Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update looks generous on paper, but the fine print is classic flagship politics: some features are being held back for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Owners of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Galaxy S25 Ultra will still get the new interface and most of the polish, just not everything Samsung is showing off with its newest top-end phone.
The split is especially visible in the camera app. Two additions stand out: a new 24-megapixel shooting mode and a feature called Horizontal Lock. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, both are available after the update; on the older Ultra models, they simply do not appear, and there is no workaround through Camera Assistant or the camera’s extra settings.
24-megapixel mode stays exclusive to Galaxy S26 Ultra
The 24MP mode is the cleaner example of how manufacturers are using software to sharpen hardware boundaries. Samsung has already done this sort of thing before, and rivals are no strangers to it either: a feature can be technically possible on older phones, but still be locked to the latest model to help justify an upgrade. That may be tidy for marketing. It is less charming for anyone who just bought last year’s Ultra.
Horizontal Lock is treated the same way. The S26 Ultra gets it, the other Ultra models do not. And according to SamMobile’s comparison, the restriction is not limited to photography tools; some of the broader One UI 8.5 additions are also reserved for Samsung’s newest flagship.
What Galaxy S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra owners still get
- The One UI 8.5 interface update
- Most system improvements shown with the new release
- All the usual frustration that comes with feature tiers inside the same premium family
That leaves Samsung doing what it does best: giving older flagships enough to keep them fresh, while saving the shiny bits for the newest model. The open question is how long buyers keep accepting that bargain once the update gap becomes visible in everyday use, not just in launch-event slide decks.