I do not need the Galaxy S25 to make use of seamless updates

Seamless updates have been round because the unique Pixel debuted in 2016, and since then, loads of different Android OEMs have added them to their gadgets. Samsung has been the exception, with the Galaxy A55 being the one machine the corporate has made that featured them. I appreciated that a part of the Galaxy expertise as a result of I’m an impatient individual. But it surely appears to be like like Samsung will lastly collapse and add seamless updates to the Galaxy S25, and I’m not trying ahead to it. Earlier than you get out the pitchforks, enable me to elucidate.

Seamless updates use a twin partition or “slot” system. When the cellphone is model new, it should boot in slot A. When the machine will get its first software program replace, it’s put in on slot B. This has three advantages: First, the cellphone can set up the replace to the secondary slot within the background when you proceed to make use of your cellphone usually. When the replace is put in, you’ll be prompted to restart. Right here lay the second profit — the restart solely takes about 30 seconds as all of the cellphone does now could be swap slots and boot up the up to date OS from slot B. The third profit is that if something goes unsuitable with the replace, you gained’t lose any information or have a bricked cellphone as it may possibly default again to fit A with the earlier software program model.

These are some sound advantages, however are there any downsides? In any case, why would I be so in opposition to Samsung adopting seamless updates if the system is so good? Put merely, it takes ages. My cellphone may solely be out of motion for thirty seconds throughout the reboot, however the background set up previous to that may take hours. Once I had a Pixel 8a, it took over an hour to put in Android 15, and safety patches usually took half an hour.

Samsung telephones set up software program updates within the old style approach. The replace is downloaded, and your cellphone reboots and installs it. The cellphone is offline and unusable for longer than a tool with seamless updates. My S24 Extremely takes about two minutes to put in a safety patch, whereas the One UI 7 beta, which weighed in at a number of GBs, took about 5 minutes. That’s longer than a fast reboot however a lot quicker than an hour of me twiddling my thumbs, ready for one thing I can’t management or velocity up.

I admit that is my “outdated man yells at cloud” second. Most individuals don’t care how lengthy it takes to put in an replace within the background so long as they will maintain utilizing their cellphone. The one time I’ve seen seamless updates annoy common customers is when the Pixel 9 sequence launched. Throughout the preliminary setup, the cellphone had a compulsory software program replace it wanted to carry out, and also you couldn’t end establishing the cellphone till the replace had been put in. So, there have been cries then.

Me? I dislike seamless updates as a result of I need to get into a brand new software program construct as quickly as doable to dig round and see what’s modified. I don’t thoughts having a cellphone out of fee for 5 minutes if it means I can get your entire replace completed in simply that period of time.

Look forward to when the Android 16 public beta begins. I/O has been and gone, Google has instructed us what shiny treats to sit up for, and you’ll’t wait to put in the beta. However you do have to attend as a result of the seamless replace expertise is sluggish. That doesn’t sound enjoyable, does it?

For Pixels, you’ll be able to skip that wait by sideloading the replace your self through the use of the Android Flash Instrument, however that requires a pc to provoke the method and could be a little bit of a trouble. The device can be solely unavailable for Samsung gadgets, so it gained’t assist me if Samsung switches to seamless updates on the Galaxy S25. Flashing and sideloading Samsung’s telephones has by no means been simple; take it from somebody who needed to develop into intimately acquainted with Odin again within the day.

Look, I do know it’s unreasonable to wholeheartedly oppose seamless updates once they make extra sense for the typical person. Nonetheless, I don’t assume it’s absurd to ask for enhancements. My difficulty could be solved if Google and/or Samsung added a button that skipped the background set up and rapidly accomplished it. Google might even make it a developer possibility so that almost all customers wouldn’t comprehend it was there, and I’d nonetheless be pleased.

An alternative choice could be to make the background set up faster. That’s simpler stated than completed — if Google might snap its fingers and make seamless updates quicker, it might have completed so already. In the long run, although, I count on the method will progressively get quicker than it’s now, due to enhancements in storage speeds. The Pixel 9 Professional makes use of UFS 3.1, whereas Samsung telephones just like the S24 Extremely use UFS 4.0, with learn/write speeds virtually double these of three.1. Maybe seamless updates on the S25 sequence, which is anticipated to sport both UFS 4.0 or 4.1, shall be quick sufficient for me.

If the quicker storage velocity doesn’t make sufficient of a distinction and we don’t get a toggle to drive quicker updates, I’ll be fairly disillusioned when the S25 launches with seamless updates. Possibly I’m, to borrow one other Simpsons reference, deciding that the youngsters are unsuitable. Both approach, I hope we are able to all agree that seamless updates could be a lot better in the event that they didn’t take so lengthy.