Just two weeks after the stable One UI 6.0 (Android 14) update was rolled out for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung has released the second software update for the Galaxy S23 series based on Android 14.
Galaxy S23 owners have been looking forward to this update because the original Android 14 release isn't as perfect as everyone had hoped regarding animations and the general fluidity of the user interface. The phones have stutter that wasn't present on One UI 5.1/Android 13 or even the beta version of One UI 6, and animations for home screen widgets are missing when navigation gestures are used instead of on-screen navigation buttons.
Is any of that fixed in the first minor update released for the Galaxy S23 series after Android 14/One UI 6? Is there anything else new or improved? Unfortunately, the answer is no.
First post-Android 14 Galaxy S23 update only brings security fixes
Widget animations, which Samsung has promised to fix, are still broken when using navigation gestures, and the update doesn't address general performance, either. The update only brings with it the November 2023 security patch (which fixes a few dozen vulnerabilities in Android and One UI) and leaves everything else exactly the same.
We will have to wait for the next update and hope it brings the improvements and fixes people are asking for. Even if it takes more than one more update, we can expect Samsung to eventually address most complaints, as the company has been pretty active with responding to user feedback ever since the Galaxy S23 series launched in early 2023.
If you haven't received Android 14 yet, you're not alone
You may be wondering why people are talking about the first post-Android 14 update for the Galaxy S23 lineup when your device is still on Android 13. Don't worry, that's normal, as Samsung has officially delayed the initial One UI 6 release in some markets, though the company hasn't revealed any reasons for why it's taking longer in those markets.
Those who are still using Android 13 will possibly get a newer build of Android 14 when the major OS upgrade does become available for them. It could be the build that is rolling out now as the second Android 14-based firmware or an even newer one, though there's no way to be sure at this time.
If you own a different Galaxy device that's eligble for Android 14 and One UI 6 and are wondering when the update will arrive for you, you can check out Samsung's roadmap. The roadmap differs for each country, but it will give you a good sense of the time frame in which you can expect to be able to upgrade your phone or tablet.
