While its version number suggests a modest upgrade, One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be far more than a minor update to One UI 8.0. Early beta builds point to a substantial release, bringing visible design refinements, tighter Galaxy ecosystem integration, and improved security enhancements.
Samsung has already rolled out several One UI 8.5 beta versions, and the latest builds appear largely stable, with no major issues reported. This stability suggests the official rollout could begin sooner rather than later. Below, we break down everything you need to know about One UI 8.5, including its expected release timeline, list of supported devices, and the key new features it brings.
One UI 8.5 Release Date: What We Know So Far
Samsung has confirmed that One UI 8.5 will debut with the Galaxy S26 series. While the company has yet to announce an official launch date, multiple leaks suggest that a Galaxy Unpacked event could take place on February 26.
Following the launch of the Galaxy S26 lineup, Samsung is expected to begin rolling out One UI 8.5 to older Galaxy devices within a few weeks. The update should first reach recent flagships such as the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7.
Although the official rollout schedule remains under wraps, Samsung has been spotted testing One UI 8.5 on a wide range of devices, including several Galaxy A-series models. This points to a potentially faster rollout than usual, especially for mid-range and budget Galaxy phones.
One UI 8.5 Eligible Devices: Full List
Since One UI 8.5 is based on Android 16, just like One UI 8.0, every Galaxy device eligible for One UI 8.0 should also receive the 8.5 update. Even if Android 16 is the final OS upgrade for your device, One UI 8.5 should still arrive.
Galaxy S Series
Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 FE, S25 Edge
Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE
Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE
Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra
Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy Z Series
Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7
Galaxy Z Fold SE (Special Edition)
Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6
Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5
Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4
Galaxy Tab Series
Galaxy Tab S10+, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S10 Lite
Galaxy Tab S10 FE, Tab S10 FE+
Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9+, Tab S9 Ultra
Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Tab S9 FE+
Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, Tab S8 Ultra
Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024)
Galaxy Tab A11, Tab A11+
Galaxy Tab A9, Tab A9+
Galaxy Tab Active 5, Active 5 Pro
Galaxy A Series
Galaxy A73
Galaxy A56, A55, A54, A53
Galaxy A36, A35, A34, A33
Galaxy A26, A25, A24
Galaxy A17 (LTE/5G), A16 (LTE/5G), A15 (LTE/5G)
Galaxy A07
Galaxy A06 (LTE/5G)
Galaxy F Series
Galaxy F56, F55, F54
Galaxy F36, F34
Galaxy F17, F16, F15
Galaxy F07, F06
Galaxy M Series
Galaxy M56, M55, M55s, M54, M53
Galaxy M36, M34, M33
Galaxy M17, M16, M15
Galaxy M07, M06
Galaxy XCover Series
Galaxy XCover 7, XCover 7 Pro
Galaxy XCover 6 Pro
One UI 8.5 Features: What’s New and Improved
Thanks to multiple beta releases, most of One UI 8.5’s new features are already known.
Refined UI and Visual Enhancements
The split Quick Panel introduced in One UI 8.0 has been further refined in One UI 8.5. Users now get more control over toggle and slider placement, along with edge-to-edge scrolling that eliminates unused blank space.
Samsung’s app icons have also received subtle 3D depth effects, which extend to select first-party apps. The overall design leans into soft shadows, floating elements, and frosted glass visuals-drawing mild inspiration from Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic, but with a distinctly Samsung-style, restrained implementation.
Smarter Photo Assist Editing
Photo Assist has been significantly improved. Users can now interrupt image generation and chain multiple AI tools, such as AI Eraser and Move, without saving after each edit. This makes photo editing faster and far more intuitive than before.
Stronger Galaxy Ecosystem Features
One UI 8.5 expands cross-device functionality with a new Storage Share feature. This allows users to access files from other Galaxy devices, including tablets and PCs, directly within the My Files app.
Another standout addition is Audio Broadcast. Using Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio, Galaxy phones can now act as microphones and broadcast audio to nearby compatible devices. Samsung has also refined Smart View and Galaxy DeX to deliver a more seamless, unified ecosystem experience.
Lock Screen, Security, and Privacy Upgrades
The update introduces AI-generated dynamic weather animations on the lock screen, along with alarms that display real-time weather information when they ring.
On the security front, One UI 8.5 includes stronger theft protection measures and enhancements to the Identity Check feature, further improving privacy and device safety.
Conclusion
While it may carry a “.5” version number, One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be a substantial upgrade rather than a minor refinement. With noticeable UI changes, smarter AI tools, deeper ecosystem integration, and stronger security, most Samsung users have plenty to look forward to when the update rolls out in the coming months.
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