Samsung One UI 8 rollout stumbles as Apple’s iOS 26 dominates

Samsung’s latest software update, One UI 8, was meant to be a bold counter to Apple’s highly anticipated iOS 26 release. Instead, the timing and execution exposed just how different the two companies remain when it comes to delivering updates.

While Apple launched iOS 26 globally in a single sweeping release, instantly making it available to every eligible iPhone and iPad around the world, Samsung’s rollout strategy felt sluggish and fragmented.

The South Korean tech giant chose September 15 to begin rolling out One UI 8 – the very same day Apple pushed iOS 26 live. On paper, it looked like a clever play to distract from Apple’s headlines. In practice, though, Samsung’s rollout faltered. Only Galaxy S25 owners in Korea received the new update initially, leaving international users waiting. Other Galaxy devices deemed eligible won’t get One UI 8 until October or even later. For users accustomed to Apple’s synchronized global release model, the difference could not be more glaring.

A rollout that highlights Samsung’s ongoing challenges

Even putting aside the slow distribution, One UI 8 itself hardly delivers a transformative experience. Samsung has branded it as a major version jump, but early impressions suggest it’s one of the thinnest updates the company has pushed in recent years. The visual tweaks and minor refinements are a far cry from Apple’s new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 – a bold and divisive overhaul that has sparked debates but undeniably captured the industry’s attention.

To Samsung’s credit, it has made real progress in improving its long-criticized software update policy over the past few years. Galaxy devices now receive more years of support than ever before, a major step forward compared to the company’s reputation in the mid-2010s. But One UI 8 shows that despite the improvements, Samsung still struggles to match Apple’s speed, consistency, and impact when it comes to OS releases. What should have been a chance to steal some of Apple’s thunder instead underscored the perception that Samsung continues to lag behind.

For users, the message is clear: if you value instant access to updates and a polished, headline-grabbing rollout, Apple remains unmatched. Samsung may eventually get One UI 8 to millions of devices, but the excitement has already been drowned out by Apple’s much bigger and better-coordinated iOS 26 debut.