Latest from Android Central in One-ui

Samsung speeds ahead, rolls out One UI 9 Beta 2 for the Galaxy S26 overseas

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:11:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has reportedly started rolling out One UI 9 Beta 2 for Galaxy S26 devices in the U.K.
The patch carries a 1.6GB download, and the company primarily highlights bug fixes in its changelog.
One UI 9 Beta 1 rolled out only two weeks ago with a few UI changes for its Quick Panel and new customization options for Samsung Notes.

Hope you're strapped in, Samsung's One UI 9 development cruises along with another beta en route to eligible phones.

Samsung is reportedly starting to roll out One UI 9 Beta 2 to enrolled Galaxy S26 units for one region, at least. Android Authority reports that it has received Beta 2 on a Galaxy S26 Ultra registered in the U.K. this week. This second beta is quite large, as the publication reports a 1.6GB download upon receiving. What's funny is that the changelog for this update isn't as detailed (or extensive) as the download size would have us believe.

Primarily, all Samsung has detailed for Beta 2 are bug fixes. The company says it's rolling out fixes for the game booster's "entry point setting error," an issue where the lock screen "gradually moves down," and a problem users encountered when deleting messages "in bulk." LockStar is a part of Samsung's Good Lock system, which opens up a new world of device customization for users.

Likely coming off the back of user feedback, Samsung says it's rolling out a fix for a LockStar error "where the lock screen clock font does not change." The remainder of the changelog is as follows:

Improved status bar display error
GPUWatch interruption popup issue fixed
Improved the non-functioning issues in the routine app

New software everywhere

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Samsung also states that One UI 9 Beta 2 carries the June 2026 security patch with it, too. Perhaps this helps make that 1.6GB download make a little more sense. Other devices on Samsung's stable server likely won't see this June patch until late next week, if not the week after.

It might feel like we've just barely gotten into One UI 9's beta, and we're already getting another piece. That's reasonable. Samsung rolled out One UI 9's beta roughly two weeks ago, giving its enrolled Galaxy S26 users an early taste of Android 17. Early on, Samsung showed off new customization tools in its Notes app and a direct link between the Contacts apps with the Creative Studio. Even the Quick Panel's getting another look. The brightness, sound, and media player options have been separated for better control.

Samsung moves ahead with Android 17, but its year-old Galaxy phones (and more) are just getting One UI 8.5. The company started pushing its latest OS upgrade to the Galaxy S25 and more earlier this month after many, many months of delays and beta tests.

Android Central's Take

I'd imagine new features that Samsung is working on will come to light a little later. Usually, this stuff is hidden, so deeper dives into the code is required to get some items to work (kind of). Also, Samsung is speeding ahead with Android 17. The first reports of its internal testing came a while ago, meaning it's not wanting to sit back and relax this year for the next major OS. I'm totally on borad with that.

These 3 tips help me make the most of my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover screen

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:10:00 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is arguably the most complete clamshell foldable on the market. It doesn't have the fastest chip or the most versatile software, but it nails the basics. The build quality, thickness, and weight are all top-notch, especially considering the relatively affordable $1,100 price point — that is, compared to the new $1,499 Motorola Razr Ultra 2026.

One thing the Razr lineup consistently does better than the Galaxy Z Flip series is the cover screen software. Motorola basically gives its users unrestricted access to the Razr cover screens, and that's how it should be. After all, flagship flip phones offer expansive outer displays with enough room to run most apps in a limited fashion. Although the out-of-the-box Samsung cover screen experience is lackluster, there are a few things you can do to make it better.

These are the three cover screen tips I use to get the most out of my Galaxy Z Flip 7 without opening it up.

Add widgets to your cover screen

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

The best way to make your Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover screen worth your time is to add widgets. Swipe left on your Samsung flip phone's external display, and you'll see extra pages for widgets. You can fit up to four widgets on a single cover screen page. This flexibility makes it possible to load up a Galaxy Z Flip 7 with handy widgets, putting glanceable information and key controls at your fingertips.

To get started, swipe left past the lock screen wallpaper to open a widget page. Enter your passcode if prompted, and hold down on the widget page you want to edit. Then, press the Edit button. Unfortunately, you can't add widgets to cover screen pages from the cover screen — follow the prompt to unfold your Galaxy Z Flip 7 to start editing. Next, ignore the lock screen, clock, and notifications options for now.

Instead, focus on the Widgets tab. You can see a list of all supported widgets on your phone, which varies depending on the apps you have installed. Third-party widgets are supported on the cover screen, but not all of them. Select the widgets you'd like to add to your cover screen, and save them. You can fit four 2x2 widgets or two 2x4 widgets on a Galaxy Z Flip 7's outer display home screen.

While you're here, you may want to go back and edit your lock screen, clock, and notifications preferences. You might be surprised to learn how many widgets you can fit on the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen wallpaper alone, making data easier to view and act upon.

Enable cover screen apps

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Since some of my favorite Android apps don't have supported cover screen widgets, being able to run them on my Galaxy Z Flip 7's outer display is crucial. This isn't supported by default either, but there is a workaround. Following the steps to add widgets we covered above, add the Apps widget to your cover screen. This widget essentially adds a small app launcher that you can use to run apps on the external display.

However, expect to find a limited set of basic apps available to add to the Apps widget. I see apps like Google Maps, Google Messages, and YouTube available for addition to the Galaxy Z Flip 7's default Apps widget in One UI 8.5. That doesn't really solve the limitation of not being able to run third-party apps on the cover screen, so we need to go one step further.

Open the Settings app with your Galaxy Z Flip 7 unfolded and look for the Apps allowed on cover screen setting. Once you've found it, tap Get MultiStar at the bottom of the page. This will prompt you to install Good Lock and then MultiStar via the Galaxy Store. For those out of the loop, Good Lock is Samsung's advanced feature suite for power users. Since the brand considers running apps on the cover screen an experimental feature, you'll need Good Lock and the MultiStar module.

After installing MultiStar, open the module and tap the Launcher Widget to add it to your Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover screen. This widget is similar to the main Apps widget, but the MultiStar version supports any Android app. You can add whatever apps you need to the MultiStar Launcher Widget and access them on your Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover screen by swiping left to the widget pages.

Use Gemini or Gemini Live on the cover screen

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

If you're frustrated by the lack of default cover screen options on Samsung flip phones, you might be happy to know that Gemini and Gemini Live are fully supported on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Before, trying to access multimodal Gemini Live on the Galaxy Z Flip 6's cover screen would simply tell you to open the device up. Now, after initially setting up Gemini with the screen opened, you can use basic Gemini, voice-based Gemini Live, or multimodal camera-based Gemini Live on the cover screen.

Is this something Galaxy Z Flip users were asking for? Honestly, it was probably pretty low on the priority list, but we'll always welcome more cover screen functionality. To use it, hold down the power button and you'll see Gemini appear on the cover screen.

Even with these tweaks, Motorola takes the crown for the best flip phone cover screen experience. If you've chosen a Galaxy Z Flip 7 for its other perks, it's worth using the above tips to expand the functionality of the cover screen as much as possible.

Samsung

Galaxy Z Flip 7

The best Samsung flip

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 still has an underwhelming cover screen software experience out of the box. However, these tips help you make it better. There are still a handful of other reasons you might want a Galaxy Z Flip 7, like the thin and light build or the long software support window.

Samsung's biggest One UI update yet is finally rolling out in the U.S.

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:14:18 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has started rolling out the stable One UI 8.5 update for Galaxy S25 phones in the U.S.
One UI 8.5 brings Galaxy S26 features like call screening and AI image editing tools.
Galaxy S25 users can now use Quick Share to send files directly to Apple devices.
The update also adds a redesigned UI, upgraded DeX, and Perplexity-powered Bixby.

You've been hearing about it for months, but it's finally here, as Samsung has officially started rolling out One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 series in the U.S.

Samsung has been developing One UI 8.5 for the past couple of months, and after a long beta cycle, the company first rolled out the update in South Korea and parts of Asia and Europe last week. Now, the update is finally making its way to users in the U.S. as well.

The U.S. One UI 8.5 build carries the version number S938USQU9CZDP and is around 4.4GB in size. It's also worth noting that the update still carries the April security patch, even though Samsung has already released the May patch for the Galaxy S26 series.

For now, the update appears to be limited to the Galaxy S25 lineup. However, Samsung has already started expanding One UI 8.5 to older Galaxy devices globally, including the Galaxy S24 series and foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, so you can expect a wider rollout in the U.S. soon as well.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

As for features, One UI 8.5 finally brings a number of Galaxy S26 features to the Galaxy S25 series. This includes things like call screening and AI-powered image editing using text prompts. Samsung has also added support for sharing files with Apple devices, meaning you can now use Quick Share to AirDrop files to iPhones on One UI 8.5.

On top of that, the update also brings several UI changes, including a customizable Quick Settings panel, improved lock screen features, redesigned first-party apps, and more. There's also the addition of Perplexity-powered Bixby, along with improvements to Samsung DeX.

If you still haven't received the update, keep checking the Software update section in Settings, as Samsung has already started the rollout. If you're using a carrier-locked Galaxy S25 device, the update may take a few extra days to arrive.

Android Central's Take

I've been using One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 Ultra for a while now, and it genuinely feels like one of Samsung's most polished updates in years. It's great to see that Galaxy S25 users in the U.S. are also now getting some of the new features.

Samsung’s One UI 9 leak just spoiled the Wide Fold’s entire vibe

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Wed, 06 May 2026 08:15:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung's own One UI 9 software leaked the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and corroborated the existence of the rumored Wide Fold codenamed H8.
The Wide Fold appears to be shorter and wider, giving the cover display a normal phone shape instead of a narrow strip.
Its rear camera design mirrors the Galaxy S25 Edge, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks virtually identical to the Z Fold 7.

Samsung typically keeps its upcoming hardware secret until a flashy Unpacked event. This year, though, its own software is revealing the details.

The folks at Android Authority got their hands on a build of Samsung’s One UI 9, which gave away details about the upcoming foldables.

If you’ve kept up with foldables, you know people often complain about the Z Fold’s narrow, "remote control" cover screen. Samsung made small improvements with the Z Fold 6 and 7, but One UI 9 now reveals a new model, codenamed "H8" and called the Wide Fold, is on the way.

Leaked images from the software show a device that’s much shorter and wider. The cover display finally looks like a regular smartphone instead of a thin strip of glass.

Android Authority

On the back, the Wide Fold features a camera housing similar to the Galaxy S25 Edge design. This aligns with earlier animations observed in February, confirming Samsung’s commitment to this shorter and wider form factor.

Android Central's Take

Honestly, I’m having a hard time seeing the "innovation" in Samsung finally admitting that a phone-sized cover screen is actually useful. It’s taken the company almost 10 years to realize we don’t want to type on a screen as narrow as a KitKat bar. Calling it a "Wide Fold" feels like it's selling us a fix for a problem Samsung made. The bigger screen and better battery are great for productivity, but I can’t help but expect a high "Ultra" price tag for this so-called new form factor.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (codenamed Q8) appears largely unchanged in design compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, according to One UI 9 assets.

That said, it might be inappropriate to call it a lazy update just yet. Even though the outside looks the same, earlier leaks suggest the Z Fold 8 will finally get the battery upgrade fans have wanted. It’s expected to have a 5,000mAh battery and 45W wired charging, which is a big improvement and should help it compete with Chinese rivals on battery life.

These new devices are expected to launch in July, following Samsung’s usual mid-summer schedule.

Samsung helped me save $30 on my phone bill with this fantastic AND free feature

Nicholas Sutrich — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:21:14 +0000

I remember a time when my cell phone carrier would not only charge me for every minute I was on the phone but also nickel-and-dime me for every text message I sent! Thankfully, those days are long gone, but that doesn't mean carriers don't still try to squeeze extra money out of you for small features every month.

Visual Voicemail is a great example of this, and it typically costs between $3 and $5 per line, per month, to enjoy what seems like a fairly standard feature. If you're rocking a family plan, this feature might be costing you $30-40 per month, but if you're using Samsung Galaxy phones, you might be able to save that money and let your phone do all the work instead.

That's all thanks to a new feature available in One UI 8.5, an update that launched with the Galaxy S26 series and is rolling out to Samsung phones worldwide this May. If you're reading this on a Galaxy S26, you're all set to enjoy Direct Voicemail out of the box. Users with older Samsung phones will just need to wait for the One UI 8.5 update, and then the feature should be available.

What is Direct Voicemail?

With Direct Voicemail, your phone will always answer incoming calls, but will use Galaxy AI to field and transcribe the call in realtime. Galaxy AI answers the phone with an automated voice that tells the caller you aren't available, then displays the transcribed call on your screen. You can also answer the call at any time during the process, giving this a distinct advantage over traditional voicemail.

Since the call and all the transcription happens on your phone, it never has to go to your carrier's voicemail system. Transcriptions are also only stored and processed locally, so the call goes to your phone and stays on your phone. Samsung also offers AI-powered background noise removal through Direct Voicemail, helping your voicemails sound clearer than you might be used to.

What are the downsides to Direct Voicemail?

While Direct Voicemail is a better version of your carrier's visual voicemail service in many ways, it has more limitations since it requires your phone to answer the call. If your phone is off or you have no network connection, for example, the call will still go to your carrier's voicemail system.

Direct Voicemail doesn't work while you're on another call since it has to answer the call in order to work. Video calls aren't supported, either, and there may be restrictions on Direct Voicemail while traveling to other countries. You'll also need to be mindful of storage space on your phone, although transcriptions barely take up any space, so this last point isn't a problem most people will ever encounter.

How to enable Samsung Direct Voicemail

Direct Voicemail is simple to set up, but many people might not know where to find the option. You could always just search for it in system settings, which is usually the best way to find anything you don't know the location of, but this is a quicker way to get to it:

(Image credit: Android Central)

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then tap Settings.

3. Select Direct Voicemail from the list.

4. Tap the toggle switch to turn it on.

Now that the feature is enabled, you'll want to ensure that all the settings are correct so you can get the most out of it. By default, automatic transcription isn't enabled, so Direct Voicemail will still work but won't give you a realtime transcript as the person speaks. For me, that's a key component to the feature and makes it a lot less useful without. Here's how to enable that:

(Image credit: Android Central)

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then tap Settings.

3. Select Direct Voicemail from the list.

4. Scroll down to and tap Transcript Assist.

5. Under the Call Recordings section of the next screen, turn on Auto transcribe recorded calls and Direct Voicemail.

How to use Direct Voicemail

By default, Direct Voicemail will automatically send calls to voicemail after ringing for 20 seconds. You can adjust that time to anything you want in Direct Voicemail settings (accessed in the steps above), or you can manually send a call to Direct Voicemail at any time. Here's how to do that.

(Image credit: Android Central)

1. When a call comes in, tap the More options button on the dialer or the pop-up call notification.

2. Select Direct Voicemail from the list to send the call to voicemail.

3. As the person talks, you'll see a live transcript appear on the screen.

4. To answer the call and interrupt Direct Voicemail, tap the Answer button.

How to find your Direct Voicemails

When someone leaves a Direct Voicemail, you can usually just tap the notification to open it, but there are plenty of times when I'll accidentally clear notifications and I imagine other people do this, too. Thankfully, Direct Voicemail is built into the Phone app, making it easy to find your voicemails.

Additionally, you can clean up background noise on voicemails if it's difficult to understand the written transcript, or if there's just a lot of background noise in the voicemail. Here's a quick tutorial:

(Image credit: Android Central)

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap the Recents button on the bottom navigation bar.

3. Any recent calls with a transcription will have a View recording and transcript button. Tap that.

4. You can read your transcription here or use the audio controls to listen to it.

5. Tap the Galaxy AI button in the bottom right to clean up the voicemail audio and eliminate background noise.

6. When you're done with the voicemail, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then tap Delete transcription.

Now, you've mastered Direct Voicemail and can save some cash on your future phone bills by using it instead of your carrier's Visual Voicemail system. Direct Voicemail can't work if your phone is offline for some reason, in which case it'll route the voicemail back to your carrier's standard voicemail system, but it's unlikely that you'll have this problem most of the time.

Even with that limitation, I'd personally take the Direct Voicemail route just to save money every month. Visual Voicemail is great and all, but if I can get the feature for free most of the time, you'd better believe that's the route I'm going!

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display and impressive OS outshine the pack, giving you plenty of reasons to choose Samsung's latest flagship.

Samsung expands its next big One UI beta update to more devices

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:44:23 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has expanded the One UI 8.5 beta to more Galaxy devices, including S23, Fold 5, Flip 5, and A36.
The beta is rolling out in phases across regions like India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S.
One UI 8.5 brings new icons, redesigned apps, better Quick Settings, and more lock screen customization.

If you've been waiting to try Samsung's One UI 8.5 on your older Galaxy device, you're in luck, as Samsung has started expanding the beta to more devices across multiple regions.

As shared by Samsung in a blog post, the company has begun rolling out the One UI 8.5 beta to more devices, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy S23 FE, and even the Galaxy A36. This is the first time Samsung is offering a beta update for an A series device, as these typically only receive the stable release.

The update is available in select regions, including India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S. Samsung says it's a phased rollout, so it may take some time to reach your device. If you have an eligible phone, you can enroll via the Samsung Members app and then check for updates by going to Settings > Software update > Check for updates.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

One UI 8.5 brings a number of new features, including updated icons, redesigned apps, a more customizable Quick Settings panel, and additional lock screen customization options. There are also features like Shared Storage, which lets you access files on your Galaxy phone directly through a Samsung TV.

Samsung has also mentioned that the update brings support for AirDrop via Quick Share in the One UI 8.5 beta. However, the devices listed for this feature include the Galaxy S25 series, S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Flip 6. This means the devices that just received the beta don't support this feature yet.

Samsung hasn't confirmed whether it'll expand AirDrop support to older devices, and given it's missing from the current list, I wouldn't be too hopeful for now.

Android Central's Take

It's good to see Samsung expanding the One UI 8.5 beta to more devices, especially the A series, but the lack of AirDrop support on these devices is a bit disappointing. Hopefully, that changes soon.

Stable One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 might still be a few weeks away

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:47:00 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 8.5 stable for Galaxy S25 may still be weeks away despite ongoing beta testing.
Samsung is reportedly planning up to ten beta builds, with two more expected in April.
Stable rollout could happen in late April or May, but users can join the beta now.

Samsung has been testing the One UI 8.5 release for the Galaxy S25 series for a few months now, but it looks like the stable update could still be a few weeks away.

The stable version of One UI 8.5 debuted with the Galaxy S26 series in February 2026, bringing features like a customizable Quick Settings panel, upgraded Photo Assist tools, and new AI additions like Gemini screen automation. If you've been waiting to try it on your Galaxy S25, it looks like you might still have to wait a bit longer.

As shared by reliable Samsung leaker Tarun Vats on X, the company is reportedly planning a total of ten One UI 8.5 beta updates for the Galaxy S25 lineup. The latest beta 8 rolled out in March, but Samsung is said to have two more betas lined up for April.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

According to the leaker, One UI 8.5 beta 9 is expected around April 9, while the 10th beta could arrive around April 20. This means if you were hoping that Samsung would now end the beta cycle and release the stable update in April, it seems like that won't be happening.

Samsung hasn't introduced many new features in the recent betas, instead focusing on bug fixes and stability improvements. However, it seems the company is still not happy with the current situation and will continue to refine the beta builds.

This ultimately means that we could see the stable build of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 arrive sometime later in April or May, but that's still speculation for now.

We'll keep you updated once Samsung releases the stable One UI 8.5 update for the Galaxy S25. In the meantime, if you don't want to wait, you can still join the beta via the Samsung Members app on your phone. That said, it comes with caveats, as the beta build might still have a few bugs lying around.

Android Central's Take

Samsung clearly doesn't want to rush this one, and honestly, that's a good thing. I've tried One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 series, and it's probably one of the most stable software experiences I've used in a while. I'd rather wait a bit longer for a polished rollout than deal with bugs.

Accessibility settings are looking at a few refinements in this One UI 9 leak

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:47:00 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 9 rumors continue, as a report claims Samsung is allegedly testing Accessibility settings updates for users.
Such settings could help users highlight or expand text much easier than before, alongside upgraded mouse and keyboard updates to make movements easier.
One UI 9 rumors first got underway a couple of weeks ago, but they were minimal, as only UI refinements/changes were stated.

Samsung is already pushing ahead with One UI 9, and one report claims it's looking to weave in an update to its accessibility features.

Another dive into Samsung's alleged early One UI 9 code by tipster AssembleDebug and Android Authority sheds light on what could come to pass. The tipster's findings reportedly unearthed several strings of code that point toward an upgrade for Galaxy phones' Accessibility settings. However, upon deeper inspection, AssembleDebug claims to have found specific "Text Spotlight" updates.

This feature isn't new, much like many of them, as Android Authority also notes, but what we're paying attention to is the rumor that this could bring a tap feature for "expanding and highlighting text." Additionally, users might be able to customize the size and color if that is required.

Android Central's Take

Samsung's rolled out Accessibility updates before, and it's all in the name of appearing easy to approach for all users. From text-to-speech to larger text for those with vision issues, it's all in good faith. These are small (alleged) updates, but hopefully they'll have big impacts when we get to see them for real, if this is to be believed.

Samsung might also include "tap indicators" to enlarge text and highlight it in a "separate window." There are also two updates to Galaxy's keyboard and mouse Accessibility features. The tipster alleges one update could allow users to move their connected mouse with their keyboard, as well as a "fine-tuning" option for cursor speed. The other concerns a "physical keyboard shortcut." This would let users turn Accessibility settings on or off without going into their phone's settings.

AssembleDebug mentioned a change to the swiping or single-tap option. Now, it seems One UI 9 will place this at the "top level" of the Interaction menu.

Ease of use

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

It's still fairly early. One UI 9 will be based on Android 17, which has gotten off to a fast start in 2026. Google even rolled out Beta 3 late this week. Right now, what's got us occupied are One UI 9 rumors, which got underway earlier in March. A report claimed that Samsung has started internally testing the next major OS release. This could debut first on the company's next wave of foldables. It's not the strangest thing that could happen, as we've seen this before.

Android Central's Take

I do think the funniest thing that could've happened is the appearance of One UI 9 leaks, and Galaxy S25 owners still don't have v8.5. It's really early to start thinking about One UI 9, especially since these leaks are still quite minimal. Are we looking at huge changes? I'm not sure. One UI 8.5 was pretty substantial, so it might look to chill on any heavy-handed changes.

What was a little odd is that this news surfaced at a time when the majority of Samsung's phones, like the S25 and S24, don't have One UI 8.5 yet. Very little was mentioned about One UI 9's upgrades. It was alluded that Samsung might've been testing Quick Settings refinements and moving Parental Controls into its own dedicated page.

The Galaxy S26 still ships with this useful notification feature turned off — thankfully, fixing it is easy

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:47:00 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is finally out in the wild, and while it brings a number of notable upgrades, including the Privacy Display that everyone is talking about, there are also several improvements bundled with One UI 8.5, which debuts alongside the new devices.

One UI 8.5 introduces features like Audio Magic Eraser, which removes unwanted background noise while watching content, as well as Gemini screen automation that lets you hand off tasks like ordering coffee or calling a cab. And then there's the improved Samsung DeX experience as well.

While the overall software experience on the Galaxy S26 Ultra has been pretty smooth so far for me, like most Android phones, it's poorly configured out of the box. Samsung leaves many useful settings untouched, even though it could improve some aspects of the overall experience. One such setting is notification categories, which remains disabled by default on the Galaxy S26 series.

Notification categories are one of Android's most useful features

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Ask anyone why they prefer Android over an iPhone, and one of the most common answers, myself included, is notifications. Managing notifications on Android is simply better. The level of control you get on the Galaxy S26, or any Android phone for that matter, is excellent.

You can customize what type of notifications an app can send and how they appear. Whether you want a full pop-up alert that takes over part of the screen or a silent notification that sits quietly in the tray, the control is extensive. Since it is based on Android 16 as well, One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 offers this same level of flexibility.

The only issue is that one of Android's best notification features, notification channels, which is called notification categories on Samsung phones like the Galaxy S26, is turned off by default. With this feature, you can control exactly what type of notifications each app is allowed to send.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

For example, on my Galaxy S26, I've set my food delivery app (known as Swiggy in my area) to send only order updates. I only want to know when my order is confirmed or on the way, so I've disabled promotional alerts. You can apply similar controls to other apps as well. On YouTube, for instance, you can choose to receive only your subscription notifications while turning off alerts for livestreams and YouTube recommendations.

Most Android smartphones out there, including the Google Pixel 10 Pro and other Android brands, ship with this feature enabled by default on your phones, but not the Galaxy S26. Thankfully, though, it's pretty easy to enable.

How to enable notification categories on the Galaxy S26

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.

2. Tap Notifications, then go into Advanced settings.

3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and enable Manage notification categories for each app.

Once enabled, you can control exactly what type of notifications each app can send on your Galaxy S26.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

4. Open the Settings app on your phone.

5. Tap Notifications and then select App notifications.

6. Here you'll see the list of apps installed on your phone that are allowed/disallowed from sending notifications.

7. Select the app you want to manage.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Here I'm going to show you an example using the YouTube app on my Galaxy S26. In the app notification settings, scroll down to the notification settings and tap Notification categories.

Here, you can see all the different types of alerts the app can send, such as subscriptions, live streams, comments and replies, recommendations, downloads, and general notifications.

You can then choose exactly which categories you want. Disable the ones you don't need, and you will stop receiving those alerts. The only hard part here is that you'll now have to repeat these steps for other apps one by one to fully customize the notifications you receive on your Galaxy S26.

Wonder why Samsung keeps this disabled by default

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Samsung continues to push AI integration across its software, yet the company decides to keep this basic (and genuinely useful) feature disabled by default.

In my opinion, notification categories are essential for most users. This trend started with One UI 6.1 on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Samsung hasn't changed it with One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 Ultra either.

Notification categories have been incredibly useful for me, especially as someone who gets easily distracted by constant alerts and uses social media apps during work hours. This feature has made a big difference for me, allowing me to receive only the notifications that actually matter.

There are still some rough edges, since not all apps fully support notification categories or offer granular control, but Google has implemented it well overall. That said, it's one of those features, in my opinion, that every Galaxy S26 user should set up as soon as they turn on their device.

The Galaxy S26 now supports a handy feature Pixel phones got years ago

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:10:39 +0000

What you need to know

The Galaxy S26 lets you use your phone as a webcam on PCs via a simple USB-C.
Android added native webcam support earlier, but Samsung is only now bringing it to its flagship phones.
You can use rear or front cameras, with a high quality mode that streams better video but may heat the phone.

If you've ever jumped on a Zoom call and felt the camera quality was not great, you've probably thought about using your Android phone as a webcam. The Galaxy S26 finally supports this, letting you use it as a webcam for video calls on PCs and laptops.

Google introduced support for using Android phones as webcams with Android 14 QPR1 back in 2023. This came shortly after the COVID period, when many people were using iPhones as webcams for video calls on Macs. Google added similar functionality over USB for Android.

With Android 15, the company further improved video quality, but not many Android manufacturers actually adopted the feature. With the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung is finally bringing it.

As spotted by Android Authority, you can now use the Galaxy S26 series as a webcam for video calls on PCs and laptops by simply plugging it in via a USB-C cable. Once connected, you will see a new webcam option in the USB settings.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Once selected, you'll be able to use both the rear cameras (primary and ultra-wide) as well as the front-facing camera for video calls. It's also worth noting that the feature supports High Quality Mode, which streams higher bitrate video to your PC, though this may cause the phone to heat up slightly during use.

If you're thinking this feature isn't new, you're actually correct. It's been available, even wirelessly, within Samsung's ecosystem for quite some time. However, this is the first time Samsung is bringing broader USB support.

For now, the feature is limited to the Galaxy S26 series, meaning even Galaxy S25 devices on the One UI 8.5 beta can't access it. It could be hardware-related, but since Google introduced this back with Android 14, that seems unlikely. Samsung may still bring it to older devices with a future One UI 8.5 update, but for now, it's exclusive to the S26 lineup.

Android Central's Take

It does make you wonder why this took so long. This is something Google and Samsung could have pushed much earlier, especially during the pandemic.

Still, it's good to see it finally arrive. One added benefit is that you can also charge your phone while using this feature if your laptop is plugged in, meaning you can use it for long meetings without worrying about battery life.

Your Galaxy S26 has two hidden AI notification features that are genuinely useful

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 17:55:00 +0000

As much as it is about new hardware features, Samsung has recently shifted the Galaxy S flagship series toward AI and software features as well. Sure, the Privacy Display feature debuting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the headline addition, but there are a few other software features worth talking about.

Features like Gemini screen automation and the upgraded Audio Eraser bring something we are seeing for the first time on Samsung phones (and we've not even seen them on the latest Google Pixel devices). But that isn't all.

Alongside these One UI 8.5 features, Samsung has also added new notification features powered by Galaxy AI, making it easier to manage and read notifications on the Galaxy S26.

Here are two notification features that debuted with the Galaxy S26 series that you might not know about (but are genuinely useful).

Notification Summary and Prioritize notifications in One UI 8.5 explained

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Before the Galaxy S26 series debuted, there were several rumors about Samsung adding a notification summary feature to One UI. Even when Samsung rolled out the One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series, the feature wasn't included. Thankfully, with the Galaxy S26 lineup, notification summaries have finally arrived.

As the name suggests, this feature condenses long notifications into a more readable format. For example, if you receive multiple messages in a group chat or a lengthy email, the AI will summarize the content into a short, readable blurb that appears in the notification center. This lets you quickly understand what's happening without opening the full message or app.

According to Samsung, the feature currently supports a range of languages, including English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Polish, Vietnamese, and Hindi. It also works across most major messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Google Messages, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Telegram, and others.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Since this is an AI-powered feature, Samsung notes that summaries may occasionally be inaccurate. In my experience, however, it has been mostly reliable.

One thing I noticed is that even after enabling the feature, it took over a week before summaries started appearing on my Galaxy S26 Ultra. There's no manual toggle to force summaries for specific apps. Samsung also notes that the feature may not work when the battery is low or when power saving mode is enabled.

In addition to summaries, Samsung has also introduced the Prioritize notifications feature in One UI 8.5. This feature learns your behavior, such as which apps you open first and which notifications you interact with most, and uses that to sort your notifications accordingly.

For example, when you pick up your phone in the morning and see a long list of notifications, this feature pushes the ones you are most likely to check to the top. It essentially identifies which alerts matter most to you and surfaces them first.

The Prioritize notifications feature also supports the same set of languages as notification summaries. Samsung also emphasizes that all notification processing happens on-device, meaning your data is not sent to the cloud.

How to enable Summarize notifications and prioritize notification features

1. Open the Settings app on your Galaxy device.

2. Tap Notifications and then select Notification highlights.

3. In Notification highlights, you will see both features: Prioritize notifications and Summarize notifications.

4. Open each section and enable the toggle for both features.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

It's worth noting that Galaxy AI features must be enabled on your device for these to work. It's also worth keeping in mind that the feature may take a few hours or even days before it starts working.

When notification summaries are active, you will see a three-line icon with an arrow next to the app's notification. You can still open the full notification by swiping down to view all the original content of the message or email.

These may be the most underrated One UI 8.5 features yet

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

Over the past few years, Samsung has added several features to the Galaxy AI suite, but few feel as subtle and genuinely useful as these notification features that have arrived with One UI 8.5.

It runs quietly in the background and still lets you access the full message content without interrupting your experience. Most importantly, all processing happens on-device, so your data remains private.

It's certainly not perfect yet, and it'd have been useful to manually enable summaries for specific apps, but my guess is that it may be tied to Samsung's power management system. Hopefully, Samsung refines this feature further in a future One UI update and adds an option to manually enable notification summary for specific apps.

Good news for Samsung fans: One UI 8.5 could land on Galaxy S24 and FE phones soon

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:17:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is expanding One UI 8.5 beta to Galaxy S24 series, foldables, and FE models for the first time.
Early beta builds spotted suggest Samsung may open the One UI 8.5 program to more devices very soon.
One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 adds customizable quick settings and new AI-powered features.

Samsung debuted One UI 8.5 alongside the Galaxy S26 series. The company has been testing the beta build on the Galaxy S25 series and some foldable devices, and it now appears Samsung could expand the program to the Galaxy S24 lineup and, for the first time, some FE models.

As spotted by Tarun Vats on X, early One UI 8.5 beta builds have surfaced for the Galaxy S24 series, S24 FE, S25 FE, and even foldables launched in 2024, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. These early builds suggest Samsung may soon expand the beta program to these devices.

Samsung has followed a similar rollout pattern in the past, so this could indicate the One UI 8.5 beta program will open for more devices shortly. What stands out this time is the inclusion of Fan Edition models in the beta.

Unexpected 👀Galaxy S25 FE & S24 FEFirst One UI 8.5 beta builds spotted on test serverFE devices usually don’t get public beta 🤔Builds:S25 FE: S731NKSU5ZZCBS24 FE: S721NKSUAZZCBLet’s see… public or internal 👀 pic.twitter.com/5yOEhgX5cyMarch 19, 2026

Historically, Samsung hasn't included Fan Edition phones in the One UI public beta program, instead rolling out stable updates directly. This time, however, it appears Samsung is including these mid-range devices in the beta program.

When the program goes live, beta builds are expected to be available in regions like the U.S., India, South Korea, and select European markets. Users should be able to join through the Samsung Members app, although there is no confirmed timeline yet for the rollout.

One UI 8.5 brings several new features to the Galaxy phones. Being based on the latest build of Android 16, it brings customizable quick settings that allow users to resize and rearrange tiles, along with new AI features like an updated photo assist tool that supports multiple edits without saving each version.

There is also a Storage Share feature that lets users access files from other Galaxy devices directly through the 'My Files' app as well as a (much more) customizable lock screen.

Android Central's Take

It's good to see Samsung extending more attention to its mid-range devices alongside its flagships. Moves like this make the Fan Edition lineup feel more aligned with its name.

Samsung apparently started One UI 9 tests, and I'm crying in my lack of One UI 8.5

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:29:38 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is reportedly starting its "early development" test for One UI 9, which is likely based on Android 17.
At the moment, a social media tipster claims there is very little new in the test; however, there are small UI refinements for its Quick Settings and Parental Controls.
Google rolled out its Android 17 test in February, but what's disheartening is that Samsung's test is beginning without the majority of its users on One UI 8.5.

Judging by the title, you can say this was "expected." Rumors claim Samsung has started testing One UI 9.

Starting the week is a rumor from SamMobile, alongside purported evidence from tipster Max Jambor, that says Samsung's One UI 9 testing is just beginning. The post claims the OS is in "early development," which makes sense considering the software is likely based on Android 17. Major changes are being reported for this early test build, as Max Jambor says in a video on X. It's likely that whatever Samsung has in store will be revealed over time, as even the software's UI is pretty tame.

Android Central's Take

Samsung has continued to refine its One UI elements for a while now. It's gotten to a pretty decent spot that feels clean, fresh, and a bit modern. There are elements taken (borrowed?) from the competition, but that's a different discussion. Regardless, I've seen speculation about Samsung likely working on features other than its UI, which I can understand, and I'm honestly fine with.

In Jambor's video, the UI for this alleged One UI 9 build displays small refinements, such as with its sliders for brightness and volume in the full Quick Settings panel. The controls are "slightly larger," per Jambor. Holding my Galaxy S25 Ultra to my PC screen (don't judge), they do appear fuller/larger, much like the options toward the bottom for the Privacy Display, Nearby Devices, and more.

Elsewhere, the tipster notes that the Korean OEM has seemingly moved its Parental Controls out of the Digital Wellbeing section and into a dedicated spot. We're still several months from an eventual One UI 9 release, as Android OS updates (major ones) are toward the second half of the year. SamMobile speculates this upgrade could debut first on Samsung's 2026 foldables, the Flip 8 and Fold 8, this summer.

Software all over the place

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android 17 interest is heating up. Google started its Android 17 testing for eligible Pixel phones early in February. The test got off to a rough start, as, on February 11, it was reported that Google decided to pull back. The company didn't specify the reason behind the delay; however, after a two-day wait, it finally started rolling out. Android 17 arrived as the savior for large screens, bringing with it better screen orientation support and more.

Android Central's Take

I feel like I'm losing my mind. I understand that there's a lot that goes into developing software, and Samsung is being quite diligent at refining it before rolling it out on the S25 series and beyond. It is a little funny, though (in an "I'm going to lose my mind" kind of way) that reports of it testing the next major OS is here without 8.5 in its stable form. Hopefully, and I do want to stress that, we'll see One UI 8.5 within a reasonable amount of time.

Beta 2 arrived a couple of weeks later, adding a multitasking trick and cross-device handoff. This cross-device support made it possible for testers to swap tasks from one Android device to another with minimal effort. What's (kind of) funny here is that Samsung's apparent test comes at a time when most Galaxy users are still waiting for One UI 8.5. Samsung rolled out its seventh beta for its major One UI update, which boasts immense upgrades over its UI 8 release.

The Galaxy S26 is getting its first update after launch — and it's not very exciting

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:15:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has started rolling out the first software update for the Galaxy S26 series.
The update mainly upgrades the security patch level from January to February 2026.
Samsung is expected to resume its normal monthly security patch schedule for the Galaxy S26 soon.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is finally on sale starting today, and if you're getting one of the new devices, you will likely see a software update as soon as you set up your phone.

Samsung has begun rolling out a new One UI 8.5 update for the Galaxy S26 series ahead of its launch. The update was first spotted by Droid-Life and carries the build number AZC7. It is about 550 MB in size, and if you are hoping it brings new features right away, you might be disappointed.

The first update for the Galaxy S26 series is mainly a security patch upgrade. Samsung launched the devices with the January security patch, and when we first powered on our units, we noticed the patch was already a month behind, even though the phones launched in late February.

The new update doesn't bump the security patch to March 2026, but instead brings the security patch level to February 2026.

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)

It's a bit unusual that Samsung has not yet rolled out the March 2026 security patch for the phones. However, we expect the company to return to its regular update schedule soon, either later this month or with the next monthly patch cycle.

We don't know exactly what issues the update addresses. However, some early Galaxy S26 users have reported problems with Google Play Protect blocking certain apps from installing. It's unclear whether this update resolves that problem, but it would not be surprising if Samsung resolves it soon.

If you own a Galaxy S26 series phone, you can install the update by heading to Settings > Software Update and checking for available updates.

Android Central's Take

It's good to see Samsung pushing an update for the new flagship series right away. Flagship phones should ideally ship with the latest security patches out of the box, and it looks like Samsung is at least trying to catch up quickly. Hopefully, the company gets the devices back on the regular monthly patch schedule soon.

This hidden Galaxy S25 feature makes me want to actually use the Samsung Gallery app

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:45:05 +0000

Samsung Galaxy phones come pre-loaded with a handful of "duplicate" apps. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S25 comes with Google Photos and Samsung Gallery, both pre-installed as photo and video gallery apps.

It usually makes sense to use Google Photos, but you shouldn't write off Samsung Gallery too early. Samsung's own gallery app offers a few exciting photo and video editing features unavailable in the Google Photos app, which is reason enough to keep it around.

Specifically, Samsung Gallery makes it easy to speed up or slow down a video in your camera roll with the Instant slow-mo feature. It lets you apply a slow-mo effect to your videos by long-pressing the screen during playback, and there are even more customization options in the editor. Here's how I use Instant slow-mo to remix my smartphone videos, and how you can too.

What is Samsung's Instant slow-mo?

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Instant slow-mo is a feature in the Samsung Gallery app that lets users adjust the playback speed of their videos. The simple version of the feature applies a slow-motion effect to the video during playback when a user holds down on the screen. The more advanced alternative in the video editor lets you choose from four playback speeds — 1/4x, 1/2x, 1x, and 2x — that can be applied to specific portions of your video.

Opening the editor reveals a detailed timeline with handles that let you expand or trim the portion of the video for which the slow-mo effects will apply. This allows different portions of the same video to play back at different speeds for a greater cinematic effect. When you're finished customizing the video, you can either save it and overwrite the original video or make a copy.

Either way, the video can always be reverted to its original state, so there's no risk of messing up in the Instant slow-mo editor.

How to use Instant slow-mo in the video player

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

There are two ways to use Instant slow-mo in the Samsung Gallery app, and the first is simply to long-press a video while it's playing. This shows a preview of what the video would look like slowed down. When you release your finger, you can download and save the Instant slow-mo clip to your camera roll. Here's exactly how to do it:

1. Open the Samsung Gallery app and choose a video.

2. Tap the Play button to start video playback.

3. Touch and hold any portion of the video to start Instant slow-mo.

4. Release your finger to stop the Instant slow-mo feature, revealing a download button.

5. Tap the download button to save the Instant slow-mo clip.

(Image credit: Future)

After that, the slowed-down version of your video will be saved as a separate video in your Samsung Gallery app. The original video will still remain available, and you can use it to make more Instant slow-mo clips if you'd like.

How to use Instant slow-mo in the video editor

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

A more advanced version of the Instant slow-mo feature is available in the Samsung Gallery video editor. This version lets you manually select which parts of the video you want to slow down or speed up. It's possible to mix slow-mo footage with normal footage for dramatic effect. Here's how to use it:

1. Open the Samsung Gallery app and choose a video.

2. Tap the Edit icon in the toolbar.

3. Press the Speed icon and choose between four different speed options (1/3, 1/2, 1x, 2).

4. Move the handles on the video timeline to adjust how long the speed changes will be applied to the video.

5. Choose either Save or Save copy to finish.

(Image credit: Future)

Using this tool, you can customize exactly how long Instant slow-mo will be applied to your video, selecting the precise speed. The same setting can be used to apply double speed to your video, creating an entirely different effect. Since multiple speeds can be used throughout the same video, there are plenty of ways to remix your recordings using Instant slow-mo in the Samsung Gallery app.

Samsung's Gallery app can speed up or slow down your videos

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

I use Google Photos as my primary gallery app on every Android phone, but it's worth keeping Samsung's Gallery app around for its niche features. Beyond the Instant slow-mo tool, Samsung's Object Eraser and Audio Eraser are two other useful tools that come to mind. However, the one I end up using the most is the Create GIF feature. It can turn any video in your Samsung Gallery into a GIF with a single button press, and it's a lifesaver for sharing content on the web.

Regardless of how you use tools like Instant slow-mo, you should know that your Samsung Galaxy S25 comes with exclusive photo and video editing tools in the Samsung Gallery app. Too many users switch to Google Photos outright and miss out on the helpful features you can only find in Samsung Gallery. Personally, I love how easy it is to view and save slowed-down versions of your favorite videos using Instant slow-mo.

Samsung

Galaxy S25

The best small phone

Samsung's Galaxy S25 is the greatest compact handset you can buy, and it's filled with Galaxy AI tools and video editing features. Instant slow-mo is a great one that's available on the Galaxy S25.

One UI 8.5 is getting more stable before the Galaxy S26 launch, with a nice extra feature

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:17:32 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has released One UI 8.5 beta 4 ahead of the Galaxy S26 launch, focusing on fixes and stability improvements.
The new beta is rolling out to Galaxy S25 users in multiple regions and includes the February 2026 security patch.
A new Direct Voicemail feature lets users send calls to voicemail and view live transcriptions inside the Phone app.

Ahead of the Galaxy S26 series launch, Samsung has released a new One UI 8.5 beta, refining the software further while also adding a useful new feature.

February is shaping up to be a big month for Samsung, with the Galaxy S26 series rumored to debut in just a few weeks. Alongside the upcoming phones, Samsung has continued work on One UI 8.5. Now, ahead of the software's official unveiling alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup, the company has released One UI 8.5 beta 4 with several fixes in tow.

As spotted by Tarun Vats on X, Samsung has rolled out the new One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series with firmware version ZZAL in South Korea, India, Germany, the UK, and the US. This update follows the third One UI 8.5 beta released in December and weighs around 1.5 GB. It also includes the February 2026 security patch.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

According to the official changelog, Samsung has fixed several issues, including a lock screen clock bug and a problem with AI Select. Here's the official changelog:

Fixed an issue where the clock on the lock screen moved down.
Fixed an issue when clicking search history in the phone app.
Resolved the problem where calls switch to the device under specific conditions while using a BT headset.
Fixed an issue when pasting phone numbers into the keypad after clicking a call link.
Fixed an issue where AI Select does not automatically close when "Copy" is selected.

If you own a Galaxy S25 series phone and are enrolled in the One UI 8.5 beta program, you can now download and install the update by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

What's particularly interesting about this beta is that Samsung has also added a new Direct Voicemail feature to the Phone app (via Android Authority). With this feature, users can automatically send calls to voicemail after a set period or route all incoming calls directly to voicemail.

(Image credit: Android Authority)

The voicemail is transcribed live, letting you view both audio and text inside the Phone app. Similar to how it works on Pixel phones and iPhones, you can also pick up the call while the caller is leaving a message. The feature works on-device inside the Phone app and doesn't depend on your carrier.

Android Central's Take

It's good to see Samsung polishing the One UI 8.5 beta ahead of the Galaxy S26 series launch later this month. Samsung has been late with recent major Android upgrades, but it's reassuring to see the company aiming to have Galaxy S26 users on the latest version with stable software and new features available out of the box from day one.

Samsung may have accidentally confirmed a Perplexity-powered Bixby

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:08:14 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has accidentally confirmed that a much more capable, Perplexity-powered Bixby is coming with One UI 8.5.
The upgraded Bixby will work as a conversational assistant that understands intent, not just exact voice commands.
With Perplexity integration, Bixby will be able to perform real-time web searches and show results directly.
The new Bixby is expected to launch with One UI 8.5, likely alongside the Galaxy S26 series next month.

Samsung may have accidentally confirmed that a much more powerful version of Bixby is coming with One UI 8.5, and it looks like it will be powered by Perplexity for answering complex questions.

Until now, Samsung has largely relied on Google Gemini for its Galaxy AI features and as the primary assistant on its flagship phones. While Bixby has continued to exist alongside it, Samsung has never really given it a meaningful upgrade, leaving it feeling more like a basic smart assistant. That appears to be changing with One UI 8.5.

Samsung briefly published an announcement confirming that Bixby will be upgraded into a conversational device agent that uses Perplexity to handle more complex queries. The announcement was quickly taken down, but not before it was spotted by Droid Life.

In the now-deleted press release, Samsung said that the "new Bixby" will arrive with One UI 8.5. While earlier One UI 8.5 builds had already hinted at these changes, this marks the first time Samsung has officially (albeit accidentally) acknowledged the upgrade.

What Samsung accidentally revealed about the new Bixby

(Image credit: Samsung (now-deleted))

According to the announcement, the revamped Bixby will let users control and navigate Galaxy devices using natural language, without needing to issue precise commands. It'll understand user intent and carry out actions accordingly, making interactions feel more natural.

For example, Samsung notes that users will be able to ask questions like, "Why is my phone screen always on when it is inside my pocket?" and Bixby will use the context and surface relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, and allow users to enable it.

Bixby will also tap into real-time web search through Perplexity. This will allow it to pull in up-to-date information and surface results directly within the Bixby interface. For example, Samsung says users will be able to ask something like, "Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids," and Bixby will handle the search and show results instantly.

Samsung also noted that the upgraded Bixby will be available in "select markets" with One UI 8.5, though it did not specify which ones. The feature is not live yet and is expected to roll out alongside One UI 8.5, which will likely debut with the Galaxy S26 series next month.

Samsung is patching an annoying Galaxy Buds app bug that caused constant crashes

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:07:55 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is rolling out a Galaxy Buds Manager app update that address a major bug introduced in a prior one.
The bug caused the app to crash when removing the Galaxy Buds from their case, opening pop-ups on users' phones.
With version v8.0.00.2500 of the Galaxy Buds app or higher, the issue is resolved, according to Samsung.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, it came with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Manager app pre-installed. The small app is used to handle connections with Samsung Galaxy Buds earbuds, and works in tandem with the general Galaxy wearable app. For those that own a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds, like the Buds 3, Buds 3 FE, or Buds 3 Pro, the Galaxy Buds Manager app is a critical resource for personalizing and managing the earbuds.

However, a recent update for the Galaxy Buds Manager app introduced an annoying bug that frustrated users even when they weren't using it. Users faced constant app crashes when removing their Galaxy Buds from their case. This surfaced a "Galaxy Buds keeps stopping" pop-up on their Galaxy phone every time the Galaxy Buds Manager app crashed, which got annoying quickly, according to users on Reddit.

Constant Crashes after the update from r/galaxybuds

Now, Samsung is acknowledging the problem and rolling out a fix, it said on the company's online forum (via SamMobile).

"We have confirmed that users of Galaxy Buds devices, or those with a history of using them, may experience a 'Galaxy Buds keeps stopping' pop-up message when connecting and using the device via the Galaxy Buds app," the company wrote in the post (translated to English). "A newer version of the Galaxy Buds app (v8.0.00.2500 and later) that addresses this issue has been released."

Samsung identified the issue in version v8.0.00.2300 of the Galaxy Buds Manager app. After updating to v8.0.00.2500 or higher, the issues are resolved.

(Image credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

You can update your Galaxy Buds app by opening Galaxy Store, searching for the Galaxy Buds app, and pressing the Update button that appears. After that, you'll be able to use your Galaxy Buds with your Galaxy phone without running into annoying pop-ups and app crashes.

Samsung's new One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 cleans up a lot of issues

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:20:40 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.5 beta 2 for Galaxy S25 devices, adding bug fixes and expanding the beta to more regions.
The One UI 8.5 beta program is now available in India and Poland, alongside earlier regions like the U.S. and UK.
One UI 8.5 also introduces visual changes and features, with some Galaxy AI upgrades saved for the S26 launch.

Just a couple of weeks after releasing the first One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung has rolled out another One UI 8.5 beta for eligible smartphones. The new build brings a few key fixes, including several bug fixes, and also expands the public beta to more regions.

When Samsung released the first One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series, it was limited to just four countries, including South Korea, Germany, the U.S., and the UK. With this new beta release, Samsung has expanded availability to additional regions, including India and Poland.

If you own a Galaxy S25 series smartphone, you can now sign up for the One UI 8.5 beta through the Samsung Members app. Once enrolled, or if you already have the previous One UI 8.5 beta installed, you can update your device by heading to Settings > Software update > Download & install.

(Image credit: Twitter/X)

It's worth noting that the new One UI 8.5 beta carries the build number ZYLH and is roughly 4GB in size for first-time installs. The beta is available only for the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Even though the Galaxy S25 Edge and Galaxy S25 FE are technically part of the S25 lineup, they are excluded from the beta program, at least for now.

As for what's new in One UI 8.5 beta 2, Samsung has addressed several bugs with this update. Issues such as stuttering when opening the "More View" menu during calls, cases where the volume up button fails under certain conditions, and problems causing multiple third-party apps to close unexpectedly have been fixed.

Here is the official changelog for One UI 8.5 beta 2 (via @tarunvats33 on X):

One UI 8.5 beta 2 official changelog

Improved the issue of quick panel settings initializing intermittently when booting.
Improved errors such as quick panel menu screen icon spacing and location.
Improved the issue of photos organized into gallery group folders being moved to the first album page.
Improved the stuttering issue when pressing the "More View" menu during a call.
Improved the intermittent rebooting issue.
Improved the issue where the volume up button does not work under certain conditions.
Improved the issue of sound generation in the device when making a call with a Bluetooth car kit connection under certain conditions.
Improved issues where multiple third-party apps are forcibly terminated while in use.
Stabilized software through multiple app updates, such as the camera.

It's also possible that One UI 8.5 includes under-the-hood changes that haven't surfaced yet. For example, Samsung has reportedly reserved some Galaxy AI features in One UI 8.5 for the launch of the Galaxy S26 series.

That said, the new Android update still brings several features to try, including a refreshed design language, an updated Quick Settings panel, and storage sharing across connected Galaxy devices.

Galaxy S26 may launch with hidden One UI 8.5 features for a smarter user experience

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:04:01 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung allegedly hides exclusive One UI 8.5 features for Galaxy S26, including AI notification summaries.
Leak suggests that the AI notification summary tool leverages Samsung's Gauss model, supporting multiple languages at launch.
One UI 8.5 offers redesigned Quick Settings and enhanced Gallery app features for the Galaxy S25 series.

Samsung introduced the One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series earlier this month. The new software version for Samsung smartphones brings features like a redesigned Quick Settings panel, updates to Quick Share, the ability to see all your files across all your devices, redesigned app icons, and more. And it may be gatekeeping some of it exclusively for its new Galaxy S26 series.

One of the new Galaxy AI features debuting with One UI 8.5 is the upgraded Photo Assist in the Gallery app, which allows you to apply AI edits to images without saving each iteration. It, however, appears Samsung is hiding even more Galaxy AI features within the build.

AI notification summaries may remain exclusive to Galaxy S26 at first

According to reliable leaker @chunvn8888 on X, "lots" of One UI 8.5 features are not available right now because Samsung is keeping them exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series at launch.

One of the features the leaker mentions is the AI notification summary feature. This tool is reportedly part of One UI 8.5 but currently disabled. It will use Samsung's in-house Gauss model to provide users with a summary of their notifications from the past 24 hours.

The leaker adds that the feature will support several languages at launch including English, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Polish, simplified Chinese (中国大陆), Japanese, Hindi, Vietnamese, and Thai.

The feature will likely remain exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series at first, with Samsung eventually rolling it out to other Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and more later.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud)

If this feature sounds familiar, that's because it is. Google recently debuted its own Notification Summaries feature for select Pixel phones, while Apple has offered a similar tool for the iPhone for more than a year. Now it looks like Samsung phones will get their version starting with the Galaxy S26 series.

The Galaxy S26 lineup is just a couple of months away now, and we've already heard a lot about the flagship series in recent weeks. Alongside the new Galaxy AI features, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to come with a refined design and much faster wired and wireless charging speeds.

Samsung's December 2025 security patch rolling out for Galaxy Z Flip 6, Fold 6

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:03:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is rolling out the December 2025 security patch to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The December 2025 update fixes 57 security flaws for Android and another 11 vulnerabilities specific to Galaxy phones.
The update is around 450MB in size, and will expand to regions beyond South Korea soon.

Samsung releases monthly updates for supported devices with fixes for security vulnerabilities, and the December 2025 is currently rolling out. It's a major update including a handful of critical fixes for security problems and nearly 60 patches in total. The update is making its way to supported devices gradually this month, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are the two latest Galaxy models to receive it.

As reported by SamMobile, the December 2025 security update is rolling out for Samsung's crop of folding phones from 2024. It's becoming available in South Korea first, as is typically the case, before expanding to other regions.

The version number for the Galaxy Z Fold 6's December 2025 update is F956NKSS2CYKE, and the one for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is F741NKSS2CYKE. For these Galaxy phone models, the December 2025 patch is roughly 450MB in size. It fixes 57 security problems addressed by Google and another 11 vulnerabilities specific to Galaxy devices, so you'll want to install it as soon as it becomes available.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

As detailed on Samsung's Mobile Security site, the update includes 57 security patches addressing vulnerabilities from the Android Security Bulletin. The patch omits Google fixes from the Android Security Bulletin that don't apply to Samsung devices. Of the 57 fixes, six are designated as "critical" and the rest are marked as "high" severity.

Samsung also includes 11 patches of its own that address security vulnerabilities specific to Galaxy devices. For security reasons, we won't learn the details of these vulnerabilities until after users have the chance to install the fixes for them. The most severe vulnerabilities fix problems with read and write permissions in the bootloader, as well as the fingerprint system and image codec libraries.

How to install the December 2025 security patch

To apply the December 2025 security update for your Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Galaxy Z Fold 6, start by opening the Settings app. Then, tap Software update and Download and install. The update is expected to continue rolling out globally over the next few days, so check back if you don't see it immediately.

If you have a newer Samsung phone, you may already have access to the December 2025 security patch, and you can install it by following the steps above.

Galaxy S26 may debut with software features currently hidden in One UI 8.5

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:53:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is hiding several One UI 8.5 features that will debut first on the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
One UI 8.5 includes an AI notification summary feature using Samsung's Gauss model, but it's disabled for now.
The AI summary tool will launch with support for many global languages and stay S26 exclusive at first.

Samsung may be hiding some of the software features in One UI 8.5 that may debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series next year.

AI notification summaries may remain exclusive to Galaxy S26 at first

According to reliable leaker @chunvn8888 on X, "lots" of One UI 8.5 features are not available right now because Samsung is keeping them exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series at launch.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud)

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: How many folds do you want?

sharmarajat@zoho.com (Rajat Sharma) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:51:02 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

The next generation

Featuring a massive 10-inch foldable display, a solid camera system, optimized software experience, and faster charging, the Galaxy Z TriFold is the benchmark for foldables of the future.

Pros

Huge 10-inch inner display works equally well for work and fun
Bigger battery with faster wired charging
Enhanced software experience

Cons

Still comes with previous-gen silicon
Unlikely to have S-Pen support despite having a big screen

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

The reigning champion

Having a premium yet lightweight design, two gorgeous displays, a feature-rich software experience, and numerous other refinements, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the best foldable you can buy.

Pros

Lightweight yet incredibly robust design
Flawless everyday performance, including emulation
No-compromise trip-lens primary camera setup

Cons

Unacceptably slow charging speeds
Average battery life and no built-in MagSafe support

Introduced in 2019, Samsung's first-generation Galaxy Z Fold marked the beginning of a new era in mobile technology. A little over six years later, the South Korean behemoth has done it again with the (somewhat) surprising unveiling of the Galaxy Z Trifold. Samsung's first dual-hinge foldable, the Galaxy Z TriFold, represents the next evolution of the foldable form factor. While it's not the first device of its kind (that honor belongs to Huawei's Mate XT), it's undoubtedly the first that'll be available in multiple regions around the globe.

That's all very exciting, but just how big of an upgrade is it over the Galaxy Z Fold 7? Does it really make sense to get a first-generation product just for a bigger screen (and a few other improvements), or should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has been perfected over the years and is arguably the finest dual-screen flagship smartphone currently available out there?

Let's take a speculative look at Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Galaxy Fold 7 and see how the chaebol's two heavyweights stack up against each other.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Design, displays, and hardware

(Image credit: Samsung)

The Galaxy Z TriFold and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 share many similarities in their overall design, to the point that the two are nearly indistinguishable when folded. Both have the same boxy yet sturdy construction with flat sides, an 'Armor Aluminum' frame, and a 6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED LTPO cover display that's secured by a layer of Corning's Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2.

The triple-lens primary camera setup is also the same on both foldables, with the three lenses housed inside a vertical pill-shaped island. The Galaxy Z TriFold comes with a 'ceramic-glass fiber reinforced polymer' back that Samsung claims is more resistant to cracks, although we don't know (yet) how durable it is when compared to the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. You also get an IP48 certification with both smartphones for dust and water resistance.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Coming to weight and dimensions (when closed), the Galaxy Z TriFold is quite a bit heavier and thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is to be expected. However, once you open those two inward-folding side panels, you realize just how impossibly slim Samsung's freshest foldable is. Due to each of its three panels varying slightly in their thickness, the TriFold measures just 3.9mm at its thinnest point. That is plain bonkers, even if the Fold 7 with its 4.2mm thickness is no less impressive!

That being said, the biggest highlight (quite literally!) of the Galaxy Z TriFold is its gargantuan 10-inch inner display. Although it comes with a lower pixel density and peak brightness than the 8-inch inner screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the larger panel gives you a lot more visual real estate for split-view multitasking, multimedia consumption, gaming, and just about everything else.

Driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) chipset, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a powerhouse that can make quick work of just about anything you throw at it, something that Android Central's Andrew Myrick noted in his review. You also get 12GB/16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of onboard storage, which makes even the most demanding of workflows a walk in the park. That's a good thing, since the Galaxy Z TriFold features the exact same hardware under the hood.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Although we would've loved to see the foldable come with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, it seems Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 series may get first dibs on Qualcomm's newest top-tier SoC. The two foldables have the same connectivity and I/O options as well, including full multi-band 5G support, NFC, and USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort functionality.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Cameras, software, and battery

(Image credit: Samsung)

The Galaxy Fold 7 ranks among the best Android camera phones on the market, thanks to its versatile triple-lens rear camera system. You get a 200MP wide-angle primary sensor, a 10MP telephoto module with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide unit, complete with usual goodies such as optical image stabilization, up to 8K video recording, and more shooting modes than you can shake a stick at. Photos and videos pack plenty of detail, with colors and contrast levels on point.

The Galaxy Z TriFold should deliver equally stellar performance, as the foldable carries over the same primary camera array with no changes. If anything, the improved software processing should help further boost the overall photo and video quality. The two 10MP front-facing cameras also remain unchanged.

(Image credit: SuperSaf on YouTube)

Speaking of software, the Galaxy Z TriFold runs Android 16 out of the box, with Samsung's One UI 8 custom UI overlay. While the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers the same experience, there are a few notable changes, as highlighted in a hands-on video posted by popular YouTuber Arun Maini.

Many apps (especially those from Samsung) can display much more information at once, and there are now multiple split-screen multitasking configurations. Then you have the standalone DeX support, which means you no longer need to connect the phone to a monitor to get a desktop-like experience.

Thanks to its larger 16:11 aspect-ratio inner display, the Galaxy Z TriFold can double as a monitor whenever you want. In summation, this phone-tablet hybrid is the ideal device for on-the-go productivity. In addition to that, you can also expect years of updates and a laundry list of AI-powered features.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Lastly, let's talk about battery life. As feature-laden as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is, its 4,400mAh battery and 25W wired charging are quite unremarkable by modern-day standards, even if they're enough for everyday usage.

Thankfully, the Galaxy Z TriFold packs a much bigger 5,600mAh power pack and a bit faster 45W wired charging, even if it's nothing compared to the 7,300mAh silicon-carbon cell and 120W wired charging that the latest OnePlus 15 comes with. Of course, we'll only be able to comment about the actual battery endurance once we put the foldable through its paces.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Which should you buy?

(Image credit: Samsung)

It probably won't be an exaggeration to say that the Galaxy Z TriFold will soon become the new yardstick against which all foldable phones will be measured. Representing a huge leap in mobile computing, it's a premium hybrid that lets you not just consume content but also create it.

But even with all that, it's still a first-generation product. Moreover, it's likely to cost a fortune at launch, even if Samsung prices it conservatively. The Galaxy Fold 7 isn't exactly cheap either, but it's a far more refined foldable that doesn't have a lot of compromises. So, which one should you get?

The answer depends on what you really use your smartphone for, and of course, your budget. If you're a casual user who sometimes wants to have access to a bigger screen for things like watching videos and editing a document or two, the Galaxy Fold 7 is the right choice. It's still one of the best Android phones (regardless of form factor) in the business and has just about everything you could want from a flagship.

On the other hand, if you're often juggling multiple devices (e.g., a tablet and a laptop) on the go and want to streamline your workflow a bit, the Galaxy Z TriFold might just help you do so. It's quite likely to cost a pretty penny once it gets a broader launch, but we won't be surprised if Samsung offers trade-in deals and discounts to bring the price down.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

Bigger and better

The Galaxy Z TriFold is built around an expansive 10-inch display that's ideal for everything from multimedia consumption to on-the-go productivity. It also has a bigger battery, a tailor-made software experience, and more.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Just about perfect

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the outcome of several years of refinements and features everything from top-tier cameras to incredible everyday performance to a great in-hand feel. You also have four vibrant colors to choose from.

One UI 8.5 beta is here: Major updates for Samsung Galaxy S25 series users

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:44:01 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 8.5 brings major AI upgrades, improved photo editing, and better cross-device sharing features.
Samsung adds new Theft Protection tools and a redesigned UI with 3D icons and a customizable Quick Settings panel.
Storage Share lets users access files across Galaxy phones, tablets, PCs, and even Samsung TVs.
The One UI 8.5 beta is live for Galaxy S25 models in select regions, with more devices expected to join soon.

Just a few days after the full changelog of One UI 8.5 leaked, Samsung has officially announced the One UI 8.5 public beta for the Galaxy S25 series.

Samsung, in a press release, notes that One UI 8.5 brings new and easier ways to create, connect, and stay safe. While the ".5" version number may seem small, One UI 8.5 is a major update for Galaxy smartphones. Here's everything new and how you can get it on your Galaxy S25 series phone right now.

One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 series: New features

(Image credit: Samsung)

Starting with the changes, Samsung says One UI 8.5 brings new Galaxy AI features to the series, including an updated Photo Assist. You can now edit photos continuously without saving each iteration on your device. This means you can use AI Eraser, then move or restyle the image using Photo Assist without having to save it first.

There are many improvements to Quick Share as well. One UI will now show your most frequently contacted people with photos and surface them directly as share suggestions. There are better cross-device features too, such as Audio Broadcast, which lets you share one device's audio to many devices at once through BT LE Audio using Auracast.

(Image credit: Samsung)

A new feature called Storage Share will now let you see files from other Galaxy devices, including tablets and PCs, directly in the My Files app. You can even access your phone's files from other Samsung devices, including your TV.

For security, One UI 8.5 adds new anti-theft tools. The new Theft Protection feature keeps your data safe even during theft, while Failed Authentication Lock automatically locks the screen if there are too many failed attempts using fingerprint, PIN, or password.

There are UI changes too, such as a new 3D look for app icons and a customizable Quick Settings panel. Many apps, including Calculator, Clock, and Samsung Health, have been redesigned for better visuals.

(Image credit: Samsung)

One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 series: Availability and how to download

As expected, the One UI 8.5 beta is currently live only for Galaxy S25 series smartphones. This means if you have the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, or Galaxy S25 Ultra, you can try One UI 8.5 beta right now.

For now, the beta is available only in select regions, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. If you have a Galaxy S25 series phone in any of these regions, you can try One UI 8.5 by joining the beta via the Samsung Members app by tapping the banner. Then go to Settings > Software update > Download & install.

It's worth noting that the beta isn't available for the Galaxy S25 FE or the ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge yet. Although we expect Samsung to expand the beta to more devices in the coming days.

Samsung's next major One UI 8.5 update just leaked in full

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:06:00 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 8.5 brings major UI changes inspired by Apple's Liquid Glass design and a revamped Quick Settings panel.
The update adds new Galaxy AI tools like improved Photo Assist and a smarter Bixby that understands complex commands.
One UI 8.5 includes upgrades like faster Quick Share and auto-adjusting lock screen layouts for images.
The first beta rolls out this month in select regions, with a second beta expanding to India and Poland.

Samsung has been internally testing the One UI 8.5 software update for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets for a while now, and while previous leaks have given us an idea of what to expect, a new leak has revealed every single feature coming with the update.

Reputed leaker @taruvats33 on X shared the full changelog of the One UI 8.5 update ahead of the beta release for the Galaxy S25 series. While we already know that One UI 8.5 will adopt some new UI changes inspired by Apple's Liquid Glass UI in iOS 26, as well as a highly customizable Quick Settings panel, the feature list shows much more than just UI tweaks.

For example, as a part of the new Galaxy AI features, you'll be able to generate AI images using different Photo Assist tools without saving each iteration. Similarly, a smarter Bixby is headed to Galaxy devices with One UI 8.5, believed to be powered by Perplexity.

Other new features in One UI 8.5 include faster sharing with friends and family via improved Quick Share, automatic lock screen layout adjustments so the clock and widgets don't cover important parts of your images, and more.

The first One UI 8.5 beta is expected to go live this month, with the initial phase limited to regions including the US, UK, Korea, and Germany. Another beta will reportedly arrive before the Galaxy S26 launch and expand availability to India and Poland.

For now, you can check out the complete changelog of the One UI 8.5 update down below:

Here's the full Samsung One UI 8.5 changelog

Galaxy AI

Continuous image generation

Keep creating without stopping. Photo Assist now lets you generate Al images using different Photo assist features without saving each iteration. When you’re done, you can review all your creations in your history and pick your favorites.

Bixby

Smarter device control

Talk to Bixby in your own words. Bixby is now better at finding the setting or feature you need, even if you don’t use exact commands or feature names. Just say what you need and let Bixby do the rest.

Ask anything, anytime

Whether you need a quick answer or detailed information, just ask Bixby for an instant response. There’s no need to spend time on multiple searches or switching between apps.

Conversation history

Looking back at past conversations with Bixby is easier than ever. You can now access your conversation history from the side panel in the Bixby app.

Connectivity

Storage share

Access your files anywhere. Files from your other Samsung phones, tablets, and PCs are available in the My Files app on your phone. You can also access your phone’s files on other Samsung devices, even your TV.

Quickly connect to Smart View devices

Connect to your favorite display faster. You can now add a shortcut on your Home screen to instantly mirror your phone’s screen to a TV or other display device.

Enhanced Auracast features

It’s easier than ever to listen to and broadcast sound with Auracast. Options for both broadcasting and listening are now located in the Audio broadcast menu in Settings.

Voice broadcasts

Broadcast your voice to people around you with Auracast. In addition to media sound, you can now broadcast your voice using your phone’s built-in microphone.

Battery and power

Revamped battery info

See your battery use more clearly. The redesigned Battery settings screen makes it easier to check remaining time, charging status, and daily usage over the past week.

Improved Power saving

Use Power saving to make your battery last longer without charging. Choose Standard for moderate savings and customizable limits, or choose Maximum to turn off all non-essential features and make your battery last as long as possible.

Accessibility

Easily control Bluetooth hearing aids

Access settings for your Bluetooth hearing aids directly from the Accessibility shortcut. A pop-up will appear that lets you change your hearing program, turn Ambient sound on or off, and more.

Control magnification with mouse or keyboard

Keep what you need magnified in view with these new options. You can make the magnified area follow the cursor as you type or move when you change focus using the keyboard. When using a mouse, you can make the magnified area shift as you move the pointer to the edge of the screen.

Dwell action and Corner actions

The Auto action after pointer stops feature has been divided into 2 features. Dwell action lets you set custom actions when your mouse stops moving for a certain amount of time. Corner actions let you set a different action for each corner of the screen.

Even more improvements

More customizable quick panel

Arrange your quick settings just the way you like them. You can now add, remove, reorder, and reorganize controls in the quick panel.

Early alerts for reminders

Get alerts before reminders are due to make sure you don’t forget important tasks. You can choose how far in advance to get an alert for each reminder.

Partial screen recording

Include only what you need in your screen recordings. You can now select only the part of the screen that you want to record.

Calculator nudges

Save time on calculations. Numbers and formulas copied to your clipboard will be suggested when you open Calculator so you can enter them with a quick tap.

Keep window sizes in DeX

DeX now remembers your app window sizes and positions. When you open an app again, it appears just as you left it.

Clock

Weather alarm backgrounds

Wake up to an alarm that gets you ready for the day’s weather. Your alarm screen can now show the current weather conditions as a background when it rings.

Time zone converter

Compare time zones at a glance. The new slider in the Clock app makes it easy to check the time difference between places around the world.

Samsung Health

Enhanced weekly reports

See a fuller picture of your health each week. Weekly reports now include data from your medication tracker and mindfulness sessions.

Upgraded Sharing Experience

Share your workouts your way. Mix and match your exercise stats with photos from your workout to create the perfect social media post.

Start meditations from your watch

Find calm right from your wrist. You can now start favorite or recommended meditations directly on your Galaxy Watch without picking up your phone.

Antioxidant measurements from your watch

Check your antioxidant levels anytime. Measure directly from your Galaxy Watch, even if it’s not connected to your phone. Works with Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Security and privacy

Theft protection

Keep your phone and data safe in case it is lost or stolen. Turn on Failed authentication lock to automatically lock the screen in case there are too many failed attempts to verify your identity using your fingerprints, PIN, pattern, or password. Identity check also protects even more settings before.

Turn off Auto blocker temporarily.

If you need to temporarily disable Auto blocker’s security protection, a new option lets you turn it on automatically 30 minutes later so you don’t forget.

Quick Share

Avoid unwanted sharing requests

You can now set Quick Share to only receive files from other devices signed in to your Samsung account or Google account.

Photo sharing suggestions

Share photos with the right people faster. When you share pictures that include friends or family, Quick Share can recognize who’s in them and suggest sharing directly with those people.

Home and Lock screens

Automatic Lock screen layout

Wallpapers with pictures of people or pets now fit perfectly every time. When you choose a photo for your Lock screen, the layout adjusts automatically so the clock and widgets don’t cover important parts of the picture.

More customizable clock fonts

Personalize your Lock screen clock. You can now adjust the thickness of more font styles to match your preferred look.

Weather

Enhanced weather widget

Quickly check upcoming precipitation in the Weather widget on your Home screen. The widget now shows a graph if precipitation is expected in the next few hours.

Pollen index

Check how much pollen is in the air to help manage your allergies. You can check pollen levels for trees, grass, and ragweed.

One UI 8.5 set to enhance Spotify and YouTube recommendations in Now Brief

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:21:00 +0000

What you need to know

Now Brief is a One UI feature that uses AI to power daily recommendations on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
One UI 8.5 could improve YouTube suggestions by tapping into your interests and video like history.
The update might also add Spotify recommendations based on the date, time, season, and holidays.

Samsung launched the Now Brief alongside One UI 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, and it's a hub for AI-powered recommendations. While it primarily works within the Samsung and Google ecosystems, it does have support for a few third-party services, like Spotify. The Now Brief also taps into YouTube for video recommendations to satisfy your video and audio needs. With the upcoming One UI 8.5 update, Now Brief might get even better at recommending Spotify and YouTube content.

Android Authority dug through the alleged APK leaks for the One UI 8.5 update, and uncovered code strings aimed at improving personalization for YouTube videos in Now Brief. The update will apparently add prompts that ask users if they want to share their YouTube data with Samsung to improve recommendations. It will then use their liked YouTube videos and interests to display video suggestions in the Now Brief.

Some examples might include videos based on your favorite sports team or a topic you frequently watch about on YouTube.

Liven up your afternoon with this playlist.Enjoy this birthday playlist.Start your week with this playlist.Get into the Friday mood with this playlist.Start the new year with this fresh playlist.Wind down before bed with this playlist.Enjoy this rainy day playlist.Your weekend soundtrack starts here.Enjoy this playlist for a snowy dayLook back on the songs you listened to this year with this playlist.

Additionally, Android Authority found references to Spotify recommendations. Based on the code strings uncovered below, Spotify will soon use the current time, date, and season to suggest playlist recommendations. If the strings are any indication, Spotify playlists related to your birthday or a holiday could show up in the Now Brief.

Liven up your afternoon with this playlist.Enjoy this birthday playlist.Start your week with this playlist.Get into the Friday mood with this playlist.Start the new year with this fresh playlist.Wind down before bed with this playlist.Enjoy this rainy day playlist.Your weekend soundtrack starts here.Enjoy this playlist for a snowy dayLook back on the songs you listened to this year with this playlist.

Quick Share and Contacts could be getting Now Brief upgrades, too. The report highlights a Now Brief feature that could suggest sharing photos with people whose faces are recognized in them, or for use as contact profile images.

All told, it looks like Now Brief is getting a pretty major upgrade with One UI 8.5, if these code strings pan out.

When might these changes arrive as part of One UI 8.5?

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

One UI 8.5 could be hitting early access testers soon, perhaps as early as this month. A recent leak predicted the One UI 8.5 beta program could launch in December. The rumored timeline might involve a launch with Beta 1 on Dec. 8, followed by Beta 2 on Dec. 22 and Beta 3 on Jan. 5.

It's unclear when the One UI 8.5 update might debut publicly, but with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series on the horizon, it'll likely arrive on or before the date of the event.

Samsung's code hints the Galaxy S26 could get a big wireless charging upgrade

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:47:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung may add new "Super fast wireless charging" to the Galaxy S26 series based on One UI 8.5 evidence.
Leaks suggest the S26 Ultra could reach 25W wireless charging, while S26 and S26 Plus may hit around 20W.
The upgrade could cut charging times by up to 40% but Samsung hasn't confirmed exact speeds yet.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is just a couple of months away, and a new leak suggests that "Super fast wireless charging" might finally be coming to the new flagship lineup.

A number of leaks about the Galaxy S26 series have already revealed plenty, including a new 3x telephoto lens, a refreshed Black color variant, and a slimmer, lighter design. A recent leak claimed Samsung might increase wired charging speeds to 60W, and now another leak hints that improved wireless charging speeds are also on the way.

As reported by Android Authority, the source code of the new One UI 8.5 build contains references to "Super fast wireless charging." Earlier, the source code only mentioned "Wireless charging" and "Fast wireless charging," which correspond to 5-10W and 15W wireless charging respectively. The new "Super fast wireless charging" label has never appeared before.

This suggests Samsung is preparing a major wireless charging upgrade for the Galaxy S26 series. There's no mention of exact speeds yet, but we expect "Super fast wireless charging" to fall somewhere in the 20-25W range.

A long overdue bump to Samsung's charging speeds

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung has been preparing for Qi2 support on the S26 series for a while. There's still no confirmation on whether the Galaxy S26 lineup will support Qi2 natively, but Samsung has been making moves in that direction.

The company launched new Qi2 wireless chargers in the U.S. earlier this year, while earlier leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra could support 25W wireless charging while the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus could reach 20W.

This upgrade would reportedly reduce charging times by up to 40%, but there's still no official confirmation from the brand. Details will likely arrive closer to launch or when Samsung officially unveils the series.

That said, even though these leaked speeds aren't "Super fast" compared to devices like the OnePlus 15 and other flagships, that support up to 50W wireless charging, it would still be a huge upgrade for Samsung's flagship lineup.

Galaxy S26 Ultra wallpapers leak ahead of launch

@wr3cckl3ss1 on X

In addition to the leak about Super fast wireless charging coming to the Galaxy S26 series, official wallpapers of the Galaxy S26 Ultra seem to have made their way online. The wallpapers were posted by leaker @wr3cckl3ss1 on X, and reputed Samsung leaker @UniverseIce also agrees that these are indeed Galaxy S26 series wallpapers.

The wallpapers don't reveal much apart from suggesting that the Galaxy S26 lineup might come in six colors, including Mint, Coral, Black, Violet, Silver, and Grey. These could be the colors Samsung uses for the Galaxy S26 series since the company usually matches the wallpaper colors to the device colors.

Adaptive Clock not working on One UI 8? Samsung says it has a fix

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:19:00 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 8 users have experienced issues with Adaptive Clock over the past few months, according to Reddit posts.
Adaptive Clock dynamically adjusts your lock screen clock settings based on your wallpaper.
Samsung says the fix for Adaptive Clock issues is to update the LockStar Good Lock app.

One UI 8 added a neat feature for Samsung phones that dynamically adjust the lock screen clock settings to fit your wallpaper. It's called Adaptive Clock, and manages font size, orientation, and location based on your lock screen wallpaper. However, users have reported for months that Adaptive Clock hasn't been working as expected, as documented by Reddit posts and comments. Now, Samsung is finally here with a simple fix that only requires updating an app (via SamMobile).

"We have confirmed that the Adaptive Clock (Stretch Clock) feature does not function properly on Galaxy devices running One UI 8 if the Good Lock LockStar app has not been updated to version 7.0.1.10," Samsung said in a community post (translated from Korean). "Update the Good Lock LockStar app to version 7.0.1.10 through the Galaxy Store."

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Good Lock is the home for various apps and modules that provide granular control over the One UI 8 software experience. One module is LockStar, and it manages the lock screen, and the Adaptive Clock feature by extension.

Samsung identified the Adaptive Clock issues as being caused by outdated LockStar Good Lock apps. Adaptive Clock works by identifying the subject of your wallpaper and adjusting your clock preferences accordingly. As long as users update to version 7.0.1.10 or higher, which released a few months ago, they'll be able to use Adaptive Clock as expected.

How to update the LockStar Good Lock module

To update LockStar, open the Galaxy Store and navigate to the hamburger menu. From there, tap the Updates tab and select LockStar, following the on-screen prompts to complete the update. If they're not already installed on your device, you may need to download Good Lock, and the Lock Star module, from the Galaxy Store.

Once you have LockStar version 7.0.1.10 or newer up and running, Adaptive Clock will work normally with supported wallpapers. Ideally, you should use wallpapers with easily-identifiable subjects for the highest rate of success.

Samsung's Adaptive Clock fix for One UI 8 comes as the company is reportedly prepping a One UI 8.5 beta program for December.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: An upgrade worth waiting for?

sharmarajat@zoho.com (Rajat Sharma) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:27:06 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

Everything you want

With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, you get a slightly refreshed design, the latest hardware from Qualcomm or Samsung, faster wireless charging, a laundry list of AI-based features, and more.

Pros

Better performance and thermal efficiency due to newer SoC
Plethora of AI-powered features and years of OS & security updates
Slightly faster wireless charging

Cons

Same dated camera hardware despite the higher price
Still no integrated magnets for proper Qi2 support

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Everything you need

Despite being a bit old, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus continues to be a balanced flagship that features a gorgeous yet tough design, reliable performance, superb battery endurance, and more.

Pros

Still powerful enough to handle demanding workflows
Incredible battery life, even with resource-intensive tasks
Likely to get significant discounts due to being a two-generation old model

Cons

In-hand feel isn't exactly the best
Camera struggles to capture moving objects

Samsung's top-of-the-line smartphones generally hold up quite well over time, and the Galaxy S24 Plus is no different. Even though it was launched in 2024, the middle member of the Galaxy S24 series remains a stellar option for anyone who wants a fully loaded device that checks all the right boxes.

While that's great, the newest Galaxy S26 line-up has finally been unveiled, which means that the Galaxy S26 Plus is here. As expected, the latest mid-level flagship from Samsung packs a few upgrades that'll entice many prospective consumers, particularly those who've been thinking of upgrading from a previous-generation model.

But, in a world where annual device launches no longer matter as much as they once used to, does the freshest South Korean flagship live up to the hype? Let's see how the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus compare and find out!

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Design, display, and hardware

While Samsung's top-tier smartphones have had a consistent visual identity over the last few generations, things are finally changing with the Galaxy S26 series, as the newest trio comes with minor cosmetic updates instead of being a dull copy-and-paste job from the last year(s).

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

It appears the rumored CAD renders (via OnLeaks / Android Headlines) were on point, since the Galaxy S26 Plus (and the Galaxy S26) now feature their triple-lens rear camera systems stacked vertically inside a pill-shaped island, as opposed to the lenses being directly on the back panel like they are with the Galaxy 24 (and the Galaxy S25) devices. The same design update goes for the Galaxy S26 Ultra as well, although its fourth camera lens and laser AF module are still placed directly on the rear panel next to the island.

The visual refresh seems inspired by the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy S25 Edge, both of which have similar primary camera setups.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Flip over to the business end, and you're unlikely to find any changes. The Galaxy S26 Plus features a 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel with razor-thin bezels, super-high resolution, and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It's the same screen that you'd find on the Galaxy S24 Plus, with vibrant colors and good brightness levels. However, with phones like the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 having displays that can go up to a 165Hz, we can't help but feel Samsung could've done a bit better. You still get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection against scuffs and scratches, so that is a good thing.

Other than that, the Galaxy S26 Plus retains the boxy construction of the Galaxy S24 Plus (and the Galaxy S25 Plus), complete with flat aluminum side rails and an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance.

Specifications
Category	Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus	Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
Dimensions	158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 in)	158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.99 x 0.30 in)
Durability & Case Material(s)	IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front and back), Aluminum frame	IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front and back), Aluminum frame
Weight	190 g	196 g
Display	6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1440x3120 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate	6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1440x3120 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate
Chipset / SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) or Samsung Exynos 2600	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM	12GB	12GB
Storage	256GB/512GB	256GB/512GB
Sensors	Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Compass, and Barometer	Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Compass, and Barometer
Wireless Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), Bluetooth 6.0, GPS, NFC, UWB, and USB-C 3.2 (with DisplayPort)	Wi-Fi 6e, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, UWB, and USB-C 3.2 (with DisplayPort)
Other Features	Samsung DeX (wired & wireless), Galaxy AI	Samsung DeX (wired & wireless), Galaxy AI
Battery & Charging	4,900mAh (Li-Ion), 45W (wired) and 20W (wireless) charging, No Qi2 Support	4,900mAh (Li-Ion), 45W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging, No Qi2 Support
Cameras (Rear)	50MP wide-angle, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), 12MP ultrawide \| 8K video recording	50MP wide-angle, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), 12MP ultrawide \| 8K video recording
Camera (Front)	12MP wide-angle \| 4K video recording	12MP wide-angle \| 4K video recording
OS & Update Policy	Android 16 with One UI 8.5 (preinstalled), seven years of OS and security updates	Android 14 with One UI 6.1 (preinstalled), seven years of OS and security updates

The Galaxy S24 Plus is driven by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which was Qualcomm's top-tier SoC back in 2024. Add to that 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB of internal storage, and it shouldn't be any surprise that Android Central's Derrek Lee came away impressed with the smartphone's performance (both general and gaming) when he reviewed it. As a matter of fact, this hardware still makes the Galaxy S24 Plus capable of going against some of the best Android phones out there.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Now, the Galaxy S26 Plus comes with the same 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB of internal storage. However, in the typical S-series fashion, the newest smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's latest top-of-the-line chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. In selected markets around the world, the Galaxy S26 Plus will be available with the Exynos 2600, Samsung's own newest flagship silicon.

Although we can't say anything about the smartphone's real-world performance until we test it out, it stands to reason that the Galaxy S26 Plus will perform better in comparison to the Galaxy S24 Plus, especially when it comes to resource-heavy workflows like on-device AI processing. However, you're unlikely to notice a huge difference as far as everyday tasks like gaming, web browsing, and streaming are concerned.

The Galaxy S26 Plus comes with all the modern connectivity and I/O options (e.g., Wired/Wireless DeX, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.2) that the Galaxy S24 Plus also has, albeit with some incremental enhancements here and there.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Cameras, software, and battery

The Galaxy S24 Plus features a triple-lens primary camera system having a 50MP primary sensor, a 10MP telephoto module (capable of 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP wide-angle unit. As you'd expect, 8K video recording and optical image stabilization are also included. It's a versatile setup that works quite well, with photos from all three lenses having plenty of resolved detail and incredible color reproduction. However, this hardware has also gotten a little long in the tooth at this point, having remained the same since the Galaxy S22 Plus.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Sadly, Samsung seems to think otherwise, as the company has reused the same camera array on the Galaxy S26 Plus, yet again. While that's a little disappointing, improved processing should result in better photos and videos in comparison to what you get from the Galaxy S24 Plus, thus helping to make Samsung's newest Plus-sized model one of the best Android camera phones on the market. Even so, the older model still has it all to be your only all-purpose camera for everyday use.

Coming to software, the Galaxy S26 Plus (along with its siblings) runs One UI 8.5, the freshest version of its custom UI overlay, out of the box. Based on Android 16, the software has been out for a while and continues to get better, with the latest builds introducing Bixby updates and many other goodies. Apart from that, you can also expect improvements to Samsung's Galaxy AI suite, more customization options, and several other enhancements over time.

It goes without saying that most (if not all) of these features will be available for the Galaxy S24 Plus and other eligible devices in due course of time, all thanks to Samsung's industry-leading software support.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The Galaxy S24 Plus comes with a 4,900mAh battery that can effortlessly go a full day with moderate to heavy use. While some of the best budget Android phones do offer multi-day battery life, they also have less taxing hardware. The Galaxy S25 Plus managed to have an incredible endurance with the same exact battery size, and perhaps that's why Samsung decided to fit the new Galaxy S26 Plus with the same powerpack. We're expecting the phone to be able to last (at least) a full day, since the hardware is more power-efficient this time around. However, there's still no support for silicon-carbon tech, as Samsung refuses to get with the times and trails behind Chinese brands in adopting the new technology.

While the wired charging speed remains the same (45W) on both smartphones, you get slightly faster wireless charging on the Galaxy S26 Plus (20W) compared to the Galaxy S24 Plus (15W). As lackluster this "upgrade" is, perhaps what's even more disappointing is the lack of any integrated magnets for native Qi2 support. If you want that functionality, your only option is to get a magnetic case or go for an alternative flagship like the Google Pixel 10 Pro, which does support magnetic charging and a whole ecosystem of accessories.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs. Galaxy S24 Plus: Which should you go for?

Smartphones have matured to a level where buying the newest thing every year no longer makes any sense, and the Galaxy S26 Plus goes on to prove that. While it's true that it has a few upgrades (e.g., latest hardware, slightly quicker wireless charging), it's a still a rather incremental improvement over the Galaxy S24 Plus, a flagship that remains relevant despite being two years old at this point. You also have to consider the fact that the Galaxy S26 Plus has a starting price of $1,099.99 and will cost you quite a bit, even if you take advantage of pre-order deals. So, the question is, should you upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Plus from the Galaxy S24 Plus?

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Our suggestion is simple! If you absolutely need things like slightly faster wireless charging, better hardware, and perhaps most importantly, can get a good trade-in discount towards your Galaxy S24 Plus, by all means, go ahead and upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Plus. You'll be getting a feature-laden smartphone that'll last you for years to come.

Conversely, if you're not obsessed with having the newest thing out there, don't care much about incremental overhauls, and your Galaxy S24 Plus already does everything that you need it to do, upgrading to the Galaxy S26 Plus just for the sake of it makes no sense. Hold on to the phone that you already have, as it's still going to be supported for a very long time. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S26 Plus is not that much of an improvement over the Galaxy S25 Plus either, so you can go for that last-gen model if you really must upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

Latest and greatest

If you want a feature-laden smartphone and don't mind paying the extra cash, it might make sense buying the Galaxy S26 Plus. It packs top-of-the-line hardware, a refined design, better battery life, faster wireless charging, and more.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Old yet gold

It may be two generations old at this point, but the Galaxy S24 Plus still has got it all. It packs premium hardware, thoughtful software backed by years of software support, a reliable triple-lens camera system, and incredible battery life.

Samsung's latest Good Lock update fixes Back Tap unreliability

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 20:05:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is rolling out an update for its Good Lock module RegiStar.
The small update includes fixes for three bugs affecting Gemini and Back Tap.
It improves Back Tap reliability and addresses an issue that caused it to fail when in power saving mode.

Samsung is updating the RegiStar module for the Good Lock app, which adds customization features to Galaxy phones, with a few handy bug fixes. The update is rolling out now on the Samsung Galaxy Store with version 1.0.67, as first spotted by SamMobile. It brings a fix for a Gemini app bug on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phones and two fixes related to Back Tap on all Galaxy phones.

The first element of the patch addresses a problem related to launching the Gemini app on the cover screen of a Galaxy Z Flip device. With the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and One UI 8, Samsung brought full support for the Gemini app on the cover screen of its clamshell foldables.

Additionally, the app update's release notes reveal Samsung applied a "Back Tap stability patch" to the RegiStar module. This should improve the success rate of Back Tap, a tool that allows users to open apps and access features by simply tapping the back of their Galaxy S or Galaxy Z device.

Separately, the RegiStar module update rolls out a fix for a "function error in power saving mode" for Back Tap. While the patch seems to exclusively include bug fixes with no new features, it's worth installing the RegiStar update, especially if you've been dealing with these issues.

What can you do with Good Lock's RegiStar?

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

For those unfamiliar, Good Lock is the home for custom software features aimed at power users trying to get the most out of their Galaxy phones. There are 20 specialized modules within Good Lock, including RegiStar, which was recently updated. Here's everything you can do with RegiStar, according to the app's Galaxy Store listing:

Re-configure menu of Settings home screen
Change order, hide, manage groups
Set method of displaying Samsung account on the Settings home screen
Search settings change history, change notification settings
Activate features by tapping the back of the device (Galaxy S/ Flip only)
Run features by long-pressing the side key
Run features by pressing the screen strongly (Fold 4 only)

You can download Good Lock and RegiStar from the Galaxy Store app. That's also where you'll find the latest RegiStar update if you already have the module installed. Open the Galaxy Store app, press the hamburger menu, and then press Updates to find and apply it.

Time to update: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Flip 6 get October 2025 patch as the month comes to an end

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:16:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is rolling out the October 2025 security patch to Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 users in Europe.
The update includes 34 fixes to security vulnerabilities issued by Samsung and Google.
The late rollout of the October 2025 patch is likely related to Samsung's efforts making One UI 8 available to older devices.

Samsung's October 2025 security update includes 34 important fixes, but the rollout has been slower than usual. The company has had its hands full with seeding One UI 8 to older Galaxy phones, a process that was paused and resumed in October. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are finally receiving the October 2025 security patch as of Oct. 31, 2025.

The update is rolling out to Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 owners in Europe, with more regions set to follow. The build number is F741BXXS2CYJ1 for the Flip 6 and F956BXXS2CYJ1 for the Fold 6, according to SamMobile. The update size for both devices should be fairly small since each phone received the bigger boost to One UI 8 previously.

The patch comes with 14 fixes for security vulnerabilities included in the Android Security Bulletin, all of which are of a "high" severity level. Samsung adds 20 patches of its own that are specific to Galaxy devices, and they all have either "high" or "moderate" severity levels. As the fixes aren't available for everyone yet, we don't have details for every security vulnerability addressed in the October 2025 update.

Samsung rolled out the patch for its newer foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, earlier in October. The security update has also already made its way to the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, and Galaxy S22 series. Although the month already came and went, the October 2025 security update is now becoming widely available for a variety of Samsung Galaxy models.

How to check if the October 2025 patch is available

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

You can check for an update on your Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Galaxy Z Fold 6 by opening the Settings app and tapping the Software update tab. After that, press Download and install and Install now to get the October 2025 patch when it is available. You'll want to do so quickly to ensure your Galaxy phone is protected from emerging security threats.

Up next for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the One UI 8.5 update, which is rumored to shake up the software experience with new looks and features.

One UI 8.5 tipped to borrow Liquid Glass elements after this Quick Settings change

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:07:00 +0000

What you need to know

The latest reports state that Samsung has updated its One UI 8.5 builds with a subtle change for its Quick Settings menu design.
Tipsters claim that the update brings better separation between its icon toggles and the blurred aesthetic, reminiscent of Apple's Liquid Glass.
A One UI 8.5 beta program was previously speculated for November; however, recent reports say that timeline is now "unlikely."

Samsung's continued efforts at working through One UI 8.5 have been reported, and it seems that the OS is taking a little inspiration from the competition.

Just like before, X tipster Tarun Vats on X dug through the recent updates to Samsung's One UI 8.5 and discovered a familiar change to the Quick Settings (via Android Authority). According to Vats, Samsung has pushed an update for its internal test that supposedly makes the Quick Settings menu icons "pop." Samsung has included a soft, black border around the menu's icons that only serves to bring them off the screen a little bit.

While Samsung's current One UI 8 Quick Settings (and UI in general) is quite clean, one could make the argument that it doesn't pop. It assumes that blurred, clean aesthetic across its entirety, but this small update tries to breathe separation into the equation.

From what Vats discovered, the pop is just for the toggleable icons, as the containers for the icons are still blurred. Even the sliders remain pretty much the same as what we currently have with v8.0. All in all, the small change gives us Apple Liquid Glass vibes, just with how one little change provides that pop of separation.

Still on the outside looking in

Exclusive 🔥One UI 8.5 YJO now adds outline design to toggles in the Quick Panel 👀✨A small change — but it makes the whole panel look cleaner and more polished! pic.twitter.com/yJwjr1UXWpOctober 30, 2025

It might hurt being on the outside looking in, but it looks like that might be the case for a while, as reports claim Samsung had to delay its One UI 8.5 beta. Original rumors said we might see a beta program kickoff in November, but things have changed, as tipsters now claim that's "unlikely." Nothing's for certain now as to why the company pushed it back, but there's some speculation that it could have to do with its uncertain Galaxy S26 series lineup.

Specifically, recent reports claim that Samsung has dropped its Galaxy S26 Edge in favor of returning the S26 Plus to the equation next year. There are also rumors that the S26 series could launch later next year, maybe as late as March.

Other reports speculate that Samsung could be moving into a world where it matches Google's update cadence and bring Android to its Galaxy users faster. A few firmware leaks suggest Samsung could shift into quarterly Android updates for Galaxy phones, marking a distinct change, as it typically forgoes such patches.

The end of an era: After five years, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE reaches its final stop with the October 2025 security patch, urging owners to upgrade

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:53:00 +0000

What you need to know

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE recently received the October 2025 security update, which could be its last.
The Galaxy S20 FE turned five years old this month, and Samsung has fulfilled its five-year security patch promise.
Samsung still lists the Galaxy S20 FE as being supported by quarterly patches, but it will likely be dropped soon.

Samsung and Google are now known for delivering industry-leading software support for their smartphones, regardless of their price point. Modern models are supported for seven years with Android OS upgrades and security patches, giving buyers peace of mind. Their device will likely remain supported longer than they'll continue to use it, but Samsung's software support wasn't always this way.

Samsung's software support window was much shorter, especially for budget and midrange devices, not too long ago. As such, some fairly recent phones are running out of time, including the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. It released in 2020, and just turned five years old this month. That means Samsung fulfilled its initial promise of five years of security updates for the Galaxy S20 FE (via SamMobile).

The Galaxy S20 FE recently received the October 2025 security patch, but it's likely this month's update will be its final one. Currently, the Galaxy S20 FE is still named on Samsung's security update support list as receiving quarterly patches. Now that the smartphone is over five years old, it's due for removal soon.

While the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is currently up-to-date, it'll become more vulnerable to security issues over time without active patches. Owners of the Galaxy S20 FE should probably start looking to upgrade now that active support is nearing the end.

Samsung's latest Galaxy S25 FE will last into 2032

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Software support is quickly coming to an end for "Fan Edition" phones released earlier in this decade. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is about to lose security support, whereas the newer Galaxy S21 FE just received its last major OS upgrade with One UI 8.

The future is brighter with more recent models, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. It supports seven years of Android OS upgrades and security patches, meaning it can handle being your daily driver well into the 2030s.

Will my Galaxy S20 FE stop working immediately after this final update?

No, your Galaxy S20 FE will continue to function normally. However, without future security patches, the phone will become increasingly vulnerable to new security threats, exploits, and bugs that may be discovered after October 2025.

Samsung reportedly delays One UI 8.5 beta rollout amid Galaxy S26 lineup changes

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:44:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung's One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series is likely delayed due to Galaxy S26 lineup changes.
The One UI 8.5 update will bring AI notifications, new Quick Settings, and improved lock screen customization.
The delay stems from Samsung scrapping plans to replace the Galaxy S26 Plus with the S26 Edge model.

Samsung was rumored to roll out the first One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series in November, but it now appears that the beta program will be delayed due to changes in the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup.

Samsung has been aggressively testing One UI 8.5 internally for weeks. Recent leaks have revealed some of the features coming to Galaxy smartphones, including AI notifications, a fully customizable Quick Settings panel, upgrades to Modes and Routines, new lock screen options, and more.

The company was previously expected to kick off the public beta program for the Galaxy S25 series in the second half of November. However, that no longer seems to be the case.

Reliable Samsung leaker Tarun Vats shared on X that the One UI 8.5 beta program is being pushed back. While Vats didn't specify an exact date for the new rollout, he mentioned that a November release "seems unlikely now."

One UI 8.5 beta rollout might face a short delay

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

The reason for the delay is reportedly tied to recent changes in the Galaxy S26 lineup. Samsung was rumored to revamp the lineup by rebranding the base Galaxy S26 as the Galaxy S26 Pro and replacing the Galaxy S26 Plus with a slimmer Galaxy S26 Edge — the supposed successor to the Galaxy S25 Edge. The Galaxy S26 Ultra would have remained the same, leaving three models instead of four.

However, earlier this month, reports confirmed that Samsung scrapped plans to replace the Galaxy S26 Plus with the Edge variant due to weak demand for the Galaxy S25 Edge. And now, restarting development of the Galaxy S26 Plus just months before launch seems to have affected the company's schedule, which in turn seems to have delayed the One UI 8.5 beta as well.

Samsung had regained momentum lost during One UI 7's slow rollout with the timely release of One UI 8 across several Galaxy devices, but this new roadblock could impact the rollout of One UI 8.5.

It's still not confirmed whether the beta will be delayed, so there's some hope. But if history is any indication, the delay seems likely. We'll keep an eye on the situation and update you as soon as the beta arrives.

Samsung's latest One UI 8.5 beta gives us our first look at AI notification features

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:19:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is internally testing One UI 8.5, expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S26 series.
The new One UI 8.5 build adds AI-powered notification summaries for English and Korean messages.
A new priority notifications feature helps display important alerts at the top of the panel.
Samsung has reduced the 3D effect from icons, and a public beta release is expected soon.

While it's only been about a month since Samsung began rolling out the stable One UI 8 update, the company has been aggressively testing the next version, One UI 8.5, likely set to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series. Samsung now appears to have released another internal build of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25, introducing some new features we're seeing for the first time.

According to reliable Samsung leaker Tarun Vats, the company has started internal testing for One UI 8.5. The new version carries the build number "YJH" and includes the October 2025 patch. The update is reportedly around 2GB in size, and while it remains only for internal testing, tipster Max Jambor gained access to it, revealing several features planned for the next major update.

Samsung has long been working on an AI-based notification summaries feature for One UI. The feature, as the name suggests, would allow users to summarize "long messages" and show a brief preview in the notification panel. As spotted by a user on X, the new One UI 8.5 build now adds this option in the settings menu.

AI summaries and priority alerts spotted in One UI 8.5

(Image credit: Max Jambor)

The settings text reads, "Show a short summary for conversational notifications in English and Korean." It seems the feature will initially support only these two languages and work for conversation-related notifications. As per the text in the Settings, users will also be able to choose which apps show summarized notifications in app's settings.

The new One UI 8.5 build also adds a priority notifications feature, which places important alerts at the top so you don't miss them. Similar to AI-base notification summaries, you will be able to set priorities within app notification settings.

Additionally, Tarun Vats revealed that the latest One UI 8.5 version has reduced or nearly removed the 3D look from icons.

Samsung hasn't yet begun public testing for One UI 8.5, but a beta release is expected soon. We'll keep you updated once Samsung rolls out the first beta build to the public.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 finally get a crucial October 2025 security patch

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:09:23 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is seeding the October 2025 security update for Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 devices.
The security patch includes 34 total fixes for vulnerabilities with "high" and "moderate" severity levels.
The update is starting to roll out in Korea and is expected to hit other regions soon.

Samsung foldables are starting to receive the October 2025 security update in Korea, and the crucial patch is expected to reach users in other regions soon. The One UI 8-based security update is arriving for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 behind schedule, but brings a slew of high-level security updates. There are a total of 34 security vulnerabilities addressed in this update, so Samsung foldable owners should install it as soon as possible.

The October 2025 security update includes 14 patches from Google's Android Security Bulletin with a "high" severity level. Additionally, the patch includes fixes for 20 more security vulnerabilities specific to Samsung devices. These vulnerabilities have either "high" or "moderate" severity levels, and some fixes aren't being disclosed publicly yet.

As such, you should update your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Galaxy Z Flip 7 as soon as possible to ensure your device is protected.

Galaxy Z Fold7 gets October update in KoreaBuild: F966NKSS5AYJ3/F966NOKR5AYJ3/F966NKSS5AYI5 pic.twitter.com/qfC8s6VrPhOctober 23, 2025

The rollout was first spotted buy Tarun Vats on X (formerly Twitter), and confirmed on Samsung's community forums in Korea. The October 2025 patch comes with a file size of roughly 535MB for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with a firmware version of F966NKSS5AYJ3. The update for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is slightly smaller, coming in at around 431MB, and carries a firmware version of F766NKSS5AYJ3.

While the update is only confirmed for users in Korea at the moment, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 users should start seeing the patch globally in the coming days.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series got the October 2025 patch earlier

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The October 2025 security update is hitting Samsung foldables later in the month than usual, as the patch's rollout began Thursday, Oct. 23. The patch first arrived for the Galaxy S25 series earlier this month as the first to arrive on One UI 8.

Samsung users can update their phones by opening the Settings app on their Galaxy device and tapping the Software update tab. From there, they'll need to press Download and install and Install now to get the October 2025 patch when it is available.

One UI 8.5 could give you a fancy lock screen effect when you switch songs

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 10:58:00 +0000

What you need to know

An alleged One UI 8.5 clip shows that Samsung could bring a revamped lock screen animation effect for its media player when listening to music.
Users could find the song's album cover centered on their lock screen, with song details underneath, when using their media controls.
Previous rumors claim Samsung is working a Call Screen feature like Google's Pixels, and that a beta could happen in late November.

Samsung is steadily progressing with its next One UI update, and it looks like its lock screen is in for a new musical look.

Overnight, social media tipster Tarun Vats posted a short video on X, showcasing a supposed update to the media player widget on Samsung's One UI 8.5 lock screen (via Android Authority). According to Vats, Samsung is preparing to roll out a "new album art transition effect" on your lock screen when tapping the "skip" button.

In the video, the media player's widget at the bottom looks relatively the same as it is currently in One UI 8. However, what hogs the spotlight is a rather large area reserved for the song's album cover.

Instead of detailing what song and artist are playing in the media control widget, the cover takes care of that. The album art sits prominently in the center of the lock screen, and beneath that are your core details: song title, artist, and/or featured artists. When switching songs, the album art will change accordingly, though there is a small delay between the user's interaction and the software recognizing the change.

The transition effect is quite refined, as new album covers emerge from the remains of the other. In the clip, Vats is using their Spotify songs to get this to work. It's not clear how far Samsung's support will go if this makes it to One UI 8.5's live launch. But perhaps we can expect support for YouTube Music, Pandora, and more, too.

Samsung's putting in the work

One UI 8.5: New feature 👀Media player now adds a new album art transition effect 🎶 pic.twitter.com/OsNCzccPUNOctober 17, 2025

Older rumors have speculated that One UI 8.5 could hold even more advancements for Samsung's software over a smaller 0.1 version patch. This seems to be the case, as a recent report claims Samsung is working on a Pixel-like calling feature for Galaxy phones. Rumors say the company is looking to develop a Call Screen feature that uses AI to run its major processes. Such processes include call transcription, spam filtering for unknown callers/spam calls, and automatic answering.

It was suggested that users could have varying "screening levels." If at the highest, your device would act as more of a defensive bastion, blocking out most things. If lighter, then there's more leeway.

All we have are these little tidbits, as Samsung's testing things internally on its servers; however, eager Galaxy users could get their chance, too. Some theorize that Samsung could launch a beta program for One UI 8.5 sometime this fall, in late November.

One UI 8 Watch with Wear OS 6 is now rolling out to the Galaxy Watch 7

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:31:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has started rolling out One UI 8 Watch based on Wear OS 6 to the Galaxy Watch 7.
The 2GB update includes the September 2025 security patch and build number BYI4.
The update is currently live in Korea, with a wider global release expected soon.

After a long wait, Samsung has finally started rolling out One UI 8 Watch, based on the latest Wear OS 6, to the Galaxy Watch 7.

Samsung has been on a streak of updates recently. The company rolled out One UI 8, based on Android 16, to its flagship smartphones — even those released in 2022 — and now it's updating the Galaxy Watch 7 to the newest Wear OS version as well.

This rollout comes just days after Google began pushing Wear OS 6 to the Pixel Watch 3 and earlier models, which may have prompted Samsung to follow suit. The One UI 8 for Watch update for the Galaxy Watch 7 carries the build number BYI4 and is about 2GB in size. It also includes the September 2025 security patch.

For now, the update is only live in South Korea (via Tarun Vats on X). Samsung hasn't announced when it will expand to other regions like the U.S. or Europe, but based on previous rollout patterns and over two months of beta testing with no major bugs reported, the global release should arrive soon.

If you want to manually check for the update on your smartwatch, go to Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install.

One UI 8 Watch update starts rolling out in Korea first

(Image credit: Ara Wagoner / Android Central)

As for what's new, Samsung has added several health-focused features to the Galaxy Watch 7, including Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach, and Vascular Load tracking.

The Bedtime Guidance feature in the update analyzes your sleep pressure and circadian rhythm to suggest an ideal bedtime. Meanwhile, Vascular Load monitors the strain on your circulatory system during both rest and activity and will offer insights and recommendations to help improve your heart health.

The update also introduces the Now Bar that brings live activities to the smartwatch, as well as a new charging notification view. There are other features as well, like an improved notifications interface, updated app icons, and new double-pinch gestures for even more actions.

Samsung could make switching your eSIM from iPhone to Galaxy much easier

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:01:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is reportedly developing a tool to make eSIM transfers from iPhones to Galaxy phones easier.
The new One UI 8.5 feature will let users move eSIMs from iPhones without contacting their carrier.
The tool is expected to support major U.S. carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile at launch.

A new leak suggests that Samsung is developing a tool that could make transferring eSIMs from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone much easier.

As much as we may resist it, we're clearly heading toward a future where eSIMs will be more common than physical SIM cards. Google has already switched to eSIM-only Pixel 10 models in the U.S., and it looks like Samsung could be preparing to do the same with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.

While Apple and Google have made efforts to simplify eSIM transfers between their platforms with iOS 26 and Android 16, moving an eSIM from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy device in the U.S. still requires you to contact your carrier. According to a new report from Android Authority, Samsung is now working on a tool that will remove that hassle entirely.

The report claims that Samsung is developing a feature for One UI 8.5 that will let users transfer eSIMs from an iPhone to a Galaxy phone without involving their carrier. A screenshot shared by the publication shows that the current "Transfer SIM from another device" setup option will soon be split into two choices: Transfer SIM from Galaxy/Android and Transfer SIM from iPhone.

The eSIM transfer tool could launch with One UI 8.5

eSIM transfer in One UI 8 (left) vs One UI 8.5 (right) (Image credit: Android Authority)

Selecting the second option should, as the name suggests, directly allow users to move their eSIM from an iPhone to a Samsung device. As the report points out, the existing iOS-to-Pixel eSIM transfer tool currently supports three major U.S. carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — and the publication expects Samsung's version to support the same networks at launch.

Samsung hasn't started beta testing One UI 8.5 yet, but it's already shaping up to be a major update for Galaxy devices. The update could bring features like automatic call screening similar to Pixel phones, as well as AI-generated notification summaries.

The company is expected to kick off the One UI 8.5 beta program next month, with a stable rollout likely to coincide with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series next year.

You may see a One UI 8.5 beta program for Samsung Galaxy late this fall

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:05:00 +0000

What you need to know

A report claims that Samsung is preparing to roll out a One UI 8.5 beta program for its Galaxy users late this fall in November.
It's unclear from the rumor if Samsung will begin the test at the same time for everyone, but there's a chance regions like the U.S. and Europe could see it sometime after South Korea.
Earlier One UI 8.5 rumors questioned whether or not Samsung would consider a beta for this 0.5 OS, and it seems there's a chance.

The One UI 8.5 rumors aren't stopping, and it seems there's major speculation going around about a potential beta.

Recent rumors from SamMobile claim Samsung is continuing down an atypical route with One UI, as it could seek a One UI 8.5 beta program. According to the publication, Samsung is supposedly preparing to launch a beta period for its 8.5 OS software later this year. Rumors suggest that this beta program could start arriving for Galaxy phones late next month, on the week of November 24.

It's unclear if this beta program will begin for users in the U.S., Europe, and other regions, as it likely would (if true) for South Korea. If anything, other regions would see a gradual rollout at the end of November, rolling over into December.

It's suspected that Samsung's current wave of devices with One UI 8 will see this One UI 8.5 beta. However, it's still unclear just how wide a net (and how quickly) Samsung would do such a thing if that's where it's headed.

Users might get their wish

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

What's more interesting about this rumor is that tipsters speculated about the possibility of a One UI 8.5 beta back in September. It was during that time that tipsters had allegedly found Samsung's early test build for One UI 8.5 on its internal test servers. The company was reportedly testing the software using its Galaxy S25 series, though One UI 8.5 isn't expected to roll out until the Galaxy S26 launches.

The root of the matter is that there was very little to unpack, as the software had only just appeared. However, users questioned the potential for a beta, and there was nothing concrete about it, until now—allegedly.

Speculation claims this 8.5 OS version could pack a serious punch regarding features and new elements to unravel, rather than a simple "8.1" update. These rumors have continued, as a more recent report claims Samsung is working on a Call Screening feature, similar to Google's Pixel. This is AI-fueled, and could automatically "answer, transcribe, and filter spam or unknown calls for users." There was another report that purported Samsung was also beginning testing for a Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, too.

One UI 8.5 may give Samsung phones the Pixel's best calling feature

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:41:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is testing One UI 8.5, expected to launch with the Galaxy S26 series, bringing new smart features.
The update could finally introduce Pixel's popular automatic Call Screen feature to Galaxy smartphones.
With this feature, AI will automatically answer, transcribe, and filter spam or unknown calls for users.
Users can control how the feature works, with multiple screening levels and language options available.

Samsung has just started rolling out One UI 8, based on Android 16, for its devices. However, the company is already testing the next major software update, One UI 8.5, which is expected to debut with the Galaxy S26 series. A new leak now suggests that Samsung might finally bring one of Google Pixel's best calling features to Galaxy phones.

Google's Pixel smartphones have had Call Screen since 2018. The feature uses Google Assistant to answer calls from unknown or suspicious numbers, transcribe them in real time, and let users decide whether to pick up. The feature even made its way to iPhones earlier this year with iOS 26, and now it seems Samsung is preparing to introduce something similar with One UI 8.5.

According to a report from Android Authority, Samsung is developing an automatic call screening system for Galaxy phones. While Samsung devices have offered call screening before, it required manual input from users.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung appears to be adding a fully automated version that functions like Pixel's Call Screen, allowing the phone to answer and filter calls on the user's behalf without any manual interaction.

Samsung is testing automatic call screening in One UI 8.5

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The report also notes that Samsung will give users control over how the feature behaves. User will reportedly be able to choose from several screening levels, including scanning all calls, unknown numbers, spam and scam calls, international numbers, or only hidden caller IDs.

So far, the automatic call screening feature has only been spotted in the Korean build of One UI 8.5, but it's likely that Samsung is working on expanding it to English and other languages before launch. After all, the company still has plenty of time to refine the feature ahead of next year's rumored rollout.

Additionally, Samsung will reportedly allow users to activate automatic call screening while Do Not Disturb is enabled, and to select a preferred language for call handling.

That said, it's great to see Samsung adopting one of the most useful features from Google's Pixel lineup. Soon, more flagship Android users will be able to enjoy the convenience of letting their phones handle unwanted calls automatically.

Samsung's 2022 flagship just got Android 16 before many 2025 phones

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:36:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 8 update, based on Android 16, for the Galaxy S22 series.
The update is live in Europe and other regions, carrying build number GYI7 and a September 2025 patch.
One UI 8 is the final major Android update for the Galaxy S22 lineup, delivering Samsung's four-year promise.
The update adds select Galaxy AI tools like Call Captions, but skips features such as Now Brief and Writing Assistants.

Unlike One UI 7, which was based on Android 15 and rolled out slowly for most Galaxy flagship devices, Samsung has been much more proactive with Android 16. Now, another older Galaxy series is joining the party, as Samsung has started rolling out One UI 8 for the Galaxy S22 series.

As first spotted by Tarun Vats on X, Samsung has begun the One UI 8 rollout for Galaxy S22 series phones in Europe. However, based on replies to Vats' post, users in other regions, including the Middle East and Asia, have also started receiving the update. There's no confirmation yet on whether the update has reached the U.S. market.

The One UI 8 firmware for the Galaxy S22 series carries the build number GYI7 and weighs around 3.1GB. Interestingly, the update includes the September 2025 security patch instead of October's, but thankfully, it is still based on Android 16.

Samsung rolls out Android 16 for Galaxy S22 series

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

With this, Samsung has actually beaten brands like OnePlus and other Android OEMs to release Android 16 for its older flagships before many have even updated their latest models. For reference, OnePlus is set to announce its Android 16 update on October 16, 2025.

As for the Galaxy S22 series, One UI 8 marks its final major Android update. Samsung had promised four years of major OS upgrades for the 2022 flagship lineup, and with this release, the company has delivered on that commitment.

Samsung is already testing One UI 8.5, but there's no word yet on whether the S22 series will receive it. One UI 8, on the other hand, does bring some Galaxy AI features to the S22 series, including Call Captions and improved portrait generation, though it misses out on other AI features like Now Brief and Drawing and Writing Assistants.

If you haven't received the update yet on your Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, or Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can check manually by going to Settings > Software Update > Download and install and tapping Check for update.

News Weekly: OnePlus 15's first look, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 arrives, Google Search gets a huge boost, and more

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:32:00 +0000

News Weekly

(Image credit: Future)

News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, the OnePlus 15 gets its spotlight, Qualcomm's AI-focused Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 launches, One UI 8.5 leak brings the next Galaxy Buds Pro news, Pixel Watch users get the M3 Expressive update, and Google Search gets a new "Live" feature. Let's dive in!

OnePlus 15's square camera bump is the real deal

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Read more here

Nope, you didn't miss the OnePlus 14, cos there isn't going to be one. The company showcased the OnePlus 15 on stage at Qualcomm's Summit in Hawaii this week, and went straight to the 15, likely due to cultural reasons. The company also confirmed that the OnePlus 15 will be one of the first phones to feature Qualcomm's latest and powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile chipset.

“With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 at its core, OnePlus 15 carries that legacy forward—delivering the speed, intelligence, and efficiency our users demand today and into the future,” said Pete Lau, founder of OnePlus.

Furthermore, OnePlus also confirmed the massive redesign of its new device, giving us a clear look at its rear panel, which seems to have moved away from its traditional circular camera array on the rear panel for a vertical pill-shaped setup showcasing three lenses, also in line with previous leaks.

That said, the OnePlus 15 could indeed launch in the U.S., but there's no official date yet. The OnePlus 13 debuted in the U.S. on January 7, 2025, and we expect OnePlus to follow the same timeline this year as well, despite chatter about an early launch.

Qualcomm unleashed the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Read more here

It has been quite an eventful week for Qualcomm, as it launched its next Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built using Oryon cores. The chip is solely designed for flagship Android phones, keeping agentic AI and other powerful capabilities in mind.

The new 3nm chip delivers a significant 20% boost to CPU performance, featuring two prime cores clocked at 4.6GHz and six performance cores optimized for lower-power tasks. This is further enhanced by a faster Adreno GPU, which Qualcomm claims can deliver a 23% performance boost while consuming 20% less power, allowing you to get more out of your gaming experience while worrying less about your battery.

To put things into perspective, OEMs these days want to pack their devices with as much AI as possible, making sure it doesn't eat up the device's power with all the "thinking" it is doing. A powerful chipset like this one will help take the load off the phone.

This chip also comes with a 37% faster NPU (Neural Processing Unit); Qualcomm hopes to enable more on-device agentic AI features. This means your phone should be able to predict your behaviour and make recommendations based on context.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro leak

(Image credit: Android Central)

Read more here

One UI's next update has been been at the centre of many leaks for a bit now and the most recent one gave us more than just a sneak at what One UI 8.5 could bring.

The leak suggests that the Korean OEM has started naming its next buds, the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds Pro 4, with what seems like internal code names. Seen in the test server build supposedly holds clues in its code about the alleged earbuds, with hints to a base and Pro model numbers SM-R540 and SM-R640, respectively.

Since they were found in the strings in Samsung's test server code, there's not much enough information about them, so nothing on specs or features as yet. But we do know that they exist and are in the works. In another leak from tipster Alfaturk on X, claims the company has also started developing the firmware for these alleged Buds 4 and 4 Pro models.

Pixel Watch users finally get their M3 Expressive update

(Image credit: Nandika Ravi/Android Central)

Read more here

Pixel Watch users may finally be seeing their Pixel Watch app show up in a completely new look. According to recent reports, Google seems to be rolling out the Material 3 Expressive changes to the app. The UI sports larger design changes, such as the vertical, pill-shaped row of key Pixel Watch features. The update places Fitbit, Personal Safety, Gemini, and Google Wallet right above your device's illustration.

Beneath that illustration, users will find their connectivity info, battery percentage, and the last time the watch was synced with Fitbit's services. As part of the "main" feature set, users will find Watch Faces and Tiles before scrolling down into their Settings. These new containers and subtle line separators are present throughout the entire app, as well, especially when scrolling through your tiles and other sub-menus.

The update will bring more pronounced Pixel Watch illustration that's a blue, purple mix, as Google moves away from its classic four-color getup.

Google Search gets 'Gemini-ed'

Read more here

Google is bringing Project Astra's capabilities to Google Search, to get real-time answers via Live Search within AI Mode. Think of it as an upgrade to the current Google Lens, and Google's way of pushing Gemini's multimodal capabilities onto more platforms.

With "Live Search," users can have real-time, interactive conversations with Google Search in AI Mode, much like speaking to the AI chatbot on Gemini Live. This feature allows users to share their phone's camera feed, and they will have the ability to respond to your questions in real time. Since this feature is tied to AI Mode, it will also provide links for intensive research as well. Accessing this feature seems to be a lot more easier as opposed to navigating a ton of steps to help Gemini Live see what you see.

For instance, you're new to making a cup of matcha — all users have to do is open the Google app (Android and iOS) and tap the new "Live" icon under the search bar. Then point the camera at the equipment in your matcha set and ask what each tool is used for. Or you could even ask it questions for a deeper understanding of matcha's history or its rise to fame as a beverage. The Live Search option is available to all Android and iOS users in the U.S. starting Sept. 24.

Android 16 finally lands on Samsung's 2024 flagships with One UI 8

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:34:45 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung rolls out One UI 8 update for Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 starting in Korea.
The update is first rolling out in South Korea, with a wider global release expected in the coming days.
One UI 8 adds a 90:10 split-screen ratio, improved Samsung DeX, Now Bar support, and security upgrades.

Just a week after releasing it for the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung has now rolled out the major One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S24 series and all 2024 foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.

According to various posts on Samsung's community forums, the company has begun releasing the stable build in South Korea (via Tarun Vats on X). The update is reportedly only available for users who were on the beta build for now, but it seems like other stable users should be getting the same update soon. The update is about 400MB for beta testers, while the stable release is expected to be closer to 4GB.

There's no word on the release of One UI 8 for these phones in other regions, including the U.S., Europe or other parts of Asia, but considering Samsung has started releasing the update in its home country, the wait shouldn't be too long. You can expect a wider release in the next few days.

Not available in the U.S. or Europe just yet

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Samsung was late in delivering Android 15 (One UI 7) earlier this year, but with One UI 8, the company has turned things around, becoming the first non-Google OEM to release Android 16 for flagship devices. With the latest release, One UI 8 is now available on 11 different Samsung Galaxy models, from Galaxy S24 Ultra to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Beyond upgrading the underlying OS to Android 16, One UI 8 brings several new features. The new features include a 90:10 split-screen ratio that lets you run two apps almost full screen side by side and switch between them quickly.

Samsung DeX has also been improved, which is now based on Android 16's Desktop Mode, offering immersive full-screen windows. Additional upgrades include better support for Now Bar apps and various security enhancements.

For now, the One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6 is limited to South Korea, but Samsung should be rolling it out in other markets soon. We'll keep you updated as and when we know more about a global rollout.

Samsung is already chasing One UI 8.5, as new leak spots its Galaxy S25 test

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:45:00 +0000

What you need to know

A tipster on X (formerly Twitter) states Samsung has started internally testing a One UI 8.5 version with the Galaxy S25 series.
It's unclear what the test contains this early on and, more importantly, the idea of a public beta for this version is still unknown.
Samsung officially launched One UI 8 (Android 16) this week, bringing major security/privacy updates to the Galaxy S25 and personalization upgrades.

We're just barely getting our hands on Samsung's latest major Android OS, One UI 8 (Android 16), and it seems the company's already moving on.

Reported early this morning by Tarun Vats on X, it seems Samsung has started internally testing a One UI 8.5 version update using the Galaxy S25 series. Vats explicitly states that these are the "first test builds" Samsung has crafted using its latest flagship series. The builds bear version numbers S938BXXU5CYIA, S938BOXM5CYIA, and S938BXXU5CYIA for the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra.

While some users in the thread are holding out hope for a public One UI 8.5 beta, Vats expresses uncertainty.

There's not much else to dissect about this, as Samsung's only getting started with the 0.5 addition to its One UI 8 software. SamMobile theorizes that we likely won't see this update roll out until next year, when Samsung is expected to launch its Galaxy S26 series. This speculation could come to pass, especially when we consider the recent rumors we've heard about One UI 8.5.

One UI 8 first, please

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Amidst the hype for One UI 8's original test period earlier this year, rumors surfaced, suggesting Samsung already had v8.5 on the brain. This update was speculated to bring "large improvements" to the Galaxy S26 series. Tipsters stated that the supposed existence of an 8.5 would bring more substantial updates to Samsung's Galaxy devices over a smaller, iterative "8.1" patch.

The assumptions didn't stop there, as another rumor states One UI 8.5 could bring the option to choose between gesture and button navigation during your initial device startup. The choices could be given on a dedicated splash screen, with each option available to tap before moving on to other new device setup items. Currently, after turning on your Galaxy device for the first time, you need to dive into its Settings to change your navigational preference.

This change would be a welcome one if Samsung is truly looking to do so.

We're putting One UI 8.5 to the side for now and getting starry-eyed at Samsung's recent official launch of One UI 8 (Android 16). The Galaxy S25 is just starting to finally receive the major Android OS upgrade this week, bringing it in line with the features and capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. Upgraded privacy measures, courtesy of Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection, and network security to protect you when online.

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Android 16 on the Pixel 10 is a step in the right direction, but there are still changes I wanna see

derrek.lee@futurenet.com (Derrek Lee) — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:59:00 +0000

Editor's Desk

(Image credit: Android Central)

Android Central's Editor's Desk is a weekly column discussing the latest news, trends, and happenings in the Android and mobile tech space.

I've been testing the Pixel 10 for a few weeks now, and there's a lot to like about the phone, from the cameras to the built-in magnetic Qi2 charging. However, what I didn't expect to like as much as I did is Google's flavor of Android 16. It's vibrant, responsive, and it brings some welcome changes that I've been hoping to see on Pixel software.

That said, the Pixel UI has never been my favorite, and while I like the changes Google has made with Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive, there are still some things I would like to see Google implement in future versions of Android. In fact, many of these features feel so commonplace on other Android phones, I'm surprised Google hasn't implemented them on Pixels.

Quick Settings

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Perhaps my favorite change to Pixel UI is with the Quick settings. I wasn't a huge fan of the unnecessarily large tiles in previous versions, which limited the number of tiles you could view at a time compared to One UI. But now, Google lets you customize the Quick Settings panel more than I thought it would ever allow.

You can now resize any tile simply by long-pressing it. You only get two choices, which are essentially 1x1 or 2x1, but it allows you to fit more tiles onto the panel and provide it with more personality, letting you highlight the most important tiles if you so choose.

That said, there still are some annoying quirks that haven't been addressed with Android 16.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

For a feature called "Quick Settings," I feel like it's not that great at actually offering quick access to some essential settings. For some reason, it takes two swipes of the panel in order to access the brightness slider, which is annoying when I want to quickly adjust it beyond the auto brightness.

Additionally, the actual Settings button is also inaccessible until the second swipe. Sure, I could have an icon on the home screen or swipe through the app drawer, but I prefer not to clutter my home screen with apps/widgets. I may just be spoiled by Samsung's Quick Settings, which gives you immediate access to the Settings icon after one swipe down.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Finally, I would love to see Google add an option to separate the notification panel and Quick Settings menu. I've gotten used to this on Samsung and Motorola phones, and I have started to prefer it since it shows more tiles or notifications at once, and I can easily swipe between the two panels.

Multitasking

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

While Google is focused on improving the multitasking experience on foldables like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the experience on its traditional phones feels a bit lacking.

The Open Apps view simply displays large cards side by side, which doesn't offer a particularly helpful view of your apps. This isn't a huge deal, but it doesn't feel as useful as the Open Apps view from other OEMs. Furthermore, while access to features like Screenshot and the text selector are useful, I would like the option to see recommended apps to quickly jump into one.

Also, it doesn't make sense to me that I have to swipe all the way to the right in order to find the Clear All button. Even Motorola allows me to open the view and tap Clear All without swiping. I can also lock an app to the Open Apps view so that it stays open when I clear the rest, which is helpful when I'm streaming YouTube Music, for example.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

One feature I've been begging to see on Pixels is a native side panel. This is a space to quickly access your favorite or most-used apps simply by swiping from the side of the display on nearly any screen. It's incredibly useful, and usually the first thing I set up when using a new phone. It's also available on just about every other smartphone I've tested, from Samsung to TECNO, so it's odd that Google still hasn't included an option for it, despite giving us a taskbar on foldables.

More customization

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Most Android phones come with some level of customization, and the Pixel UI has improved on this front, especially with the aforementioned Quick Settings. That said, while there is a decent amount of customization, I would like to see more.

The Open Apps view is just one example; Google should let us choose the style in which apps are presented. Same with the Quick Settings menu; we should be able to further rearrange, resize, and change the style of the tiles and panel. Samsung does a great job of letting you rearrange the different elements on Quick Settings, and that would be a great starting point.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

But even more than that, Google should let us customize other aspects of the Pixel UI, such as the shape of app icons and content shown on the status bar, allowing us to choose which icons we want presented and how. OnePlus offers this on its phones, and I always appreciated this as a way to declutter the top of my screen.

And as someone who prefers a cleaner home screen, I would also love to be able to stack widgets.

Best of both worlds?

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

There are plenty of smaller things, too, which could add up to some pretty granular customization options. However, Android has always been about providing its users with options, and while many like the Pixel UI for what it is, offering the option for deeper customization could go a long way.

Maybe Google could launch a Good Lock-style app (perhaps called "Pixelate"), which gives users more ways to customize their phones without Google needing to mess with the core Pixel experience. It would give us the best of both worlds.

What Pixel UI changes would you like to see? Sound off in the comments below!

Samsung brings One UI 8 beta to older flagships and mid-range phones

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:32:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung begins rolling out One UI 8 beta for Galaxy S23 series in India, South Korea, and UK.
Mid-range Galaxy A55, A54, A36, and A35 also get One UI 8 beta before Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 models.
One UI 8, based on Android 16, brings 90:10 split-screen, Now Bar apps, and revamped Samsung apps.

After introducing it with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung has been working on expanding One UI 8 to other Galaxy smartphones. It looks like that is taking shape as Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 8 beta for Galaxy S23 and A-series smartphones.

As spotted by popular Samsung tipster Tarun Vats on X/Twitter, Samsung has begun rolling out One UI 8 beta for the Galaxy S23 series in India and South Korea. The update is hefty at around 3GB+ and comes with the latest September 2025 security patch.

According to one Reddit user, the update seems to be available in the UK as well, but there's no news for regions like Germany and the U.S. However, considering it has started in a few countries, it should be available elsewhere soon.

If you want to try the One UI 8 beta on your Galaxy S23, you can do so by signing up using the Samsung Members app first and then downloading it via Settings > Software Update > Download and Install. The firmware version for the One UI 8 beta based on Android 16 for the Galaxy S23 series is "YHB.".

One UI 8 beta is live on Galaxy S23, A55, A54, and more

(Image credit: Tarun Vats / X)

Samsung announced last month that it would expand One UI 8 testing to older smartphones, and the Galaxy S23 beta follows that. The Galaxy S23 joins devices like Galaxy S24, Galaxy S25, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and Galaxy Z Fold 6, which have already been testing One UI 8.

In addition to the Galaxy S23 series, Samsung has started testing One UI 8 beta for some mid-range devices, including Galaxy A55, Galaxy A54, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A35. This is notable since Samsung hasn't started testing One UI 8 for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, but has expanded the program to mid-range devices first. We still expect Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 support sooner or later.

One UI 8 is Samsung's flavor of Android 16, and while the company lagged in rolling out One UI 7 (Android 15), it is testing the new version comparatively faster for its flagships. One UI 8 is set to bring features like a 90:10 split-screen ratio, more supported apps for Now Bar, and revamped first-party apps like Reminders and Samsung Internet.

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One UI 8 is nearly ready for the Galaxy S25, with a fifth beta now rolling out

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:10:00 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung rolls out One UI 8 beta 5 for Galaxy S25 with bug fixes in multiple regions.
The update is 1.78GB, firmware ZYH6, and includes the August 2025 security patch.
Stable One UI 8 release is expected in September with new apps, split screen, and UI tweaks.

It looks like Samsung is almost ready to release the stable version of One UI 8 for the Galaxy S25 series, as the company has now rolled out another beta with loads of bug fixes.

As spotted by Tarun Vats on X (via Sammobile), Samsung has started seeding the One UI 8 beta 5 to Galaxy S25 users in the UK, U.S., India, and Germany. The One UI 8 beta 4 rolled out late last month, and now beta 5 has arrived.

The latest One UI 8 build is about 1.78GB in size and comes with firmware version ZYH6. It also includes the August 2025 security patch.

One UI 8 beta 5 for Galaxy S25 series brings loads of bug fixes

(Image credit: Tarun Vats on X)

In terms of new features, the One UI 8 beta 5 doesn't carry many, but there are plenty of fixes. According to Samsung’s changelog, the new build includes fixes for hotspot connection errors, S Pen Air command exceptions, and the issue that caused the moon to appear purple when captured at 100x zoom.

Other fixes address a Do Not Disturb resetting issue, overlapping Quick Settings and Notification windows, and Now Brief briefing content disappearing abruptly. Here's the official changelog from Samsung:

Fixed hotspot connection error
Fixed the issue of the size of the clock on the lock screen getting smaller
Fixed S Pen Air command exception
Fixed issue of Quick Settings window not appearing
Fixed the issue that overlap the Quick Settings and Notification Windows
Fixed the exception when capturing screen in the app in the secure folder
Fixed the issue of moon appearing purple when taking a picture with 100X Zoom
Fixed an issue of Do Not Disturb Mode's settings resetting
Fixed the issue of Now Brief briefing content disappearing
Stabilizes SW with multiple App Update
Applied August security patch

If you're enrolled in the One UI 8 beta program, you can download the latest build on your Galaxy S25 now. To install, head over to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install.

Considering Samsung has announced the One UI 8 stable version will be released in September, this should be the last or second-to-last beta for the Galaxy S25 series. The One UI 8 beta kicked off in May, and while users are still waiting for stable Android 16, it seems Samsung is taking its time to make the new version as stable as possible.

One UI 8 is set to bring new features to Galaxy devices, including more supported apps for Now Bar, a new 90:10 split screen feature, a redesigned Reminders app, and more.

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Galaxy S25 gets One UI 8 Beta 4, and hopefully this is its last one

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:41:32 +0000

What you need to know

Samsung is reportedly rolling out its One UI 8 Beta 4 update for enrolled Galaxy S25 devices.
The patch, while seemingly light on new goodies, brings a trove of bug fixes for the series and software.
Samsung was busy upgrading its Good Lock module toolkit in July, moving those useful features in line with One UI 8 ahead of its larger debut.

Right before we walk into August, it seems Samsung is dropping yet another beta for its Android 16-based software.

One UI 8 Beta 4 was spotted rolling out for enrolled Galaxy S25 series phones by SamMobile earlier today (July 30). The latest beta is seemingly light on new features, at least in its changelog. Starting, the patch notes state Beta 4 has added "support for high quality voice, video, and enhanced chat services" in the Samsung IMS Service Emergency feature.

The update also brings full-screen support for videos when switching using Samsung DeX.

One UI 8 Beta 4 dives into its bug fixes heavily, as Samsung is likely (hopefully) on the final stretch for its testing with users. Some of the standout fixes include a solution to a bug users encountered with outgoing calls via Swipe to Call. This bug occurred when attempting to call someone on your contacts list when TalkBack was enabled. There's a bug fix on its way for the Galaxy S25 series' camera.

Samsung states the "flickering issue," present on the horizontal/vertical leveling icon when switching between the front and rear cameras, has been fixed. A "fingerprint sensor not responding" error, which was previously wrongfully displayed over the lock screen, has been solved.

Beta 4's patch notes highlight the remaining fixes:

Fixed a loading issue when Bixby routine commands are triggered via voice
Fixed a display issue in the quick launch icon area on the lock screen
Fixed an issue with editing iNavi dashcam videos in the Gallery app
Fixed an operational issue with Galaxy AI Reply Suggestions

Marching toward One UI 8

(Image credit: Samsung)

Considering Beta 4 was spotted earlier this morning, enrolled testers should begin noticing it as the day progresses. Of course, it could take time, so keep checking as the week starts winding down. The publication speculates that this could be the final beta update Galaxy S25 series testers see, and we're hoping for the same.

The One UI 8 beta kicked off back in May, a few weeks before Google officially launched Android 16. The initial update brought in the Galaxy S25 series to the updated Android OS, which is something that was already said to be on the company's newest foldables right out of the box.

As of late, Samsung's been getting other areas of its software ecosystem in order, in preparation for One UI 8's stable launch. The company's entire Good Lock module toolkit was updated last week to line up with what it's been testing and getting ready for One UI 8. While updates to Home Up let users change how apps start up, it also upgraded MultiStar, NavStar, and QuickStar.

Those modules have now moved into a more One UI 8-ready state. Hopefully, we're looking at an August launch for Samsung's Android 16 update officially.

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One UI 8 Beta rolls into the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Watches

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:15:21 +0000

What you need to know

One UI 8 beta 3 for Galaxy S25 includes significant bug fixes and the latest June security patch.
The One UI 8 Watch beta appears to be now available for various Galaxy Watch models.
New features for Galaxy Watch users include Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index.

Samsung is gearing up for its foldables launch, which is commencing in less than two weeks. They are likely to launch with One UI 8 out of the box, and the company appears to be readying the software as it has rolled out the third beta of the One UI 8 for the Galaxy S25 series.

Per the tipster, Tarun Vats on X, the One UI 8 beta 3 has started rolling out to Galaxy S25 devices in regions including Korea, Germany, the U.K., and India (One UI 8 beta 2), and the corresponding changelog indicates what to expect from the latest beta. It comprises the ZYFA version, and there are several bug fixes accompanying it.

Galaxy S25: One UI 8 beta 3 update also released in Korea Build version: S938NKSU4ZYFA/ S938NOKR4ZYFA/S938NKSU4BYFA pic.twitter.com/pp3GpCF5exJune 30, 2025

Here's the latest One UI 8 beta 3's changelog:

Fixed the overlap issue between the status bar of the Recents app and the running app menu in specific status of NaviStar
Fixed the issue that the keyboard input occurs only when reboots on the Security folder PIN input screen
Improved the issue that intermittently lengthens loading time when entering Mode / Routine menu
Fixed text input swipe to type error using gesture on keyboard screen
Fixed text input (S Pen to text) error with S Pen
Added back screen preview to Laboratory
SW stabilization through updates to many apps
Many other improvements

Users have to note that it is a sizable update measuring around 3654MB and it also incorporates the latest June security patch.

One UI 8 Watch beta sees a wider roll out

(Image credit: Ara Wagoner / Android Central)

On the other hand, Samsung’s first One UI 8 Watch beta appears to have started to roll out to Galaxy Watches as well. According to 9to5Google, smartwatches including the Galaxy Watch 7 series, Watch Ultra, Watch FE, Watch 6, and Watch 5 series are believed to be eligible for the latest beta.

Samsung recently announced the One UI 8 Watch beta program that brings notable upgrades to the Galaxy Watch users, like having Bedtime Guidance, an all-new Vascular Load tool, a new Running coach, and an Antioxidant Index feature.

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Category	Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Dimensions (Closed)	159.2 x 75.0 x 12.9 mm	158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm
Dimensions (Opened)	159.2 x 214.1 x 3.9-4.2 mm	158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2 mm
Durability & Case Material(s)	IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 (Cover), Ceramic-Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (Back), Armor Aluminum Frame	IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 (Cover), Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Back), Armor Aluminum Frame
Weight	309g	215g
Display (Inner)	10.0-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1584x2160 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate	8.0-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1968x2184 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate
Display (Outer)	6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1080x2520 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate	6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1080x2520 pixels resolution), LTPO, 120Hz variable refresh rate
Chipset / SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy)
RAM	16GB	12GB/16GB
Storage	512GB/1TB	256GB/512GB/1TB
Sensors	Capacitive side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor	Capacitive side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor
Wireless Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), LTE, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and USB 3.2 (with DisplayPort)	Wi-Fi 7, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), LTE, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and USB 3.2 (with DisplayPort)
Other Features	Dual-SIM/Multi-eSIM, Knox Vault, Samsung DeX standalone, Galaxy AI	Dual-SIM/Multi-eSIM, Knox Vault, Samsung DeX experience, Galaxy AI
Battery & Charging	5,600mAh (Li-Ion), 45W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging, reverse wireless charging	4,400mAh (Li-Ion), 25W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging, reverse wireless charging
Cameras (Rear)	200MP wide-angle, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 12MP ultrawide \| 8K video recording	200MP wide-angle, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 12MP ultrawide \| 8K video recording
Cameras (Front)	10MP + 10MP \| 4K video recording	10MP + 10MP \| 4K video recording
OS & Update Policy	Android 16 with One UI 8 (preinstalled), seven years of OS and security updates	Android 16 with One UI 8 (preinstalled), seven years of OS and security updates
Color Options	Crafted Black	Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jetblack, and Mint (online-exclusive)