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Samsung resumes Galaxy S23 One UI 8 rollout

Samsung resumes Galaxy S23 One UI 8 rollout

Nadia Malik Leave a comment

I spent last weekend testing the Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update on a secondary device, fully expecting a routine software bump. Instead, within hours, reports started trickling in from other users about issues, and Samsung pulled the rollout in several regions. Now the company has resumed the update, and the obvious question is simple: what changed, and is it safe to install this time?

What the Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update actually brings

To understand why this matters, you have to look at what One UI 8 is trying to do on the Galaxy S23 series. These phones run the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, with enough performance headroom that small firmware changes can noticeably shift battery life and thermals.

The One UI 8 package riding on top of Android brings updated system animations, refreshed notification styling, and tweaked quick settings layouts. In daily use, this means slightly smoother transitions, quicker shade pull-downs, and more consistent haptic feedback across system menus.

Beyond visuals, there are camera pipeline changes aimed at improving low-light processing and motion handling. During my initial tests, shutter lag was about the same, but night shots showed less aggressive noise reduction. This leads to more detail but also a bit more grain if you pixel peep.

On the performance side, Samsung has been tightening CPU governor behavior on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. With One UI 8, background tasks felt better managed, and app reloads were less frequent when juggling heavy apps like Chrome, Instagram, and a couple of 3D games.

Why Samsung paused the One UI 8 rollout in the first place

However, the rollout of the Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update did not stay on track initially. Early adopters started reporting issues ranging from random UI freezes to specific app crashes. In some cases, users mentioned increased battery drain after the update.

Samsung has not published a detailed post-mortem, which is typical for the company. Instead, update servers in some markets quietly stopped offering the new firmware, while others saw the rollout slowed or delayed. This sort of staggered pause usually signals a problem that is impactful, but not catastrophic.

From what surfaced in user feedback, the problems seemed to cluster around background process handling and certain third-party apps. For instance, some banking and streaming apps were reportedly failing to launch, while others crashed on login screens. These are exactly the kind of bugs that force a vendor to hit the brakes.

Meanwhile, battery drain reports pointed to higher CPU wake times and misbehaving services, likely tied to updated frameworks. On a phone like the Galaxy S23, which normally gets through a day easily, shaving off a few hours of screen-on time is impossible to ignore.

What’s different in the resumed One UI 8 build

Now that Samsung has resumed the Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update, the new build numbers in many regions are slightly higher than the initial release. That usually indicates a hotfix-style patch layered on top of the original feature set.

Under the hood, background battery stats show more stable CPU usage patterns after the resumed rollout. On my test device, idle drain dropped from around 1.8% per hour on the problematic build to roughly 0.7–0.9% per hour after the resumed firmware. That is back in line with what the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 typically delivers.

In addition, apps that previously had launch issues now behave normally. I specifically tested a handful of common pain points: banking apps with heavy security layers, DRM-heavy video streaming, and VPN clients. None of them crashed or misbehaved on the newer build.

Camera performance remains similar to the first One UI 8 attempt, which is a good thing. Low-light photos still preserve more texture, and the main sensor handles highlights more gracefully. However, processing times for Night mode shots can be a touch longer than before, especially when HDR is stacked.

Installation experience and regional rollout differences

Practically speaking, installing the resumed Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update is a straightforward over-the-air process. The download size is in the 2–3GB range, depending on region and carrier. You will want at least 8GB free just to be safe, because the installer needs room for decompression and temporary files.

As usual, carrier-branded models lag a little behind unlocked variants. Some users in Europe and Asia are already seeing the resumed build, while North American carriers appear to be rolling it out in waves. If your phone shows the new build number and a recent security patch level, you are likely on the resumed track.

Building on Samsung’s recent update strategy, the company continues to bundle security patches with feature updates instead of pushing them separately. That has pros and cons. On one hand, you get everything in one go. On the flip side, a buggy feature update can delay critical security fixes.

For anyone impatient, you can check the update using the standard Settings → Software update path, or connect via a PC using Samsung’s desktop tools. However, I would avoid sideloading region-crossed firmware unless you are comfortable debugging problems yourself.

Impact on performance, battery, and daily use

Now to the part that actually affects your day: performance and battery life. With the resumed One UI 8 build installed, the Galaxy S23 series still feels snappy, and thermal behavior is controlled. Under extended gaming sessions, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 hits high clocks, then gently steps down, but frame rates stay consistent.

In mixed usage tests—social media, messaging, browsing, a few photos, and some Spotify streaming over Bluetooth—the phone comfortably reaches the evening with 20–30% battery left. This is similar to the pre-update behavior, which is a key sign that the resumed firmware has addressed early drain complaints.

Animation changes are mostly cosmetic, but they do give the UI a slightly more modern feel. However, if you dislike slower animations, you can still tweak animation scale in Developer Options to speed everything up. That flexibility makes the visual changes less risky for power users.

The bottom line is that the resumed One UI 8 build feels stable enough for most people, without any glaring regressions in daily use. There might still be edge cases, but nothing close to the widespread issues reported on the initial rollout.

Should you install the Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update now?

So, should you hit “Download and install” today? As usual, the answer depends on your risk tolerance and how mission-critical your Galaxy S23 is. If your phone is your primary work device, caution is reasonable.

Because the Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update has now been re-released and has survived a second wave of installs without major drama, the risk profile looks much better. Most early adopters who were burned by the first build have either been patched or are seeing improved behavior after the resumed rollout.

If you care about getting the latest security fixes, minor camera tuning improvements, and incremental UI polish, updating makes sense. On the other hand, if your current setup is stable and you do not care about small cosmetic tweaks, you can wait another week or two and watch community feedback.

Ultimately, this episode shows how even mature update pipelines can stumble, especially when multiple carriers, regions, and app ecosystems are involved. Android updates are no longer about just pushing a new Android version; they are about keeping an entire stack of firmware, drivers, and apps in sync.

To sum up, the resumed Galaxy S23 One UI 8 update looks like the version Samsung should have shipped in the first place. It keeps performance solid, tightens battery behavior, and avoids the more serious bugs that prompted the pause. For most Galaxy S23 owners, the resumed One UI 8 rollout is now a reasonable, if not urgent, upgrade path.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Mini: Small Phone, Big Bet

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Mini: Small Phone, Big Bet

Nadia Malik Leave a comment

I’ve tested over a hundred Android phones in the last few years, and my thumbs are tired.

The moment I picked up a prototype-sized dummy of the Galaxy S25 Mini at a closed-door briefing, my brain did a double-take. It actually sat inside my grip without creeping up my palm. I could reach the top of the screen without adjusting my hand. For someone who misses phones like the Pixel 4a and the Xperia Compact line, that alone felt surreal.

However, I’ve been burned before. We have seen so-called “mini” phones turn into compromised niche toys. So while I’m excited by the idea of a true compact Android flagship again, I’m staying cautious until Samsung shows real-world execution, not just nice CAD renders and marketing slides.

Why a true small Android phone matters again

The Android market drifted into a 6.6 to 6.8-inch blob over the last five years. Even the “small” flagships, like the Galaxy S24 at 6.2 inches, are only small compared to their Ultra siblings. For a lot of people with average or smaller hands, that still means constant shuffling and awkward one-handed use.

Meanwhile, Apple quietly proved there is at least some demand for compact hardware. The iPhone 13 Mini might not have sold in massive volumes, but it built a vocal fan base. On Android, the Asus Zenfone 9 and 10 also showed that if you pair a smaller footprint with high-end silicon, enthusiasts will show up.

If Samsung is really bringing an S25 Mini into the Galaxy S25 lineup, this is more than just a side experiment. It signals that one of the biggest Android manufacturers believes there is revenue in a smaller form factor again. That alone shifts the industry conversation.

However, the small-phone graveyard is crowded. Sony’s Xperia Compact series, the Galaxy S10e, and the Pixel 5 all stumbled for different reasons, from poor marketing to compromised batteries and half-hearted carrier support. The S25 Mini has to avoid those traps or it will just become another Reddit nostalgia thread.

Galaxy S25 Mini specs: promising on paper, questions in practice

Based on current leaks and industry chatter, the Galaxy S25 Mini is expected to land with a 5.9-inch OLED display, likely 1080p with 120Hz refresh. That immediately puts it below most flagships in size, without dropping into the 5.4-inch territory that killed the iPhone Mini on battery life.

Under the hood, the phone should run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 or Samsung’s own Exynos equivalent, depending on region. If Samsung mirrors the S24 strategy, the United States will probably get Snapdragon while Europe and parts of Asia see Exynos. That split alone could affect whether power users trust the Mini in certain markets.

RAM is rumored to start at 8GB with a 12GB option, and storage likely begins at 128GB UFS 4.0. Building on this, the camera setup should mimic the regular S25 rather than the Ultra: a main wide, an ultrawide, and possibly a short 3x telephoto if Samsung is feeling generous.

The biggest question is battery. Current whispers point to something around 4,000mAh. On paper, that sounds fine for a 5.9-inch 1080p panel and a more efficient 3-nanometer Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. However, we have watched small phones like the Pixel 4 and iPhone 12 Mini crumble under real-world screen-on time.

If Samsung can’t deliver a full day of mixed use on 5G, this phone dies instantly for mainstream buyers. Power users might tolerate a top-up at their desk, but nobody wants to babysit their battery just because they prefer a smaller device.

Price, positioning, and the trap of being ‘second-class’

Price will decide whether the Galaxy S25 Mini is a serious product or a marketing checkbox. Right now, the regular Galaxy S24 sits around $799 at launch, often dipping lower with deals. If Samsung slaps a $699 or $749 tag on the Mini, buyers will rightfully ask what they are giving up besides screen size.

If the company keeps the same flagship-level chip, similar camera hardware to the base S25, and the same long software support window, then the price argument becomes much stronger. Otherwise, this risks turning into a Galaxy A-series device cosplaying as a flagship.

We have seen this movie with the Galaxy S10e and even the smaller S22. Those phones shipped with top silicon but small batteries, weaker cameras, or missing extras like higher-end zoom. They were good, but not good enough to justify choosing them over the mainline models once discounts kicked in.

On the flip side, there is an opportunity here: a smaller, slightly cheaper flagship that still feels complete. If Samsung treats the S25 Mini as a first-class citizen with four to seven years of Android and security updates, it could appeal hard to people who plan to keep their phones longer.

However, if carriers stock it lightly, push spiffs on bigger models, and barely train staff about it, the Mini will just quietly exist on spec sheets while store reps steer customers toward the S25+ or Ultra.

What Samsung must get right for a real small-phone comeback

To actually succeed, Samsung needs to nail a few simple but crucial points.

First, ergonomics must be the star, not an afterthought. That means a flat or slightly curved frame that does not dig into your palm, a back that is not overly slippery, and a weight closer to 160–170 grams than 200 grams. A compact phone that still feels like a brick misses the entire point.

Second, the display needs to be genuinely bright and tuned. A 120Hz OLED panel is great, but if outdoor brightness lags behind the S25 Ultra, users will notice quickly. Small phone fans are not asking for budget-tier screens; they want the same quality in a smaller diagonal.

Third, the camera has to hold its own. People have been trained by Pixels and iPhones to expect consistent shots without thinking. If the S25 Mini ships with a noticeably worse main sensor or weaker processing than its siblings, enthusiasts will abandon it immediately. Small size should not equal second-tier images.

Finally, charging speeds matter more on compact devices. A 4,000mAh cell with only 25W wired charging will feel dated in 2025 when Chinese brands push 80W and beyond. The Mini does not have to match those speeds, but it should at least reach 45W to make quick top-ups actually useful.

What this means for the Android market if it works

If the Galaxy S25 Mini hits its targets, the impact goes far beyond one phone. Other manufacturers watch Samsung closely. When Samsung moves a category, supply chains, accessory makers, and carriers pay attention.

A successful compact flagship could nudge brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Google to reconsider their current size creep. Even a Pixel 10 Mini or a OnePlus 13 Compact becomes easier to pitch if Samsung proves the segment can sell.

On the other hand, a flop will send the exact opposite message. If Samsung ships a half-baked Mini, under-markets it, and then uses low sales to justify killing the concept, we will probably not see another major Android small phone push for years.

The bottom line is, the Galaxy S25 Mini is Samsung’s biggest small risk in a long time. For fans who have been begging for a one-hand-friendly Android flagship, this looks like the first serious attempt in a while.

Ultimately, whether this compact device becomes a turning point or just another missed opportunity will come down to execution. If Samsung balances size, battery life, cameras, and price correctly, the Galaxy S25 Mini could finally give small-phone loyalists a modern home. If not, the Android world will keep drifting toward two-handed slabs, and the small-phone dream will stay alive only in nostalgia threads and secondhand markets.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series

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Galaxy Fold 5
Galaxy Fold 5

Overview:

The Samsung Galaxy Z series, also known as Samsung Galaxy Foldables in certain territories, represents Samsung’s foray into the foldable smartphone market. This series has seen multiple iterations since its inception, with each new model bringing refinements and improvements over its predecessors.

Timeline and Key Models:

  • Samsung Galaxy Fold (2019): The pioneer of the Z series, it was announced on February 20, 2019, and released on September 6, 2019. This model was unique as it was the only one not marketed under the “Z” brand.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (2020): Released on February 14, 2020, this device introduced a vertical folding mechanism, different from the Galaxy Fold’s book-like design.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 (2020): Released on September 18, 2020, this model brought significant improvements over the original Fold, including a larger front screen and enhanced cameras.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 (2021): Unveiled on August 11, 2021, both these models boasted more durable materials, a redesigned hinge, and IPX8 water resistance.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 (2022): Announced in August 2022, these models continued the legacy of their predecessors with further refinements.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 (2023): The latest in the series, these models were unveiled on July 26, 2023.

Pros:

  • Innovative Design: The Z series showcases Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of smartphone design with its foldable mechanism.
  • High-End Specifications: Each model in the series boasts top-tier specs, ensuring smooth performance.
  • Camera Capabilities: Samsung’s prowess in smartphone photography is evident in the Z series, with each model offering versatile camera setups.

Cons:

  • Price: The innovative design and high-end specs come with a premium price tag, making the Z series one of the more expensive options in the market.
  • Durability Concerns: Given the foldable nature, there have been concerns about the longevity and durability of the devices, especially the screen.
  • Bulkiness: The foldable design adds a bit of heft and thickness to the devices compared to traditional smartphones.

Comparison to Other Technologies:

The Samsung Galaxy Z series stands as a direct competitor to other foldable devices in the market, such as Huawei’s Mate X series and Google’s Pixel Fold. While each brand brings its unique strengths to the table, Samsung’s Z series is often lauded for its display quality and camera capabilities.

Common Issues/Problems:

One of the primary concerns with the Z series has been the durability of the foldable screen. Some users have reported issues with the screen either malfunctioning or breaking after a certain period of use.

Conclusion:

The Samsung Galaxy Z series represents a bold step into the future of smartphone design. While the foldable mechanism offers a unique user experience, potential buyers should weigh the benefits against the premium price and potential durability concerns. Overall, for those looking for cutting-edge technology and a glimpse into the future of smartphones, the Z series is a worthy consideration.

Samsung Galaxy A22

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The Samsung Galaxy A22 is a part of Samsung’s mid-range A-series lineup, designed to offer a balance of performance, camera capabilities, and affordability. Here’s an in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy A22:

Overview:

Launched in 2021, the Samsung Galaxy A22 is positioned as a budget-friendly option within Samsung’s vast smartphone lineup, catering to users who want a decent smartphone experience without breaking the bank.

Features:

  1. Operating System: Shipped with Android 11, with Samsung’s One UI 3.1 on top.
  2. Display: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, boasting a 90Hz refresh rate.
  3. Processor: MediaTek Helio G80.
  4. Memory: Options of 4/6 GB RAM with 64/128 GB internal storage, expandable via a microSD slot.
  5. Camera: Quad rear camera setup – 48 MP primary sensor, 8 MP ultrawide lens, 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The front camera is a 13 MP shooter.
  6. Battery: 5000 mAh non-removable battery with 15W fast charging.
  7. Other Features: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a plastic build.

Pros:

  1. Display: The 90Hz Super AMOLED display ensures smooth visuals and vibrant colors, which is impressive for its price point.
  2. Battery Life: The 5000 mAh battery can easily last a day or more with moderate use.
  3. Expandable Storage: The presence of a microSD slot allows users to expand storage if needed.
  4. Camera Capabilities: The quad-camera setup offers versatility in photography for its price range.
  5. Software: Samsung’s One UI is feature-rich and offers a user-friendly experience.

Cons:

  1. Processor Performance: The MediaTek Helio G80 is decent for everyday tasks but might struggle with intensive applications or heavy multitasking.
  2. Build Quality: The plastic build, while durable, doesn’t feel as premium as some other devices in its category.
  3. Charging Speed: While it supports fast charging, the 15W charger might feel slow, especially when charging the large 5000 mAh battery.

Comparisons to Other Technologies:

In its price bracket, the Samsung Galaxy A22 faced competition from:

  • Redmi Note 10: Offering an AMOLED display, Snapdragon 678, and a 48 MP primary camera.
  • Realme Narzo 30: Known for its MediaTek Helio G95, 90Hz display, and 5000 mAh battery.
  • Moto G Power (2021): With its focus on battery life, Snapdragon 662, and a 5000 mAh battery.

Launch Date:

The Samsung Galaxy A22 was announced in June 2021.

Common Issues/Problems:

  1. Performance Hiccups: Some users reported occasional stutters or lags, especially when running multiple apps or playing graphics-intensive games.
  2. Camera Processing: While the hardware is decent, some users felt the camera software processing could be inconsistent, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
  3. Bloatware: Some users found the pre-installed apps and occasional ads/promotions in the UI to be a bit intrusive.

Conclusion:

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is a solid mid-range offering, especially for those who prioritize display quality and battery life. While it might not be the most powerful device in its category, it offers a balanced package with the reliability of the Samsung brand. For users looking for a decent smartphone experience without spending too much, the Galaxy A22 is a worthy contender.