One UI 8.5 firmware for the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears on Samsung's servers
Apparently, Samsung wants to speed things up with its development of One UI versions. Already, One UI 8 is going super fast in its stages with beta testing and release to the public, and it now seems that One UI 8.5 development is going fast as well.
A couple of months ago, Samsung reportedly started working on One UI 8.5. Now, the appearance of the first actual firmware pretty much means that Samsung is really working on it.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra. | Image Credit - PhoneArena
However, it's worth noting that the speed at which the South Korea-based company develops One UI 8.5 doesn't necessarily mean One UI 8.5's launch is just around the corner. Its official launch is likely going to happen with the Galaxy S26 series next year.
We currently don't know exactly what One UI 8.5 will bring, but there's a likelihood that it will bring a new version of the Samsung Internet browser... and well, that's about all we know thus far.
One UI 8.5 may officially come with the Galaxy S26 series
Most likely, the Galaxy S26 series will come with One UI 8.5 out of the box. However, the Galaxy S25 series may start testing the software earlier. Unfortunately, Samsung has fixed a loophole that allowed people to download firmware before it was ready for a beta test, so we may not see leaks giving us hints of what to expect from Samsung's next operating system.
What do you want most from One UI 8.5?
A big visual redesign
15.79%
Performance and battery improvements
68.42%
New Samsung apps & features
10.53%
I’m fine with small tweaks
5.26%
In the meantime, Samsung's main competitor, Apple, has just released iOS 26 to all supported iPhones, and it's a big software update that brings a redesigned look and many tweaks across the board. It would be interesting to see if Samsung also has something big planned for One UI 8.5, but so far, we don't have enough information to say yes or no.
Samsung doesn't want another One UI 7 situation
You probably remember the delays and confusion that surrounded the One UI 7 official release. There was a huge delay in comparison to other Android brands, and many Samsung fans were stuck for months without the new Android version. Understandably, that created some frustration.
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With One UI 8, Samsung was set not to repeat the previous scenario. And it actually did manage to speed things up noticeably. So, I'm quite optimistic about One UI 8.5 as well, given that Samsung may start testing the new OS soon. That's really good news for Samsung fans.
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Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
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