Samsung’s AI-powered One UI 7 beta is improving, but don’t get too excited

One UI 7, Samsung’s next major software upgrade for Galaxy devices, is showing signs of development progress while maintaining an extended timeline that stretches into 2025.

Initial developments and timeline: Samsung’s test servers have revealed new One UI 7 beta builds, suggesting an imminent beta program launch for flagship devices.

• Beta firmware versions ending in ZXKB have been spotted on servers for the Galaxy S24 Ultra in Europe and India
• The stable version of One UI 7 is officially scheduled to debut with the Galaxy S25 in early 2025
• Multiple sources indicate beta testing could begin as soon as next week, particularly in South Korea and the United States

AI feature implementation strategy: Samsung appears to be taking a phased approach to rolling out advanced AI capabilities across different versions of the interface.

• Most major AI features, including “AI summary” and “AI emoji,” are expected to arrive with One UI 7.1 rather than the initial 7.0 release
• The initial release may include an iOS-style notification summary feature, previously referred to as “AI notification”
• Only minor AI capabilities are anticipated in the first beta release

Regional availability and rollout plans: The beta program appears to be targeting specific markets initially.

• European and Indian markets have shown evidence of test builds
• South Korea and the United States are expected to be among the first markets to receive the beta release
• The rollout strategy suggests a careful, market-by-market approach to testing and implementation

Market expectations and reality check: Despite promising signs of progress, previous experience suggests cautious optimism is warranted.

• Earlier predictions about One UI 7 release timelines have proven inaccurate
• Beta testing phases often reveal issues that can impact final release schedules
• The extended timeline into 2025 for the stable release indicates Samsung’s commitment to thorough testing

Looking ahead: While the emergence of beta builds signals progress, Samsung’s conservative approach to both timeline and feature implementation suggests a focus on stability and refinement over rushing new capabilities to market.