Samsungs Galaxy S25 - in your hands soondpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesRepublished on February 6th with reports on update timings, with a stable One UI 7 build now on the server. There is also new advice on how to prepare for the update.While January was a huge month for Samsung, February could be even bigger. The launch of the AI flagship Galaxy S25 was a major milestone, but the device landing in users hands and the Android 15 / One UI 7 upgrade it brings with it will determine how well everyone is feeling come the end of this month. Samsung cant get this wrong.While Google was very much Samsungs partner on the S25 development and launch, with Gemini now as prominent as Galaxy AI on the phone, it has not done its partner any favors as February gets underway. This months Android security update includes a zero-day under active exploitation, and nothing highlights Samsungs update issues as well as emergency fixes that need to reach its entire user base urgently. The fix is currently missing from their February security update.Google warns Android users that CVE-2024-53104 may be under limited, targeted exploitation. This vulnerability affects Androids core Linux kernel, mishandling video frames, potentially triggering memory instability. It is now being exploited in targeted attacks, but history suggests that may expand as users await the fix.Samsung has played it both ways with such vulnerabilities before, sometimes releasing them immediately and other times waiting for the following month. Its currently and surprisingly not included in their February release. I have asked the company why. Theres another critical security fix in Androids update, and this one is also missing, but thats less a surprise.MORE FOR YOUCVE-2024-45569 is a Qualcomm fix and so only applies to devices with its relevant chipsets. Samsung tends to include such third-party component fixes a month later than Google, and so this one will likely run to March. Fortunately, there are no suggestions this has come under attack, unlike the Qualcomm fixes last year.The bad news for new Galaxy S25 buyers is that the current firmware update only includes Decembers security update. Its likely that will be remedied quickly but that hasnt happened yet. And it will highlight the patchy update process that continues to frustrate users. The S25 should see Pixel-like seamless updates, a first for a Samsung flagship, but that wont in itself speed up the process.Owners of Galaxy S24s will also be waiting for the February security update, albeit the usual merry-g0-round by region and carrier sill start imminently, Theres a clear benefit when it comes to these monthly Android updates in having a Pixel.The February update is out now for Pixels, and whole it can take a week to get around the entire user base, its normally faster. Its also fairly predictable. Thats very different over on the Samsung side of the house.As Android Police reports, the February 2025 update is now rolling out to all Pixel devices running Android 15. However, depending on your device, carrier, and region, it might take a few days to reach everyone. The build number for this update is AP4A.250205.002, though it may differ slightly if youre using a carrier-locked Pixel. The update carries a security patch level dated February 5, 2025.As Ive commented before, its tricky for other OEMs to match Google when it comes to timely updates. Just as its more a challenge to bespoke Android 15 and will be the same with Android 16, which leads to those delays as well.And on the note, the bad news for Galaxy S24 owners remains the wait for One UI 7s stable release, bringing Android 15 to the Samsung masses. This is an excellent upgrade and makes Samsung phones materially safer and more secure, narrowing the gap to iPhone its main competitor pre S25s hitting shelves. It cant come soon enough.Officially, this should come out by the end of the first quarter for relatively new flagships. The S25 gets it right out of the box. But the feeling now seems to be that S24 owners might see the February security update before they see One UI 7, which is good from a fix perspective but frustrating from a feature perspective. There is no new news, though, just lots of speculation and users keen to see the new firmware released.Samsung has positioned One UI 7 as a major security and privacy upgrade, and your device will be notably improved when it upgrades. Youll also be able to take advantage of Googles new spam and malware protections, much of which leans heavily on device AI to enhance security with compromising privacy.As SammyFans reports, recently, our senior writer contacted Samsung Support U.S. to inquire about the status of the stable One UI 7 update. When asked about a tentative release timeline, the support executive stated that they did not have a specific date for the update. Something seems off, raising the possibility of another slight delay in the distribution. The support representative also noted, we cant speculate on this likely a move to prevent fans from creating hype, as has happened many times in the past.Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 is now getting into customer hands. Per SamMobile, Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 series in India and opened pre-orders for it in the country on the same day it unveiled the lineup globally at the Galaxy Unpacked event in San Jose, California. Back then, the company had announced that it would start delivering the devices to people in the country who pre-order them, on 4 February 2025. Well, the brand has stayed true to its words.Theres some potentially good pricing news, though, for those thinking of waiting a beat for their S25 upgrade. SamMobile suggests that while Samsung may temporarily have some price advantage over iPhones, that advantage may end soon. This is due to the America First approach that the Trump administration is taking Most iPhones sold in the US are made in China, which means there could be an increase in the prices of iPhones, which is an advantage to Samsung, whose phones are primarily made in Brazil, India, South Korea, and Vietnam.Maybe but I wouldnt be placing any bets (in any currencies) on that. The bluffs and double-bluffs we have seen in recent days on trade tariffs, including shipments from China stopping and then restarting within a day suggest this could go either way.Whatever phone youre using, make sure you update as soon as you can. A Google warning of this sort must be taken seriously. You can check to ensure youre on Samsungs monthly update schedule here. And the release will be announced here.As the first week of February heads towards the weekend, we don have a new warning from Samsung for Galaxy users already enrolled in the beta program and maybe some light at the end of the One UI 7 tunnel. Finally.Per SammyFans, being on the latest release ensures a smoother and effortless transition to a Stable version. If you are on an older Beta, you may face issues, leading you to manually flash the official firmware through a PC that will remove all the data of your device. The site suggests Samsung is guiding users for a hassle-free upgrade, explaining that exiting [the] Beta could be [considered] before the Stable update comes. You can proceed with that but ensure [you] install the latest Beta. Seems like there are some changes in the software distribution this year.Hopefully not too complex. The better news is that the stable release may come soon enough to be wrapped up with February security release. At least according to tipster Tarun Vats posting on X. He has popped up with regular speculation on the timing for beta and stable releases. This latest tip is based on a new One UI 7 build [that] has been uploaded to the server yesterday. This is only for the Galaxy S23, but one can assume others will be following the same path, especially the Galaxy S24. According to Vats, this build version is the same as the Galaxy S25/S24 build (YB1/B2).Per SammyFans again, its February 2025, and Galaxy smartphone users (except the Galaxy S25) are eagerly waiting for the stable One UI 7 update. Samsung Galaxy S23 is one of the first series to get the stable One UI 7 update, and a new report shows that the update is almost here One UI 7 might even arrive with the February 2025 security patch, which would make it even more secure for users. The new build suggests that Samsung is actively preparing to start the One UI 7 stable rollout for Galaxy devices.As a reminder, this is the latest list of eligible devices for the upgrade, with its Android 15 and Samsung-specific security and privacy enhancements:Samsung Galaxy S series:Galaxy S24 UltraGalaxy S24+Galaxy S24Galaxy S24 FEGalaxy S23 UltraGalaxy S23+Galaxy S23Galaxy S23 FEGalaxy S22 UltraGalaxy S22+Galaxy S22Galaxy S21 UltraGalaxy S21+Galaxy S21Galaxy S21 FESamsung Galaxy Z models Galaxy Z Fold 6Galaxy Z Flip 6Galaxy Z Fold Special EditionGalaxy Z Fold 5Galaxy Z Flip 5Galaxy Z Fold 4Galaxy Z Flip 4Galaxy Z Fold 3Galaxy Z Flip 3Samsung Galaxy A modelsGalaxy A73Galaxy A55Galaxy A54Galaxy A53Galaxy A35Galaxy A34Galaxy A33Galaxy A25Galaxy A24Galaxy A23Galaxy A16Galaxy A15Galaxy A14Galaxy A06Galaxy A05Galaxy A05sSamsung Galaxy F models Galaxy F55Galaxy F54Galaxy F34Galaxy F15Galaxy F14Galaxy F05Samsung Galaxy M models Galaxy M55Galaxy M55sGalaxy M54Galaxy M53Galaxy M35Galaxy M34Galaxy M33Galaxy M15Galaxy M14Galaxy M05Samsung Galaxy TabletsGalaxy Tab S10 UltraGalaxy Tab S10+Galaxy Tab S9 UltraGalaxy Tab S9+Galaxy Tab S9Galaxy Tab S9 FE+Galaxy Tab S9 FEGalaxy Tab S8 UltraGalaxy Tab S8+Galaxy Tab S8Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024)Galaxy Tab A9+Galaxy Tab A9Galaxy Tab Active 5Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro