Behind the Pixel 10 launch, there’s a serious issue undermining Android. Yes, the new phone boasts serious hardware upgrades. But it’s also the latest offering from the only Android OEM that controls its hardware and all aspects of the firmware that runs it.
Google released Android 16 back in June and it rolled out to Pixels right away. At that same time, Samsung was still rolling out Android 15. The Galaxy-maker was some six months behind Pixel then, and now there’s more of the same with Android 16.
The latest version of Android brings a raft of new security and privacy upgrades, but there’s one that stands out above all else — Google’s Advanced Protection Mode. Pixel users have had this iPhone-like option for months. Samsung users are still waiting.
This isn’t just an annual Android OS issue, it plays out monthly when Android and its OEMs release security updates, including fixes for the regular zero day vulnerabilities under active exploitation in the wild. Again Pixel users get these quickly, Samsung users await the monthly rollout rigmarole that runs for weeks.
As the Pixel fanbase celebrates its latest device, it seems that Samsung users face more delays. It had been hoped that August’s security update would be the last before One UI 8 and Android 16 came to the new Galaxy S25 at least. But maybe not so.
Noted tipster Tarun Vats warns that Samsung is falling behind schedule. “Looks like Samsung will be dropping one last beta (6th) before rolling out the stable One UI 8 update,” according to “the latest beta build spotted on the test server.”
Per SammyFans, “Samsung isn’t done yet, preparing one more One UI 7 version for the Galaxy S25 series before the big One UI 8 update. The flagships have just received the August patch, and it seems the September patch will also be there before the big jump.”
As Huawei races ahead with its own Android alternative, delivering on its ambition to be China’s answer to Apple, there has been speculation that other leading Chinese OEMs might jump onboard under the shadowy direction of the state. Pixel is a minnow compared to Android’s big sellers, and Samsung is the biggest of the lot. A shake-up may start in Beijing and Shenzhen, but its impact will be decided in Seoul.
It does seem that as AI changes the smartphone game, something needs to give. As Pixel takes on Samsung (and Apple) in the AI-fueled flagship battle, can Samsung afford to play this annual catch-up game long-term? Some big decisions to come.
