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Over the past few weeks, you may have come across numerous media reports and social media posts saying Samsung will update the Galaxy S24 series to One UI 6.1.1. No, it won’t. But fret not, a major update is still on the cards for the new flagships. Just that it won’t be called One UI 6.1.1 but simply One UI 6.1. It will bring most of the new AI features introduced with the upcoming One UI version along with some camera fixes.
Galaxy S24 will get a major update without a change in One UI version
Samsung’s major Android OS updates for Galaxy devices come with a new version of One UI. Android 14 brought One UI 6.0, Android 13 brought One UI 5.0, and so on. The company follows up with another One UI update with the launch of new Galaxy S flagships. For example, the Galaxy S24 introduced One UI 6.1, and the Galaxy S23 before it introduced One UI 5.1. A third One UI update (x.1.1) arrives with the new foldables in mid-year.
Continuing this trend, Samsung will introduce One UI 6.1.1 with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 next month. This update has always been exclusive to foldables and tablets, so the new One UI version shouldn’t make it into the Galaxy S24 and other non-foldable smartphones. However, recent developments suggested it won’t be the case. Multiple sources said Samsung is readying One UI 6.1.1 for the Galaxy S24 series.
All of those reports were half-true. While Samsung is preparing to roll out a major update to the new flagships (probably also to the Galaxy S23 and other models), it won’t arrive as One UI 6.1.1. The new One UI version will remain exclusive to foldables and tablets. The update for other devices will keep the One UI version unchanged at 6.1. It will bundle the new AI features and other improvements introduced with the foldables.
Samsung has started developing this big update
Samsung has already started developing the next big update for the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S23 series. Spotted by X user @tarunvats33, the test firmware for the new flagships has the build number S9*8BXXU2AXF3. The fourth letter from the last (A) confirms the One UI version will remain unchanged. The factory firmware version of every Galaxy device has “A” in that place. It changes to B, C, D,… with each One UI version upgrade.
X tipster Ice Universe has also confirmed this, saying that they previously referred to this update as One UI 6.1.1 because of its size and scope. Moreover, it’s arriving around the same time as One UI 6.1.1 and contains features from the new build. The tipster previously revealed the new AI features Samsung is working on. They recently confirmed another new AI tool that can paint your portrait photos in various styles. Stay tuned for the official rollout.