Samsung Galaxy owners awaiting the Android 15 update will need to exercise more patience as the company faces further delays in its rollout schedule. While users wait for the major operating system upgrade, they can at least take advantage of Galaxy AI features in offline mode for enhanced privacy.
Android 15 Update Timeline Pushed Back
Samsung appears to have missed its own promised deadline for the Android 15 and One UI 7 update. According to a leaked timeline from Samsung Romania, Galaxy S24 and S23 users will need to wait until the latter half of April for the stable release, despite Samsung's earlier promise to deliver the update by the end of Q1. This information, shared during a Zoom call and later confirmed by tipster Tarun Vats, indicates a significant delay in Samsung's update schedule. The postponement is particularly notable given that the software is already running on the new Galaxy S25 series, leaving many Samsung fans disappointed by the lack of explanation for the delay.
Samsung Update Timeline:
- Original expected release: Mid-February 2025
- New expected release: Latter half of April 2025
- Affected devices: Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S22 series
Privacy-Focused Galaxy AI Features Available Offline
While waiting for Android 15, Galaxy users can take advantage of Samsung's AI features without compromising privacy. Starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung has implemented a way to use Galaxy AI features offline through on-device processing. This option allows privacy-conscious users to try AI features without sending their data to Samsung's cloud servers. By enabling on-device processing, users can access features like Live Translate, Note Assist, and Browsing Assist entirely on their device, ensuring personal data remains private.
How to Enable On-Device AI Processing
Galaxy users can easily enable offline AI processing by opening Settings, scrolling to find Galaxy AI, and toggling on Process data only on device at the bottom of the screen. Once enabled, several key features will switch to local processing, including Browsing Assist, Call Assist, Writing Assist, Interpreter, Note Assist, Photo Assist, and Transcript Assist. Samsung's Knox security technology and the new Personal Data Engine (launched with the Galaxy S25 series) work together to keep locally processed data secure and encrypted.
Galaxy AI Features Available Offline:
- Browsing assist: Summarize, Read highlights aloud
- Call assist: Live translate
- Writing assist: Chat translation, Composer, Style and grammar, Suggested replies
- Interpreter
- Note assist: Translate, Transcribe
- Photo assist: Sketch to edit, Portrait studio
- Transcript assist: Transcribe, Translate, Summary
Security Implications of the Delayed Update
The delay of Android 15 comes at a challenging time for mobile security. Android 15 includes major security and privacy upgrades that Samsung users will now have to wait longer to receive. This postponement is particularly concerning as the mobile threat landscape continues to evolve. While Samsung has reportedly done an excellent job with its One UI 7 implementation, the extended wait time leaves users without the latest security protections that Google Pixel users are already enjoying.
Samsung's Position in the Android Ecosystem
As Google moves forward with the Android 16 beta, Samsung's position as Android's largest OEM faces increasing scrutiny over update timelines. The growing gap between Google's release schedule and Samsung's implementation raises questions about Samsung's ability to keep pace with security and feature updates. Industry analysts have warned that these delays could potentially spell disaster for the company if not addressed, especially as competitors deliver updates more promptly.
