Samsung has started rolling out the much-anticipated Android 14 update with its latest One UI 6 skin to the Galaxy S22 lineup of flagship phones. The over-the-air update brings new features and improvements to the S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra models first released nearly a year ago.
Rollout Begins in Europe and Expands Globally
The stable Android 14 update first landed on Galaxy S22 units in Europe a week ago, and now Samsung is expanding it more widely across global markets. Users in the US on major carriers like AT&T and Verizon have reported getting the 2.3GB update package which upgrades their phone to One UI 6, the latest version of Samsung’s Android skin.
In addition to the S22 flagship phones, Samsung’s other recent premium devices like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 foldables have started seeing the Android 14 update roll out in select countries. The Galaxy S23 FE budget flagship is also reportedly receiving the latest software upgrade.
Samsung is expected to bring Android 14 and One UI 6 to a majority of its premium smartphones from the last 2 years over the coming months.
One UI 6 Focuses on Customization and Productivity Boosts
The One UI 6 update brings Samsung’s popular Android skin up to date for 2023 with some thoughtful new additions. Users can now more deeply customize their homescreens, icons, color schemes, and menus to their personal tastes.
Improved widgets and stacked widget layouts allow Galaxy phone owners to view more information at a glance right on the home screen. The Media Player widget has been overhauled into an almost perfect controller for music and video apps thanks to its rich feature set.
On the productivity front, One UI 6 makes it simpler to capture, find, and organize visual information. The Gallery app introduces a much smarter tagging system powered by AI, while the Camera app brings new processing capabilities for crystal clear photos. Enhanced support for AR emoji stickers and live sharing of content directly from the viewfinder round out the updates to Samsung’s excellent camera software.
What’s New in Android 14 for Galaxy Devices
Under the hood, Android 14 — the latest version of Google’s mobile OS — brings security and privacy improvements for all compatible devices. These include better protection for users’ personal data as well as tools that help limit harmful or abusive content online.
For developers, Android 14 opens up new capabilities related to connectivity, messaging, audio, and more that app creators can take advantage of. This will lead to even more innovative and polished apps to meet users’ needs down the road.
More immediately, the update to Android 14 ensures Samsung’s smartphones can take advantage of the latest optimization in battery life, memory management, UI fluidity, 5G performance, and overall stability. As Google continues updating its core Android services over 2023, Galaxy owners can expect further boosts in speed and reliability thanks to their new software base.
When Will Updates Arrive for Other Samsung Phones?
With the rollout to Galaxy S22 models ramping up now, attention turns to which other Samsung devices will get Android 14 and One UI 6 next. Based on the company’s previous patterns and statements, the rollout schedule could look like this:
| Device | Expected Release Window |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S21 Series | December 2023 – January 2024 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | January – February 2024 |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | January – February 2024 |
| Galaxy A53 5G | February – March 2024 |
However, Samsung has missed projected timelines for Android updates in the past. Last month, an "inaccurate roadmap" left some users disappointed when their devices didn’t receive One UI 6 as expected.
Still, the majority of recent high-end and upper mid-range Galaxy phones should get the Android 14 update within the next 4-6 months if patterns hold. Some carrier and region specific delays are always possible though.
What Users Can Expect from Android 14 & One UI 6
For those Galaxy S22 owners who have yet to receive the Android 14 update, what exactly can you expect once it hits your device? Based on early feedback from users with the latest software, the upgrade brings meaningful improvements across the board:
-
Faster and More Responsive Performance: This is among the most widely praised changes. One UI 6 and Android 14 take full advantage of the S22’s powerful hardware for noticeably smoother scrolling, swiping between apps, and launching the camera.
-
Better Battery Life: Multiple users mention seeing battery drainage reductions between 5-15% after updating. This can equate to over an hour or more of extra usage time per charge. Standby battery life is also improved thanks to Android 14 optimizations.
-
Excellent Camera Upgrades: From quicker access to modes like portrait photo/video to much more intelligent auto-tagging of faces and objects, the S22’s photo skills get even better with One UI 6. Low light performance also sees a boost. Zooming in while recording video is smoother as well.
-
Fun New Customization Options: Making your S22 visually unique is easier than ever thanks to more home screen widgets, expanded theme options, creative emoji stickers, and AR effects. Samsung may lead the industry when it comes to software personalization tools.
Of course experiences can vary depending on usage habits and hardware differences between S22 models. But overall user consensus is clear — the Android 14 and One UI 6 upgrade is well worth installing right away for Galaxy S22 owners. It cements the series as among the best and most advanced smartphones available today.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
