Samsung One UI 8.5: Everything you need to know

Samsung’s One UI interface continues to evolve with each new version, and next year, we will see something we haven't seen for a long time: a x.5 version of One UI. In the early days of One UI, major new versions were followed by x.1 and x.5 updates. Between One UI 1.0 and One UI 2.0, we got One UI 1.1 and One UI 1.5, and One UI 2.1 and One UI 2.5 were released between 2.0 and 3.0.

Samsung then shifted strategy and decided to replace the x.5 versions with x.1.1 updates, which were tailored for foldable phones and software features that took advantage of that form factor. That version number scheme has been the standard since then, but Samsung is bringing the x.5 version out of retirement next year.

Samsung made a leap from One UI 7.0 to One UI 8.0, owing to the former's later-than-usual release. While it isn't making a similar jump from One UI 8.0 to One UI 9.0, it is skipping version 8.1 and even 8.1.1 and going to One UI 8.5.

Will Samsung make this the standard way of numbering minor One UI updates going forward? That remains to be seen. But for the next one (no pun intended), x.5 is making a comeback.

One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, will debut on the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026. At this time, there's no word on what new features it will bring to eligible devices. We would usually assume new Galaxy AI functionality will be part of the package, but considering how small an update One UI 8 is despite being a major version bump, we're keeping our expectations low for now.

The list of features and changes will also decide how quickly One UI 8.5 will make its way to existing devices. If there are substantial Galaxy AI additions, that could take up to two months after the Galaxy S26's announcement. In any case, we can only wait and watch, as timelines and ETAs for software updates are always in flux.

The list of One UI 8.5 eligible devices will more or less include the same devices that are eligible for One UI 8. That means every flagship Galaxy phone launched since 2022 and numerous mid-rangers and some budget phones and tablets launched since 2023. For some of these, One UI 8.5 will be the final feature update.

Here's a tentative list of devices that could get the One UI 8.5 update: