Samsung is maintaining its rapid pace of software updates in the early days of 2026. Following the rollout for the Galaxy S23 and S22 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 duo have now started receiving the January 2026 security patch, addressing over 50 security vulnerabilities.

As per usual, the rollout begins in South Korea. The new firmware bears the build number ending in FZA1. Similar to the strategy seen with the S-series, Samsung is expected to expand the update's availability to other global markets in the coming days.

This update is strictly focused on security and does not introduce major new features. While minor system stability improvements may be included "under the hood," users should not expect visible changes to the daily experience. The primary goal is to ensure devices remain safeguarded against newly emerging risks.

In parallel, Samsung is working on finalizing One UI 8.5, based on Android 16 (QPR2). Currently in the beta testing phase, this major version is slated to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup before trickling down to older models. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 are expected to be eligible for the One UI 8.5 update around June 2026.

In the meantime, users are strongly advised to install the latest security patches as soon as they become available to ensure data safety. You can check for the update manually by navigating to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install.