The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may arrive sooner than expected.

      Joe Maring / Digital Trends

      Good news for Samsung enthusiasts: the Galaxy S25 FE is expected to launch before the year's end. Since the Galaxy S20, Samsung has released a Fan Edition (FE) of its main flagship annually, except for 2021. Although the news about the Galaxy S25 FE isn't new—it has been leaked multiple times previously—SamMobile has now found the firmware for the US variant of the device, easing concerns that Samsung might skip this generation. Some fans worried that the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge could mean no Fan Edition for 2025.

      As reported by SamMobile, the US model of the Galaxy S25 FE carries the model number SM-S731U and firmware version S731USQU0AYDH. While this information may not seem significant on its own, it serves as a clear identifier confirming that a US model is in the works. If Samsung follows its past release schedule, the Galaxy S25 FE is likely to be launched around September or October.

      Joe Maring / Digital Trends

      The Galaxy S25 FE is anticipated to operate on Android 16 and One UI 8.0, retaining the same 6.7-inch display size as the Galaxy S25 Plus. Rumors suggest that the S25 FE could have a sleeker design, but it probably won’t be as thin as the Galaxy S25 Edge. Other leaks hint at a potential MediaTek processor; however, there’s ongoing debate, with more recent sources indicating the inclusion of the Exynos 2400e instead.

      Regarding memory and storage, it is expected that the Galaxy S25 FE will offer either 8GB or 12GB of RAM along with storage options of 256GB or 512GB. Battery capacity remains uncertain, though if Samsung chooses a silicon-carbide battery over traditional lithium-ion technology, it might provide notably improved battery life in a more compact form. Keep in mind that until Samsung officially announces details, likely in July, all of this information is largely speculative.

      Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.

      Samsung resumes the rollout of Android 15-based One UI 7 for its Galaxy phones.

      Samsung's highly anticipated One UI 7 update faced a bumpy start, with multiple delays. After finally beginning to roll out the update to some flagship models, the company unexpectedly paused it, citing vague issues. Fortunately, the rollout is now back on schedule. Updates tracker Tarun Vats reported on X that the stable One UI 7 update is appearing for Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy S24 users in various regions across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US.

      If you own a Samsung Galaxy S24, it’s time to check your software update page again, as the long-delayed One UI 7 update seems to have resumed in South Korea. This suggests that it is likely to be released to global Galaxy S24-series devices soon. Samsung phone owners will know the challenges surrounding the One UI 7 update for the brand's top 2024 smartphones. Not only has it taken a long time to arrive—having started with the Galaxy S25 in January—but when it was finally rolled out last week, a significant issue related to locking and unlocking the phone was discovered, leading to an abrupt halt of the update.

      Samsung's Galaxy S25 does not appear to be achieving the success the company had hoped for.

      According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung leads Apple in smartphone shipment market share, and while this might seem like good news for the brand, a closer look at the differing strategies suggests Samsung might not be entirely pleased. In the first quarter of 2025, Samsung held 20% of the global smartphone market based on device shipments, while Apple followed with 19%. This data reflects "sell-in" statistics, indicating devices bought from the manufacturer by distributors. This marks a significant shift from the last quarter of 2024, where Apple dominated with a 23% market share compared to Samsung's 16%.

      Understanding why Samsung may view these seemingly positive figures with concern is crucial. By the end of 2024, Apple would have been benefiting from the launch of the iPhone 16 series, while Samsung would have been distanced from the releases of the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6. It is logical for Apple to hold a higher market share following the release of its flagship devices for the year.