Galaxy S26 Ultra may run full version of Linux Terminal

Last year, Google added a feature called Linux Terminal on Pixel smartphones. It allowed their users to run a full Linux environment directly on their devices, a great addition for developers. Samsung smartphones, on the other hand, still lack this capability. The main reason behind it is that the latest stable version of the software for Galaxy phones, One UI 8.0, is based on Android 16, which does not have system-level support for the feature.

A newer version of the OS, Android 16 QPR2, brings Android Virtualization Framework (AVF), the underlying technology that enables Linux Terminal. Samsung’s newest software for Galaxy phones, One UI 8.5, is based on the same version of the OS, enabling the brand to finally bring Linux Terminal to its devices. Until now, there was no information if the company planned to do so. Well, with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, Samsung will.

Folks at Android Authority claim that they have gotten their hands on log files from the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and those mention Android Virtualization Framework. This discovery strongly suggests that the device could run a full Linux environment locally, similar to Google’s implementation on Pixel phones.

There is no information if Samsung will extend Linux Terminal support to older devices through the One UI 8.5 update. Given that the brand's recent flagship smartphones, such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z TriFold, have capable hardware, Samsung may offer the feature to them.

Samsung is expected to debut the stable version of One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26 series on 25 February 2025. Soon after that, the brand is said to roll it out to eligible devices. Beyond potential Linux support, the update offers a ton of visual and functional improvements, which you can check out in our video below.