Samsung just launched the Galaxy S25 series with a host of upgrades, with the Ultra model leading the line. From new cameras and display enhancements to more RAM and faster wireless charging, the new flagships have plenty on offer. But do they support seamless updates? Here’s your answer.
Seamless updates on Galaxy S25: Here’s what we know
The answer is, Yes. The Galaxy S25 series, including the base, Plus, and Ultra models, supports seamless updates. It may not be the flashiest of changes, but one that many would appreciate, particularly tech-savvy people. These are the only Galaxy flagships to support this age-old Android feature. The Galaxy A55 is the only other Samsung phone to offer seamless updates.
The Galaxy S25 series now joins the party, further enhancing the experience with Virtual A/B Partition. For the uninitiated, Android seamless updates are a convenience-focused feature that reduces the downtime when installing new software updates. Google introduced this feature way back in 2016 with Android Nougat (Android 7). It uses a dual-partition system, typically labeled A and B.
Originally, it required two full copies of partitions, doubling the storage space occupied by the Android OS. Virtual A/B Partition introduced with Android 11 addresses this issue by creating a compressed snapshot of the system partition when installing an update. The update is applied to that snapshot and verified if it can reboot. If it can’t, the device will return to the original partition and you begin the process again.
In the original method, the primary partition (A) runs the current version of the operating system, and the secondary partition (B) installs the update in the background. Once the update is complete, the system seamlessly switches to the updated partition upon reboot. The overall process is similar, but Virtual A/B Partition saves storage space on your phone.
Seamless updates also eliminate the lengthy delay when installing updates. You don’t have to sit out the entire installation process, but it is only slightly longer than a regular restart. It drastically minimizes downtime, so you can get on with your work quickly. Another advantage of seamless updates is their fail-safe mechanism. If something goes wrong during the installation process, it only affects the secondary or virtual partition.
The system can revert to the original partition, reducing the risk of a bricked device. For so long, Samsung avoided offering seamless updates on Galaxy phones. Last year, it finally added the function to the Galaxy A55. It’s now offering seamless updates on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and other S25 models. The new flagships are now available for pre-order. You can pre-order them through our Mystery Box program to secure additional freebies, including a case and some coupon codes.
