- Samsung has just released the One UI 8.5 beta
- The update aims to boost ‘productivity, privacy and performance’
- You can download it using the Samsung Members app
Samsung has just revealed the One UI 8.5 beta, the latest update to the mobile user interface made for all the best Samsung phones. As well as accidentally leaking the Galaxy S26’s design, this update brings a raft of new features and updates, as well as enhancements to “productivity, privacy and performance across the Galaxy ecosystem,” Samsung says.
In a blog post announcing the update, Samsung said that the One UI 8.5 beta brings “new and easier ways to create, connect and stay safe.” That manifests itself in a range of improvements that should be welcome reading for Samsung fans.
With the update, Samsung says you will get numerous improvements to content creation on your Samsung Galaxy device. You’ll be able to “keep generating new images without interruption” thanks to an update to Photo Assist, which means you can edit several images without needing to save each one, then review your changes at the end of the process. Quick Share has also been updated to recognize people in photos and suggest sending those images directly to the subjects.
Turning to connectivity, the Audio Broadcast feature has been upgraded to let you send your voice to a connected speaker while you’re talking into your phone. As well as that, the Storage Share feature lets you to see files on other Galaxy devices within the My Files app, giving you a quick way to access your documents if they’re stored somewhere else.
Samsung’s blog post also touched on security enhancements, including Failed Authentication Lock, which automatically locks your screen if someone enters too many incorrect login attempts using a fingerprint, PIN or password. Identity check protects more settings than previously, too, ensuring better peace of mind whether or not your device falls into the wrong hands.
How to get the One UI 8.5 beta
If you want to try out the latest One UI 8.5 beta, you’ll need to have a compatible device and be residing in the right location, at least for now.
Samsung states that the One UI 8.5 beta will first be available to users of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. As well as that, it can only be downloaded by people in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U.S. at the moment. It’s available from today, December 8, 2025.
Being a member of Samsung’s beta program is also a requirement. To sign up, download the Samsung Members app from the Google Play Store and open it, then log in using your Samsung account. Join the beta program through the banner at the top of the app, then go to your phone’s settings and navigate to Software update > Download and install to get the latest beta on your phone.
As always, beta software can be buggy, so it’s a good idea to install it on a secondary phone that isn’t your daily driver. Make sure you back up your phone before you get started, too.
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