Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be among the first phones with Android 16 out of the box

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 will be the first devices from Samsung to ship with Android 16 out of the box. This is a major leap that puts Samsung right behind Google for the latest updates.

For years, Samsung lagged behind Google when it came to Android updates. But now, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Android 16 launch set for this summer, Samsung is finally catching up. The company just confirmed its new foldables will run One UI 8 right at launch.

In a newsroom post, Samsung says it worked closely with Google to make sure One UI 8 is one of the first platforms on the latest Android. “Through open communication, Samsung and Google actively shared their respective design systems and real-time feedback,” the company said.

Samsung also confirmed that One UI 8 and Android 16 will roll out to more Galaxy devices not long after the new foldables hit shelves. If you’re rocking a recent Galaxy flagship, you’re probably at the front of the queue. Owners of older Galaxy phones? You might have to wait a bit.

Honestly, Samsung rarely gets the jump on software updates. The Android 16 rollout means the company is serious about fixing that. Fast updates are no longer just a Pixel thing. That could push more people to consider Samsung, especially now that Galaxy phones come with seven years of software updates.

If Samsung keeps up this pace, we could see the same rapid update strategy with Android 17 and beyond. That’s a big deal for Android fans who care about having the latest features right away.