Skip to main content

Android 11 is now rolling out to some Samsung Galaxy phones, if you’re lucky

Samsung users are set to finally get Android 11. Samsung has finally offered some information about its update rollout — and as long as you have a recent Galaxy device, you may be able to get it relatively soon.

The first phones to get Android 11, which includes One UI 3.0, will be the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, minus the Galaxy S20 FE. In the U.S., South Korea, and most of Europe, Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra users should expect to get the update over the next few weeks, with some users set to get it right away. According to reports, however, it seems as though some UK Note 20 users have already gotten the update.

Recommended Videos

Samsung is somewhat contradicting itself when it comes to the update schedule for other phones. In a press release, the company says that “the upgrade will gradually become available in more regions and on more devices, including the Galaxy Note 20, Z Fold 2, Z Flip, Note 10, Fold and S10 series, in the coming weeks.” But, in the Samsung Members app, it claims updates may be dragged out until February depending on the model. In that app, the company lists the Note 20 series and Galaxy S20 FE as getting the update in January, and the Galaxy Fold, S10 series, Note 10 series, Z Flip, Fold, and Z Fold 2, as getting the update in February. So users with those phones will likely have to wait a couple of months before they get the update for themselves.

Unfortunately, you can’t do much to get the update sooner, except to make sure that you have the latest apps and software, and that you’re signed into the Galaxy Apps store and Samsung Members app (which you may have disabled — be sure to re-enable it). You could obsessively refresh the software updates section in the Settings app, however that likely won’t help you actually get the update any faster.

Android 11 in general brings a few new features to your phone, but in the case of One UI 3.0, it mostly brings visual refinements. Menus have a new translucent look, while lock screen widgets are a bit more functional. Other features are present too — like the ability to turn the screen off by double-tapping an empty area on the home screen.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
5 phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Someone holding the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, showing the cover screen.

Looking for a flip smartphone? The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is right at the top of the list, thanks to Samsung's sublime design, powerful specs, and excellent attention to detail. The Z Flip 6 may be new, but it's making its own mark rapidly. However, it's far from the only option open to you, and if you're looking for a flip smartphone in particular or just a powerful phone, then there are plenty of alternatives.

We've collated five of the best Galaxy Z Flip 6 alternatives, ranging from some other great flip phones to Samsung's other flagships and even a wildcard entry that absolutely deserves consideration. Here are the five phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Galaxy Z Flip 5 (left) and Galaxy Z Flip 6 Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Read more
A new Samsung phone just leaked, and it’s a lot different from the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A06 render.

Samsung Galaxy A06 render. GizNext via Onleaks

A new Samsung phone has just gotten a pretty substantial leak, and surprisingly, it isn’t a flagship. The leak comes from GizNext (via Onleaks), which has revealed everything there is to know about the Samsung Galaxy A06 in painstaking detail. Notably, this is a fairly entry-level phone that’s expected to have budget pricing characteristics of the Galaxy A-series and serve as a successor to the Galaxy A05.

Read more
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra may not be the upgrade you’re hoping for
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

With the possible exception of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim, Samsung's releases for this year are likely ending. As a result, the focus is shifting toward the upcoming Galaxy S25 series, which is expected to debut in January. While there has been minimal information about these phones, the latest news isn't positive.

Ice Universe, a well-known leaker, has revealed some information about the Galaxy S25 Ultra's potential battery. They claim the largest of Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones will feature a 5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging. These are the specifications found on the 2020 Galaxy S20 Ultra, and the same type of battery was used on the previous five Galaxy S Ultra models.

Read more