One UI 8.5 app icons may or may not have noticeable 3D effect

A newer One UI 8.5 build for the Galaxy S25 Ultra has surfaced, and it looks like Samsung might be rethinking its approach to the 3D-style app icons we saw in a previous One UI 8.5 firmware. In this latest build, the shadows and depth effects have been toned down quite a bit, making the icons look flatter and more in line with the current One UI 8.0 design.

This seems to suggest Samsung is still experimenting to find the right balance. The earlier 3D icons got mixed reactions from fans, so this toned-down version could just be part of the testing process as Samsung refines the new look.

The gallery below shows you the difference between the 3D effect on the latest leaked One UI 8.5 firmware (left) and the previous one (right).

Of course, One UI 8.5 is still in the early stages of development, and nothing is final yet. Samsung usually tries out a few visual styles before settling on the one that ships to users, so things could easily change again before the update is ready.

We’ll likely get a clearer idea once One UI 8.5 gets closer to release, or when it debuts officially alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year.

Check this list to see if your Galaxy phone or tablet is eligible for One UI 8.5. Hint: If your device got One UI 8.0, it's likely to get version 8.5 as well.