Gorginos

@SamSWUpdate the worst part is not delaying the 8.5 but the fact that once it's released it probably won't bring too many changes apart from a more polished UI. All the camera fixes we've been waiting for in S25 were pushed to S26 only. Our efforts to claim better processing in S25 is wasted

People are bashing Samsung after news that the 9th and 10th One UI 8.5 betas will follow next. Samsung community Korea members aren't happy with the way Samsung is treating their 7 OS update flagship, and their dissatisfaction is reasonable, what do you think?

@UniverseIce it's crazy that we have to pay so much and buy the new model just to get the real software updates we've been waiting for. All the feedback we sent about the issues we face are only considered on their next generation.

Recently, a wave of user dissatisfaction has emerged within Samsung’s Korean community. The core issue centers on software-level differential treatment. A growing number of users have pointed out that certain features on new flagship devices are not limited by hardware constraints, but are deliberately restricted to newer models, leaving older flagships excluded. This pattern has become increasingly evident across imaging algorithms, AI capabilities, and system features, ultimately triggering a broader backlash after long-standing frustration. At its core, this issue goes beyond technical limitations. The traditional logic in the industry has been that hardware defines the upper limit, while software determines the final experience. However, the current situation shows that even when hardware conditions are fully met, features are still artificially segmented by product generation. Devices with identical sensors exhibit noticeably different algorithmic performance, identical chipsets are assigned tiered AI capabilities, and certain system features debut exclusively on new models without being rolled out to older ones. All of this points to a clear conclusion: the limitation is not technical, but strategic. The underlying logic of this strategy is straightforward. By artificially creating gaps in user experience, manufacturers reinforce generational differences and push users toward upgrading. This is a typical software-driven upgrade strategy. The problem is that it relies on users believing that new devices genuinely offer superior value. Once users realize that some of these differences are intentionally imposed rather than naturally occurring, trust begins to erode. From another perspective, this approach reflects a lack of confidence in the product itself. Truly competitive products do not need to rely on limiting older devices to highlight the value of new ones. On the contrary, some manufacturers continue to bring new features and algorithm improvements to older models, extending their lifecycle and strengthening user trust. When a product is strong enough, it does not need artificial restrictions to stand out. When restrictions become necessary, they often serve as compensation for insufficient product appeal. More importantly, this practice is gradually depleting long-term brand equity. In the short term, limiting features on older devices may help drive sales of new models and create the appearance of clear generational upgrades. In the long run, however, user loyalty declines, upgrade decisions shift from voluntary to reluctant, and brand reputation is continuously weakened. As trust diminishes, even genuinely improved products may struggle to gain recognition, creating a negative cycle. What truly fuels user frustration is not the absence of a specific feature, but a deeper psychological response. When users who paid a premium for flagship devices realize that their hardware remains fully capable, yet their experience is intentionally restricted, a strong sense of imbalance emerges. This feeling of being treated differently is the real source of the backlash. When a company begins to rely on limiting older devices to justify the value of new ones, the problem no longer lies with the old devices, but with the new ones. Real innovation should make users want to upgrade, not force them to do so.

@UniverseIce the problem is not only that the new features are exclusively reserved for the latest models but even the necessary software fixes for the camera's flaws as well. This is not the typical flagship experience with 7 years of updates someone would expect...

Reported by South Korean news outlet Newsis on April 3, 2026, the AI Call Screening feature in the One UI 8.5 system launched with Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is exclusive to this lineup. Even high-end flagship models such as the Galaxy S25 (less than a year since its release) and the Z Fold/Flip7 (only six months on the market) are not supported. This decision has sparked fierce dissatisfaction among Samsung users and cast widespread doubt on the practical validity of its previous commitment to 7 years of software update support. Powered by on-device AI, the Call Screening feature can answer calls on the user’s behalf, verify the caller’s identity and purpose, and provide real-time text summaries. It is a function achievable via software updates, and industry insiders judge that the NPU performance of models like the S25 Ultra is fully capable of supporting this feature. Samsung’s move is therefore not due to hardware limitations but is widely seen as a clear marketing ploy. Samsung officials also explicitly responded on the user community that there are no plans to port this feature to older models. Users have expressed profound disappointment and resentment, questioning that Samsung is artificially restricting features to drive sales of new devices and effectively terminating functional support for flagship models only a year after their release. Some even fear that the S26 series will face the same discriminatory treatment when future new models launch. Meanwhile, users have drawn a stark comparison between Samsung and Apple: Apple’s Call Screening feature, rolled out via an update in September the previous year, supports not only the latest iPhone 17 series but also the iPhone 11 released in 2019, far outperforming Samsung in adapting new features for older models. At its Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event, Samsung announced it would extend software and security update support for its devices from 4 to 7 years, stating that this was to meet users’ demand for long-term use of premium products. However, the company’s current move to reserve a practical AI feature exclusively for new devices has severely undermined consumer trust in this commitment. Critics argue that if Samsung only upgrades the OS version for older models while excluding core user-centric new features, its 7-year update promise will be rendered meaningless. Industry analysts note that Samsung’s move is an attempt to use AI features as a unique selling point to stimulate replacement demand for flagship models, at a time when hardware differentiation in smartphones has become increasingly difficult. While this may boost new device sales in the short term, the differentiated treatment of flagship models less than a year old is likely to cause the loss of core users with high brand loyalty and erode the company’s loyal customer base in the long run. An industry insider pointed out that while software feature restrictions may be a last resort for manufacturers, discriminating against devices released less than a year ago will ultimately harm the brand’s core user groups.

@Wvisioncreation i know it's auto mode that's why i wish it was more convenient the same way as my Pixel used to be. Of course i can manually achieve a lot better results with Expert RAW and editing.

@gorginos15 Sure Expert RAW is doing good to preserve shadow details but i test auto here

S26 Ultra Main Camera | 23mm vs 43mm (24MP) Ignore the imperfect 1× frame this is a stress test. Direct sunlight. Moving water. One goal: Can it keep water smooth… without falling into oversharpening? And the answer is Yes 👌 Because that's where real processing reveals itself. #ShotOnSnapdragon

@Wvisioncreation yeap that's what i am doing at the moment but if the information is totally lost in the crushed shadows i am not able to restore it completely via editing.

@gorginos15 It's direct sunlight auto mode if you want more shadow details shoot raw and edited like Pro camera

@TechHome100 does this mean at least that Vivo tries to optimize their older models and not forget about them? Cause with Samsung you will never see this happening as the older models will only look worse and never get updates.

Vivo X300 Ultra vs X200 Ultra 📷 #vivo #vivoX300Ultra 1/4🧵

@Wvisioncreation it's the same as why the S25 FE beats the normal S25's stock camera despite the weaker specs but also nobody talks about this. Software optimization is the key.

Why does the Vivo X200 Ultra beat the new Vivo X300 Ultra in every shot in that thread comparison? Where's everything people talk about?🤔

@sondesix like it was very difficult to do so with the S25 Ultra via a software update. Did they really have to release a whole new model for these minor improvements?

Samsung has truly improved the level of detail and noise reduction with the S26 Ultra! Left: Galaxy S26 Ultra Right: Galaxy S25 Ultra

@Wvisioncreation @davidsicur ofc but the "differences" look smaller when Expert RAW or gcam is used. Besides my Pixel 7 from 2022 with an old chipset and smaller sensor had better HDR processing. I am sure S25 Ultra has more than enough to handle such conditions in 2025 but needs optimizations.

There are some differences that can make a difference. Refined HP2 with F1.4. New 3x S5K3LD new technology. 5x Same sensor but ALoP with F2.9. Plus New ISP, Faster NPU, GPU. And new software all that can make a difference. On paper, we might feel this is less significant because we tend to think only sensor size matters, but from an engineering perspective, they can do a lot with that.

@davidsicur I am not, because I shared a lot about the bad decisions of auto mode on the S25 Ultra by choosing the wrong metering for the scene and how Expert RAW fixed that. I requested Samsung a lot to fix that issue in auto mode, and they did it with the S26 Ultra's auto mode.

@davidsicur @Wvisioncreation The S25 Ultra had technically everything it takes to capture excellent photos so there is no excuse why those archaic imperfections still existed in 2025. Thanks to these comparisons i am convinced my next phone won't be Samsung cause i can't trust them anymore.

@gorginos15 @Wvisioncreation This is partly a marketing tactic to sell the next model. Samsung phones receive very few camera updates, and the quality hasn't significantly improved on my S25 Ultra, or only very slightly. That doesn't mean it's bad, but it could be better

@Wvisioncreation that would be very interesting especially if it's a single frame real RAW image without any HDR processing. I think Pro mode applies the least amount of processing on RAW photos. With Expert RAW you can't turn off the HDR processing anymore unless you switch to 50mp.

@gorginos15 Do you think i will mess this point that's why i make a raw test well i shared blint test of it and i will share the result and more soon

S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra | 3× Auto Same shot. Same f/2.4. Same 1/100s. S26 Ultra → ISO 25 S25 Ultra → ISO 50 Lower ISO = more light captured. That’s not opinion… that’s physics. So which one is really capturing more light the “downgraded” one? 😅 Fact: S26 Ultra 3× is better. Day, night, all scenarios. So what now, should I fake results to make it look worse? I share exactly what I get. Real shots. No tricks. No screenshots.

@Wvisioncreation as a powerful flagship from 2025 the S25 Ultra should have had a lot better processing with or without night mode. It should have at least received some software fixes by now to improve but nope all the fixes were reserved and pushed exclusively to S26.

S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra | 1x Main camera 1 & 2 Auto vs. Auto (both No Night 🌙) 3 & 4 Auto New Night Mode vs. Separate Night Mode

@Wvisioncreation in that case best of luck to the S26 when the S27 gets released and so on...

S25 Ultra | March update (One UI 8.0) Feels like a slight hit to both Stock Camera & Expert RAW not dramatic, but noticeable. I don’t think it’s intentional. S26 Ultra is already ahead compared to S25 Ultra at peak performance. Next stop: One UI 8.5… hopefully brings things back up

@Wvisioncreation so on the S26 Ultra it's different but on the S25 Ultra it is worse now? Hope nothing intentional is going on here...

S25 Ultra users don’t be sad 😅 Even the February update (2nd) on S26 Ultra brought a similar “hit” to the camera. Not worse… just different. Full test coming soon 👀

@Wvisioncreation this is indoors so not much of a good light here. S26U has better HDR but what was the shutter speed, ISO? Perhaps 1/100? S25 handles highlights, noise and HDR better anytime when night mode is forced so that's kind of a trick i use instead of waiting for Samsung to fix it.

S25 Ultra vs S26 Ultra | 1x Auto mode Same sensor, and on paper a wider aperture should make highlight control more challenging in good light. But here, the S26 Ultra handles it better stronger highlight control, cleaner rendering, improved overall image quality. Call it tuning, call it pipeline… or call it a “refined HP2.” Something clearly changed.

@Wvisioncreation and that's why i have configured my own Gcam to take excellent zoom shots so i don't need to wait for Samsung to release a whole new model every year with similar sensors but small software tweaks in order to take slightly better shots. Thank god i am a software developer!

S25 Ultra vs S26 Ultra | 3x Auto mode Which one has the smallest sensor?

@Wvisioncreation S25 Ultra is focusing on the background hence the person is blurred whereas the S26 Ultra is focusing on the person hence the background is blurred.

S25 Ultra vs S26 Ultra | 5x Auto Noise, AI sharpening, artifacts the things that ruin a shot for me. That’s why I stayed on Expert RAW last year. Now with S26 Ultra, Auto finally feels right. Photo Softening (High) delivers a clean, natural rendering, Medium sits in a well-balanced zone. Personally, I’ll take natural over processed. Every time.