Samsung launched four Galaxy S25 models between January and May, and another is coming. In the second half of the year, we will get a fifth model, the Galaxy S25 FE. And although the FE will be the most affordable Galaxy S25 model, there’s one area in which it will eclipse its more expensive siblings: software.

The Galaxy S25 FE will launch running a newer version of Android and One UI than the other S25 models. This is history repeating itself: the same was true for the Galaxy S21 FE in 2022. It came preloaded with Android 12 instead of Android 11, making it eligible for Android 16 and One UI 8, an update the other S21 models will not get.

While the Galaxy S21 FE launched with newer software because it hit the market almost a year after the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 FE will do so thanks to the faster-than-usual development and release timeline of One UI 8 (Android 16).

All of the high-end devices Samsung is bringing in the second half of 2025 will run One UI 8 out of the box, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Since Samsung promises major OS upgrades for new flagships, the S25 FE will be eligible for one extra upgrade. It will receive updates till Android 23, while the S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and S25 Edge will stop at Android 22.

This advantage should somewhat make up for the fact that the Galaxy S25 FE's specs probably won't include big hardware upgrades. Benchmarks and leaked firmware have already confirmed one non-upgrade: the FE will be powered by the Exynos 2400 chip from the Galaxy S24 lineup instead of the Galaxy Z Flip 7's Exynos 2500 or the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip found in the rest of the S25 series.

But when it comes to software support, the Galaxy S25 FE will outshine its siblings. And that will likely be a decisive factor for many buyers who are looking to pick up a new high-end phone with long-term value later this year.