Samsung is indeed preparing the Galaxy S25 series for One UI 8.5 beta testing, as the first test build has just been spotted on Samsung’s servers. This one will also be based on Android 16, but unlike One UI 8.0, it’s said to bring several major upgrades, along with a host of enhancements.
The first One UI 8.5 test build has surfaced on Samsung’s servers for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the PDA build version ZYKP. Such internal builds are not available to the public, but their appearance on the server suggests the public beta release could be just a few weeks away.
As of writing this post, Samsung hasn’t announced anything about One UI 8.5, including the release date or upcoming changes. However, thanks to past leaks, we already know that the new software will debut early next year with the Galaxy S26 series. According to reports, the S26 series will be unveiled in February. As for the One UI 8.5 beta program, it will likely go live in December.
Related:
1. Samsung devices that are eligible for One UI 8.5 update
2. One UI 8.5 leaked video shows plenty of UI changes
What to expect from One UI 8.5?
Leaked builds of One UI 8.5 in the past have also revealed major changes and upgrades, which suggest it’s a major upgrade, unlike most One UI x.1 upgrades, which used to bring just a few additional features. One UI 8.5 will feature a more customizable Quick Settings panel with the ability to move, resize, and remove toggles or modules. Early leaked builds also show 3D-style icons with realistic depth and shadows, but newer builds show Samsung may be toning down the effect.
Samsung has also made significant visual upgrades to multiple apps, including Gallery, My Files, Phone, and Device Care. The new software may also introduce Now Nudges, which is a proactive AI assistant that works similarly to Google’s Magic Cue. This AI-powered feature learns your routines and provides contextual suggestions exactly when needed, such as quick actions, automatically filling out forms, and bringing back recently used information like passwords or locations when you might need them again.
One UI 8.5 may also add the “Auto Answer with AI” feature in Call Assist, which automatically answers after a preset duration. It can ask callers why they’re calling, transcribe responses, and tell them you’ll call back later. A new Priority Notification feature was also spotted in leaked builds, which uses AI to surface the most important notifications. Furthermore, the update may introduce AI-generated notification summaries to quickly understand group notifications.
Leaks also reveal plenty of additional changes to One UI 8.5, including an iOS-26-inspired Settings app, additional professional camera and video features, stronger identity check protection for accessing critical functions, Private Display mode, and gaming enhancements.
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