What older Galaxy phones miss
Samsung updated the Galaxy S25 and Z Series with notification and file AI summaries on June 11, 2026. However, according to Android Authority and SamMobile, headline One UI 8.5 features like “Now Nudge” and 24MP camera modes remain exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series despite the devices sharing the same Snapdragon 8 Elite hardware.
Why are some One UI 8.5 features missing from the Galaxy S25?
Samsung hasn’t provided an official reason for the feature gaps. While the Galaxy S26 series has exclusive access to several AI and camera tools, Digital Trends noted that these features don’t appear to require S26-specific hardware. This suggests the omissions are a software-level decision rather than a technical limitation.
The disparity is most evident with “Now Nudge,” a context-aware AI tool that suggests calendar events or contact saves via the Samsung Keyboard. Despite being a flagship feature of One UI 8.5, it’s currently missing from the S25 Ultra, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7.
Which Galaxy AI features arrived in the June 2026 update?
A 900MB update released on June 11 added three specific AI tools to the Galaxy S25, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7. These features process data on-device rather than in the cloud, according to Samsung’s technical specifications.
- Prioritize Notifications: Reorders alerts based on importance. It requires the system language to match the notification language.
- Summarize Notifications: Collapses long email threads and group chats into plain-language summaries.
- File Summaries: Provides AI-generated summaries for PDF, TXT, and voice recordings within the My Files and Voice Recorder apps.
Android Authority and GSMArena reported that the rollout began in South Korea, with North America, Europe, and India following within a week.
What happened to Now Nudge and 24MP camera modes?
Several high-end capabilities remain locked to the S26 series. SammyGuru confirmed that the 24MP AI Fusion camera mode—which balances detail and file size—is missing from the S25 Ultra’s Camera Assistant app, even though both phones run the same app version.
Video softening is another casualty. Android Authority found the code for this feature in One UI 8.5, but it’s only active on the S26. This tool allows users to reduce default sharpening for a more natural look. Older Ultra models are also missing “Horizon Lock,” a stabilization feature that keeps footage level during shaky movement.
How does feature availability differ across Galaxy devices?
The distribution of One UI 8.5 is fragmented. While the S26 series has the full suite, older models face varying levels of “feature stripping.”
| Device Series | One UI 8.5 Status | Key Missing Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | Full Access | None |
| Galaxy S25 / Z7 | Partial | Now Nudge, 24MP Mode |
| Galaxy S24 | Partial | June AI Updates (Pending) |
| Galaxy S23 | Reduced | Apple Quick Share, Call Screening |
| Galaxy A-Series | Lite | Full Galaxy AI (uses “Awesome Intelligence”) |
PhoneArena and Android Authority noted that the S23 series’ lack of Apple-compatible Quick Share has led to complaints about planned obsolescence, especially since these devices still have OS support remaining.
Will One UI 9 bring these missing tools to older phones?
There’s a strong possibility for some features. One UI 9 entered beta on May 13, 2026, for the S26 series. A firmware leak spotted by SamMobile shows “Now Nudge” listed in internal One UI 9 builds for the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
If this leak holds true, Samsung may be timing the release of Now Nudge to coincide with the next major OS jump rather than a point update. However, there’s no evidence that the 24MP camera mode or video softening will be backported to the S25, as these remain strictly tied to the S26’s marketing identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get Now Nudge on my Galaxy S25 Ultra?
Not currently. It’s exclusive to the S26 series, though SamMobile reports it may arrive with One UI 9 based on firmware leaks.
Why does the S25 FE have the fingerprint booster but the S25 Ultra doesn’t?
Samsung hasn’t explained this. Android Authority noted the discrepancy, but it remains an unexplained rollout anomaly.
Is the 24MP camera mode coming to older phones?
There is no confirmed plan or leak suggesting a backport for the 24MP mode or video softening to the S25 series.
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