Galaxy S22 Ultra starts Android 16 and One UI 8 testing
Samsung has started internal testing of Android 16 for its Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone. Along with Android 16, the phone is also being prepared to run the next version of Samsung’s custom software, One UI 8.0.
This testing was first spotted through a test firmware with the version S908BXXU8GXE4, which appeared on Samsung’s server. The “GXE4” part of the build number hints at early-stage testing. This firmware is for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it’s likely that the regular Galaxy S22 and S22+ will also be tested soon.
The Galaxy S22 series originally launched with Android 12 in early 2022. Over time, it received Android 13 and Android 14 updates. Now, Samsung is getting ready to bring Android 16 to these devices, keeping up with its promise of long-term software support.
Android 16 is still under development by Google, and the stable version is expected later this year. Once Google officially releases it, Samsung will begin the public beta of One UI 8. Galaxy S22 users can expect to join the beta program later in the year, before the official rollout.
This move shows that Samsung is serious about keeping its older phones updated. If testing goes smoothly, the Galaxy S22 lineup may get Android 16 and One UI 8 by the end of 2025 or earlier.
