The official public release of Android 13 and One UI 5.0 is the fastest Samsung has ever managed to bring out a major new OS upgrade to a Galaxy device. The company kicked off the One UI 5.0 beta program for the Galaxy S22 series back in August, and this week, beta testing ended and the stable version has been released for millions of S22 customers, with the rollout expected to expand to many more markets over the rest of the week.
And all that's great, and I'm happy for Galaxy S22 owners. But I'm also unhappy at the same time that I can't actually use Android 13 and One UI 5.0. That's because I'm using one of Samsung's latest foldables, and those are still running Android 12 and Android 13 is only available for them in beta form in select markets.
I've complained about this before: it wasn't a good look that Samsung took so long to start beta testing One UI 5.0 on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, and now, owners of these foldable phones have more waiting to do before they can enjoy the newest Android and One UI software.
For flagship (or semi-flagship, if Samsung's model numbers are anything to go by) phones that cost as much as the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4, I feel that's just wrong, even if Samsung is just following tradition and launching the newest version of Android for its most recent Galaxy S flagship series first.
If Samsung wants us to get excited about foldables, it needs to fix the update situation
But three years after Samsung's first foldable hit the market, and considering how the company is pushing foldables as the next big thing everyone should get excited about, it's still disappointing. Basically, despite using one of Samsung's most marketed and recently launched phones (the Galaxy Z Flip 4), I have to sit here all jealous of Galaxy S22 owners and how they're getting to enjoy some of those awesome features included in One UI 5.0.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Samsung needs to change its software update strategy and start treating all flagships launched in the same year equally, regardless of sales or popularity or form factor. Whether it's with regular security updates or with major updates such as Android 13/One UI 5.0, the company needs to step up and make sure everyone who pays for a current-year Galaxy flagship is treated equally.
Samsung has the resources to do that. The Korean giant updates scores of Galaxy smartphones with security patches every month, so there's no reason to believe it doesn't have the manpower to assign to big updates and stop making everyone but owners of its latest Galaxy S smartphone wait for those big updates. I really wish it's something the company is looking to improve, but if it isn't, then it could just become another reason for me to not buy foldable Galaxy smartphones.
What about you? Do you own a Galaxy Z Flip 4 or Galaxy Z Fold 4 and are feeling disappointed that Android 13 and One UI 5.0 aren't yet out for your phone and there's no ETA on when that will change? Let me know down in the comments!
