Samsung appears set to continue shaking up its traditional software release timeline. While the rollout of One UI 8 (based on Android 16) is still completing its journey to many devices, new reports suggest the company is preparing to launch a public beta program for its next major iteration: One UI 8.5. This move is highly unusual for Samsung, as mid-cycle (.5) updates typically skip the public testing phase.
According to a SamMobile report, users might get their first look at the One UI 8.5 beta as soon as the final week of November. More specifically, the beta firmware could be available around the week beginning November 24. This is a notably early start compared to previous cycles. If true, it reflects Samsung’s recent attempts to accelerate its software development cadence after the unexpected delays that affected the One UI 7.0 release.
Breaking tradition: Samsung tipped to hold a public beta for One UI 8.5 soon
Samsung traditionally saves its large-scale public beta programs for the One UI version that will debut on its next Galaxy S flagship phone. In this case, the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series, expected early next year, will ship with One UI 8.5 out of the box. Holding a beta now allows the company to iron out bugs and collect user feedback. This will ensure a polished experience for its most important release of the year.
The fact that Samsung skipped smaller point releases entirely and jumped straight to 8.0 before rapidly moving to 8.5 suggests a strong push to bring a more substantial set of features to users sooner. Early information indicates that One UI 8.5 will be a larger refresh than the One UI 8.0 update. The update will deliver significant visual and operational changes based on the Android 16 QPR2 framework.
Device and availability details
Samsung has not yet provided official information regarding eligibility or regional availability. But the pattern is predictable. We can safely assume that flagship devices launched in the past two years will be the first in line. Models like the Galaxy S25 series and the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 models will lead the charge. Past beta programs have typically been limited to countries like the United States, South Korea, Germany, and India. So, we can expect a similar limited geographical rollout this time.
The launch of the One UI 8.5 beta program in late November sets up the stable release perfectly to coincide with the global debut of the Galaxy S26 series early next year.
