Some new Android 16 features could make their way to One UI 8.5

Google has announced the second quarterly release of Android 16, known as Android 16 QPR2. It is currently in the second beta version, with a stable release planned for the end of this year. This release introduces some new features, and some of these could make their way to One UI 8.5.

Samsung is expected to release One UI 8.5 early next year with the Galaxy S26 series.

One UI 8.5 could use some new features from Android 16 QPR2

google android 16 quarterly releases timeline

The second beta release of Android 16 QPR2 is here, and it brings new user-facing features and some developer-related updates. We will try to explain them below.

App icon shape customization: This new version of stock Android lets you customize the shape of app icons. There are five options to choose from: Circle, Rounded Square, Four-Sided Cookie, Seven-Sided Cookie, and Arch. It can be accessed from the wallpaper customization app/menu.

Health Connect gets native step tracking: Google and Samsung co-developed the Health Connect feature to allow health and fitness tracking apps to share data with each other more easily. It was launched in 2022. Now, it is getting native step tracking feature. Health and workout apps can now read and record a user's weight, set index, and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE).

SMS OTP hijacking protection: Android now protects your one-time passwords (OTPs) from getting hijacked by malicious apps.

More efficient garbage collection to make phones feel faster: Android 16 QPR2 now uses Generational Concurrent Mark-Compact (CMC) Garbage Collector. Google claims that it focuses its efforts on collecting garbage data on newly allocated objects. This reduces CPU usage and makes the phone's UI feel smoother and consumes less energy.

New features in Health Connect, SMS OTP hijacking protection, and more efficient garbage collection will likely be a part of the One UI 8.5 update. It remains to be seen if Samsung brings app icon shape customization to the next version of One UI early next year.

Asif Iqbal Shaik - Senior Editor

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First Samsung device: T100

Asif is a computer engineer turned technology journalist. He has been using Samsung phones since 2004, and his current smartphone is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. He loves headphones, mechanical keyboards, and PC hardware. When not writing about technology, he likes watching crime and science fiction movies and TV shows.

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