Samsung has at long last embraced seamless updates for its Galaxy smartphones, starting with most new models released in 2025. This major change brings Galaxy devices in line with other Android manufacturers who have offered this feature for years. But what exactly are seamless updates, and how do they impact Galaxy users? Let’s explore this significant shift in Samsung’s update approach.
What Are Seamless Updates?
Seamless updates fundamentally change how software updates are installed on Android devices. With this system, updates can be downloaded and installed in the background while you continue using your phone. Here’s how it works:
- Your phone has two separate system partitions, each containing a full copy of the Android operating system.
- You use one partition normally, while updates are installed to the inactive partition.
- When the update is ready, a quick reboot switches you to the updated partition.
- If any issues occur, the phone can easily revert to the previous, working partition.
This approach offers several key benefits:
- Minimal downtime: No more staring at update screens for long periods.
- Increased stability: Failed updates are less likely to leave your phone unusable.
- Emergency access: You can still make calls during most of the update process.
Which Galaxy Phones Support Seamless Updates?
Samsung’s adoption of seamless updates has been a gradual process:
- Galaxy A55 (2024): The first Samsung phone to feature seamless updates.
- Galaxy S25 series (2025): Samsung’s flagship line gains seamless update support.
- Most 2025+ models: Expected to include seamless update capability.
If your Galaxy phone was released before 2025 (except the A55), it likely doesn’t support seamless updates.
How to Check for Seamless Update Support
There’s an easy way to tell if your Galaxy phone uses seamless updates:
- Install a system update when one becomes available.
- Pay attention to the restart process.
- If the phone restarts quickly (under a minute) and you can use it almost immediately, it likely supports seamless updates.
- Traditional updates involve a longer period where the phone displays update progress screens and is unusable.
The Battery Requirement Change
While seamless updates offer convenience, they do come with one notable change for Galaxy users:
- Old requirement: 20% battery charge needed to install updates.
- New requirement: 30% battery charge needed for seamless updates.
This increased battery threshold is likely due to the more complex update process happening in the background while the phone remains operational.
Pros and Cons of Seamless Updates
Advantages
- Convenience: Install updates with minimal interruption to your day.
- Safety: Reduced risk of update failures bricking your device.
- Security: Easier to apply critical security patches promptly.
Potential Drawbacks
- Higher battery requirement: May delay updates if your phone is low on charge.
- Slightly longer overall update time: Background installation can take longer than traditional methods.
- Increased storage use: Two system partitions occupy more space (though Samsung has optimized this).
The Future of Galaxy Updates
Samsung’s adoption of seamless updates represents a significant step forward in user experience. As more Galaxy devices gain this capability, users can expect:
- More frequent updates: The reduced inconvenience may encourage Samsung to push updates more often.
- Faster security patching: Critical fixes can be applied with minimal user disruption.
- Potential for new features: The A/B partition system could enable other advanced update capabilities in the future.
Samsung’s move to seamless updates brings Galaxy phones up to speed with other Android devices. While it may require a bit more battery charge, the added convenience and stability make it a welcome change for most users.