Reports are surfacing that Samsung has initiated internal evaluations of its forthcoming One UI 8.5 update, utilizing the Galaxy S25 series as the testing ground. This comes on the heels of the recent official introduction of One UI 8, based on Android 16, which implemented noteworthy security and customization improvements for the Galaxy S25. A source on X (formerly Twitter) disclosed that the initial test versions for One UI 8.5 have been created, with version identifiers S938BXXU5CYIA, S938BOXM5CYIA, and S938BXXU5CYIA for the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, respectively. Nevertheless, specifics regarding the nature of these tests and the likelihood of a public beta remain ambiguous.
The One UI 8.5 update is anticipated to deliver significant enhancements, potentially coinciding with the debut of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series next year. Speculations indicate that One UI 8.5 might provide users with the choice of gesture or button navigation during the initial device setup, thereby improving user experience. Concurrently, the existing One UI 8 update is being distributed to the Galaxy S25, aligning it with the capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, and incorporating enhanced privacy features through Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection. As Samsung continues to push the envelope, users are keenly looking forward to the prospective upgrades that One UI 8.5 could introduce.
