to more affordable handsets.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone you’re probably curious about if and when your phone will be upgraded to Android 14. Starting last year, Samsung announced that it will provide up to four major Android updates and Android security Patches for five years for select phones and tablets.
That number is much higher than Samsung’s previous 2-year commitment and definitely a lot better than what most of its competitors have currently committed to.
You can find out more about Samsung’s official update policy here.
When will my Samsung device be updated to Android 14?
Google officially released Android 14 alongside its Pixel 8 smartphones in October of 2023. With Android 14 officially in the wild, Samsung is now allowed to officially release the update to its Android devices as well.
Historically, Samsung has released Android updates to its S-series smartphones first, starting with devices released this year. The priority then goes to this year’s Z series (Samsung’s foldable smartphones) and then trickles down to its A-series devices.
Needless to say, if you own a newer device, you will get the Android 14 update sooner. Samsung typically takes 3-12 months to gradually roll out Android updates, with phones purchased through service providers in the US taking longer than unlocked devices.
Will your Samsung Device be Updated to Android 14?
Based on Samsung’s official Android update policy, we can expect the following Samsung phones to receive the Android 14 update with One UI 6:
- Galaxy S series: S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, S23 FE, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21 FE, S21, S21+, S21 Ultra
- Galaxy Z series: Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3
- Galaxy A and M series: A54, A53, A34, A33, M54, M53, M34, M33
- Galaxy Tab series: S8, S8+, S8 Ultra, S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE
Of course, it should be noted that this list might change as Samsung might release more phones in the near future. Additionally, this list is for users with USA variants of the devices, with update schedules varying across different regions.
Notable Samsung Devices that Won’t Receive Android 14
Unfortunately, there are some notable Samsung devices that will not receive the Android 14 update. These smartphones have officially reached the end of their update cycle when it comes to new versions of Android, but some of them may still receive Android security updates for the next year or two. If you own one of these devices, it may be time to consider upgrading to a new Samsung smartphone.
- Galaxy S20 series: S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
- Galaxy Note 20 series: Note 20, Note 20 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 2
- Galaxy Z Flip (LTE/5G)
Source: Samsung
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