Google Pixel’s Faster Updates Are Leaving Samsung Behind

If you have a Samsung phone and are still waiting on the latest Android update, you are not alone. Samsung users have watched the clock tick time after time, while Google’s Pixel phones have been zipping ahead with new features and security patches.

The issue? Samsung's Android 15 One UI 7 rollout has been slower than expected. Newer flagship phones like the Galaxy S24 series are on schedule for updates in April, but other devices are being pushed back to May, June and even July.

According to SamMobile, the One UI 7 release timeline is "not good news" and "only flagship devices launched in the last two years will get the update in April. Other devices will get the update in May and June."

The situation is frustrating to some users, following a lengthy beta testing period designed to squash bugs before the final version.

However, on the other side, Google just released updates to as many as 19 devices: phones, tablets, and watches. Google’s process for the monthly security updates is fast, consistent, and actually reassuring to Pixel loyalists.

Meanwhile, technical issues forced Samsung to temporarily suspend the One UI 7 rollout. They’ve since apologised and pledged to share a new update timeline shortly. However, many users complain that the delays are eroding the brand’s reputation, especially given that Google is gearing up for Android 16, which is anticipated this year with more powerful features.

The gravity of the situation has been highlighted in an Android Authority report which has called Samsung’s One UI 7 delay "the most embarrassing Android story of 2025."

Samsung is reported to be skipping a small update and rushing ahead with One UI 8 from One UI 7. Early glimpses of One UI 8 seem to indicate that it won’t introduce many new features and instead will be a series of refinements.

Bottom line? Samsung may lead in sales, but Pixel leads in speed, especially when it comes to updates. For users, that means if staying up-to-date matters, the choice between the two brands might be getting clearer.