Samsung One UI 8.5: Release Date, Features, Eligible Devices and What Comes Next

Samsung has officially pulled the trigger on one of its most anticipated software releases of the year. One UI 8.5 is here — and for millions of Galaxy users who have been watching the clock since late 2025, the wait is finally over. Here is a complete breakdown of everything you need to know.

What Is One UI 8.5?

One UI 8.5 is Samsung's mid-cycle feature update, sitting between One UI 8.0 and the upcoming One UI 9, which is expected to launch later in 2026 with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. One UI 8.0 launched with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in late 2025 and received mixed feedback for offering little visual change. One UI 8.5 is where Samsung addresses that — bringing a full visual redesign, a meaningful Galaxy AI upgrade, and new cross-platform sharing features. 

The update is based on Android 16, building on the foundation set by One UI 8.0 with design refinements and additional Galaxy AI tools. 

Release Date and Rollout Timeline

Samsung officially began rolling out the One UI 8.5 update on May 6, 2026, following nearly six months of beta testing on the Galaxy S25 series and other devices. 

The update was first released in South Korea on May 6, followed by a wider rollout starting May 11 in Europe, Hong Kong, India, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.

It is worth noting that the update first shipped pre-installed on the Galaxy S26 series when it launched on March 11, 2026. Other Galaxy devices are now receiving it via the stable rollout that began on May 6. 

The road to this release was not without delays. One UI 8.5 was first unveiled in December 2025 as a beta programme for the Galaxy S25 series. The beta programme went through nine iterations, with various improvements, bug fixes, and UI upgrades. April 30 was widely rumoured as the initial rollout date, but that date was missed, with Samsung citing Korea's Labour Day holiday and the need to finalise testing results. 

The Biggest New Features

1. AirDrop Over Quick Share — Android Meets Apple at Last

This is the headline feature of the entire update. Perhaps the most impactful connectivity change is Quick Share's new AirDrop support. You can now share photos, videos, and files directly with iPhones, iPads, and Macs — a practical, ecosystem-bridging upgrade for mixed-device households. 

A "Share with Apple devices" toggle appears in your Quick Share settings once you update. This works on the Galaxy S22 series and newer flagships, as well as the Galaxy A36. Quick Share also gains privacy controls to restrict incoming shares to trusted accounts, plus AI-powered photo sharing suggestions that recognise people in your photos and suggest sending directly to them. 

2. Ambient Design — A Bold New Look

One UI 8.5 introduces a refreshed visual identity built around transparent blur effects that add depth to the interface, floating elements that react organically to your interactions, and a more refined approach to data visualisation. The overall aesthetic aims to feel personal and focused — an interface that stays out of your way while remaining visually polished. 

Transparent blur effects, pill-shaped controls, floating navigation bars, and softer depth now appear across Settings, Dialer, Gallery, Calculator, Samsung Browser, Samsung Notes, and Samsung Messages. Search bars in most Samsung apps have also moved to the bottom of the screen for easier one-handed use. 

3. AI Call Screening — Your Phone Answers For You

Whenever you get a call from a suspicious number — either something the AI flags as suspicious or all unknown numbers in general, depending on what you select — your Samsung phone can take the call for you. It asks the caller who they are and what they need you for, and determines if they're legitimate. You can then decide whether to pick up. Even if you don't respond, you can review a summary or transcript of the call after it's done. 

4. Enhanced Photo Assist — AI Image Editing Gets Smarter

With the new and improved Photo Assist in One UI 8.5, you have more control over what you want to do. It retains all the features of the previous iteration but now also lets you type in prompts — simply describe the change you want, such as swapping the colour of clothing or adding an object to a scene, and Galaxy AI handles the rest. 

5. Customisable Quick Panel

The Quick Panel is now fully customisable — you can add, remove, move, resize, and reorient any tile or slider. Brightness and volume controls can switch between horizontal and vertical layouts. 

6. Lock Screen Overhaul

Wallpapers now auto-position to prevent the subject from overlapping the clock or widgets. New features include three additional clock styles, finer control over font weights, downloadable interactive wallpapers, and AI Weather Effects that animate your wallpaper based on real-time weather conditions. 

7. Battery and Power Saving Improvements

The Battery settings screen has been redesigned for clarity, showing remaining time, charging status, and a week of usage history. Power saving mode now offers two distinct tiers: Standard for moderate savings with customisable limits, and Maximum for disabling all non-essential features. 

8. More Useful Additions

Samsung Notes gains full table support with adjustable widths, colours, and borders. Partial screen recording lets you capture only a selected area. DeX now remembers app window sizes and positions between sessions. Galaxy Z Fold users can now keep their main screen app open on the cover screen when folding.

Which Devices Are Getting One UI 8.5?

The Galaxy S25 series, including the Edge and FE models, are first in line. The rollout then expands to the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Tab S11 series, and the Galaxy Tab S10 series. Older flagships will follow at a later date, along with several mid-range smartphones like the Galaxy A56, A55, and A36.

Devices that will not receive the update include the Galaxy S21 series (non-FE), Galaxy Note 20 series, and older Galaxy A, M, and F devices released before 2023, as these did not receive One UI 8.0 and have not been included in the One UI 8.5 programme. 

How to Update Your Device

Once One UI 8.5 is available for your device, simply go to Settings → Software Update → Download and Install. Devices enrolled in the One UI 8.5 beta programme will receive a smaller update package, while devices currently running One UI 8 will have a download size of several gigabytes.

What Comes After One UI 8.5?

Samsung is already looking ahead. Samsung has already started early internal testing for One UI 9, which is based on Android 17. The public beta is expected to open in late May or early June 2026, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. The full stable One UI 9 is likely to arrive around August 2026, probably launching with the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. 

The Verdict

One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be a landmark mid-cycle update — one that punches well above its weight. Instead of overwhelming users with minor visual tweaks, Samsung has focused on meaningful upgrades. These aren't flashy additions — they're practical improvements that enhance how you actually use your phone every day. From the ecosystem-breaking AirDrop integration to the deeply enhanced Galaxy AI tools, this update signals that Samsung is serious about closing the gap between its software experience and that of its biggest rival. 

Sources:

1. Samsung Newsroom — https://news.samsung.com/us/samsungs-one-ui-8-5-official-rollout-may-6
2. SamMobile — https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-one-ui-8-5-worldwide-rollout-date/
3. 9to5Google — https://9to5google.com/2026/05/06/samsung-galaxy-one-ui-8-5-stable-update-list/
4. BGR — https://www.bgr.com/2166552/samsung-galaxy-one-ui-8-5-new-features/
5. Android Sage — https://www.androidsage.com/2026/05/06/stable-one-ui-8-5-rolled-out/
6. TechCabal — https://techcabal.com/2026/05/07/samsung-one-ui-8-5-update-features-eligible-phones/
7. Technobezz — https://www.technobezz.com/news/samsung-begins-one-ui-85-official-rollout-on-may-6-with-airdrop-support
8. Sammy Fans — https://www.sammyfans.com/2026/05/06/samsung-software-roadmap-may-2026/
9. TechRadar — https://www.techradar.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-phones/samsung-finally-rolls-out-one-ui-8-5-to-the-galaxy-25-s24-and-more-heres-the-full-list-of-compatible-devices
10. Samsung Members Community — https://r1.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s/samsung-one-ui-8-5-stable-rollout-begins-april-30/td-p/37749938