Samsung has completed the One UI 8.0 rollout to its Galaxy devices and is now moving towards the release of its next iteration, One UI 8.5. This one is also based on Android 16, but it’s more than just an incremental upgrade. The beta program is already live, showcasing numerous improvements and some new features.
Unlike One UI x.1 updates, the beta availability for One UI 8.5 isn’t restricted to Galaxy Z smartphones. That means the update will reach a wider audience. Here’s everything you need to know about the One UI 8.5 beta program, including the eligible devices, supported regions, installation steps, and the new features.
One UI 8.5 beta update: List of eligible devices
The beta program supports these Galaxy devices:
- Galaxy S25
- Galaxy S25+
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
The list is quite short at the moment, as the One UI 8.5 beta program has just kicked off. We hope to see the list getting bigger in the coming days and weeks.
Also, you’d notice that the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S25 Edge are missing from the list. They will unlikely receive the beta update as Samsung restricts the beta program to the original three Galaxy S-series models.
We’ll update the list as and when the beta program extends to more Galaxy devices.
One UI 8.5 beta update: List of supported regions
Samsung has confirmed that the One UI 8.5 beta program will be available in select regions. These include:
- Germany
- India
- Korea
- Poland
- The UK
- The US
If you have an eligible Samsung device and live in one of these beta-supported regions, you can sign up for the beta program and get early access to the latest features and upgrades.
How to sign up for One UI 8.5 beta and install the update
To receive the beta update, you must first sign up for the beta program. The steps are simple as follows:
- Open the Samsung Members app. If you don’t have it on your Galaxy device, get it from the Google Play Store.
- Make sure you’re signed in to the app with your Samsung account.
- Open the Samsung Members app and tap the One UI 8.5 beta program banner.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your beta registration.
Once you’re enrolled in the beta program, follow these steps to download and install the beta update.
- Open the Settings app on your Samsung device.
- Go to Software update and tap Download and install.
- Download the update.
- Tap Install now to begin installation.
The installation can take a few minutes. The device should automatically boot into One UI 8.5 with all the latest features and improvements.
Note that the battery consumption may be higher in the initial few days as the device undergoes heavy background optimizations. You may need to charge your device more frequently during that period.
Here are the major upgrades in One UI 8.5
The beta update introduces a host of useful upgrades across the system. The Quick Panel has received significant improvements, now allowing users to change the layout, size, and even remove nearly everything. Every toggle can now be added, removed, reordered, or freely rearranged with far fewer restrictions. Brightness and volume can be split into independent sliders instead of a single combined control.
The lock screen gains an automatic layout for people/pet wallpapers. The clock and widgets on the lock screen are also adjusted automatically to work well with the background photo.
The first beta also improves Galaxy AI. Photo Assist now supports continuous AI editing and image generation, eliminating the need to save each step. So, you can keep working without interruption. Furthermore, the update enhances AI processing for images, text, and voice input in system apps such as Gallery and Notes.
One UI 8.5 allows you to browse and access files from other Galaxy phones, tablets, PCs, and select Samsung TVs directly in My Files. The Quick Share feature now allows you to enable file transfer only from devices logged in with your Samsung or Google accounts.
Samsung has also improved theft protection tools that automatically lock the device after repeated failed unlock attempts. Additionally, more sensitive settings are now protected by an identity verification feature, further strengthening the security.
One UI 8.5 beta also brings improvements to the battery usage information page, power saving mode, accessibility features, reminders, screen recording, and more.
Don’t forget to visit our Samsung section regularly for the latest One UI updates. Or, if you prefer your news instant and on the go, hop into our Telegram channel for instant notification about the latest software updates and all the biggest tech headlines.
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