Samsung has started releasing the April 2026 security update for its Galaxy S25 lineup, following the initial rollout for the Galaxy S26 series earlier this month.
Currently, the update is available exclusively in South Korea, but a global rollout is expected in the coming days. The firmware version carrying the April patch for the Galaxy S25 is S938NKSS9BZCH, according to insider Tarun Watts.
This security patch focuses on closing vulnerabilities to enhance device protection. Samsung has yet to specify the exact number of fixed security issues, but further details are likely to be published shortly. To install the update, users should navigate to Settings → Software update → Download and install.
One UI 8.5 beta program on Galaxy S25
On the software front, Samsung kicked off the beta program for One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S25 last December, releasing eight beta versions since then. This update brings numerous new features, although some capabilities initially introduced on the Galaxy S26 were missing from the S25 builds.
This omission stirred frustration among Galaxy S25 owners, as the devices are technically capable of supporting most of these features. Many speculated that Samsung intentionally restricted functionality to encourage users to upgrade to the newer Galaxy S26 lineup.
Galaxy S26 exclusive features coming to S25
However, Samsung has recently confirmed that a significant portion of the Galaxy S26’s exclusive features will be made available on the Galaxy S25 with the final release of One UI 8.5.
Samsung’s update schedule compared to competitors
For context, Samsung’s flagship update schedule historically includes regular security patches alongside major One UI revisions. Compared to Apple and Google, Samsung’s timeline for backporting features is somewhat slower, which occasionally fuels user dissatisfaction in regions with mature Android markets.
With the official release of One UI 8.5 on the horizon, the upcoming months will reveal how well Samsung balances feature parity across its flagship generations. Observers will be watching to see if Samsung maintains this approach or accelerates feature parity to keep pace with competitors like Apple’s iOS and Google’s Pixel platforms.