Here’s another one.
What you need to know
– Samsung has supposedly begun rolling out One UI 8.5 Beta 6 to Galaxy S25 users in India prior to other areas.
– The update resolves numerous problems that have affected users since Beta 5, including a Bixby wake phrase issue, Now Brief/Now Bar card glitches, and additional issues.
– The Galaxy S26 series debuted this week, featuring the Ultra’s Privacy Display, a sleeker design, and many other enhancements.
If you were anticipating an official One UI 8.5 announcement for the Galaxy S25 series, reconsider, as another beta has surfaced.
Following Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked, well-known tipster Tarun Vats reported that a new One UI 8.5 beta has been identified for the Galaxy S25 series (via 9to5Google). This indicates that One UI 8.5 Beta 6 is on its way. Vats notes that the update has been observed late this week in India for registered Galaxy S25 users. Each variant will see build versions S938BXXU8ZZAO, S938BOXM8ZZAO, and S938BXXU8CZAO for the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, respectively.
For its modifications, the accompanying screenshot highlights several bugs that Samsung aims to address (hopefully) before the official release.
One issue involves Now Bar and Now Brief. Samsung is introducing a fix for “text, icons, and AOD visibility” related to the feature’s recommendation cards. The update also addresses a problem where “two ‘View Previous Image’ buttons appeared when utilizing the sketch conversion feature in the Gallery.”
Bixby’s wake-up phrase in Labs > Create is receiving a fix for users who may have encountered issues after Beta 5.
– Resolved a force close issue when altering the camera area settings in Settings > Display
– Fixed an issue where the lock screen style of Basic mode was modified in Modes and Routines
– Enhanced animation concerning notification cards
Unpacked is over; One UI 8.5, you’re next
Other regions should gradually start seeing this forthcoming One UI 8.5 beta shortly.
We truly wished it was “one last call” for Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta when Beta 5 was released five days prior to Unpacked. That patch was rather minor, as Samsung’s only notable aspect was an “applied” Bixby version update. There were speculations that this was a significant Bixby overhaul for the software, which would subsequently roll out onto the Galaxy S25 series.
Samsung was relatively quick to discuss those Bixby changes as Beta 5 circulated. The company confirmed that Bixby now has the capability to comprehend more “natural conversation” when users engage with it for assistance. Users can rely on the AI for support with their settings and beyond, along with real-time online searches. While this upgraded Bixby is soaring in One UI 8.5, it’s primarily just the Galaxy S26 series that is benefiting from it.
Galaxy Unpacked fully unveiled the Galaxy S26 series and the appealing Privacy Display for the S26 Ultra. Pre-orders are readily accessible for users eager to acquire the next-gen devices.
Android Central’s Take
Hopefully—and I genuinely mean this—Beta 6 will be the final version we see of One UI 8.5’s testing. We’ve been on this path for several months, and it’s probable Samsung needs to refine more elements of its software than we realized. There’s considerable interest surrounding this upgrade, as it’s more impactful than a minor v0.1 update would have been. Beyond that, its latest series is already reaping the benefits, so individuals like me with a Galaxy S25 series model wish to participate in that as well.