Shortly after the One UI 8.5 firmware was spotted on Samsung’s servers, a developer managed to modify the build initially meant for the Galaxy S25 Ultra and run it on a Galaxy S21 Plus. The result is the first images of One UI 8.5 in action, which were shared by SammyGuru and reveal the refreshed UI design.
One of the images shows the Settings menu with more compact items without subtitles. A major change is that the search bar is now at the bottom, making it much more easily accessible. Both the top and the bottom have an overflow gradient, and all the containers and the search bar have drop shadows.
Entering the search page shows various categories in a three-column grid. Once you’re inside a menu in Settings, you’ll see the back button floating over the content with its own drop shadow, which appears similar to some of the UI elements in iOS 26. The container inside the menu also has a drop shadow, which makes it appear elevated above the background.
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Don’t expect One UI 8.5 on your phone anytime soon
The Galaxy S25 series devices are likely to be among the first ones to get One UI 8.5. | Image Credit - PhoneArena
It may seem impressive that Samsung has started working on One UI 8.5 so quickly, but that doesn’t mean its release is imminent. The company will most likely launch it with the Galaxy S26 series, which is expected in January. However, there’s a chance that Galaxy S25 users may get it a bit earlier.
What do you want most from One UI 8.5?
A big visual redesign
30%
Performance and battery improvements
56.88%
New Samsung apps & features
10.42%
I’m fine with small tweaks
2.71%
What the final changes to the software may be is yet unclear, but it is interesting that Samsung already seems inspired by the recently released iOS 26. Hopefully, the company will also get inspired by Apple’s release strategy and release the software quickly and for many devices.
That’s a good sign from Samsung
The surprisingly good part of that leak is that it confirms Samsung’s commitment never to repeat the delays of the One UI 7 release. I don’t expect the company to suddenly start releasing software on a perfect schedule, but even slight delays would be a big improvement.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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