One UI 8.5 Beta Overview
Samsung released the fourth beta of One UI 8.5 earlier this year, following the third beta that debuted in early 2026. The update, roughly 1.5 GB in size, is currently being pushed to eligible Samsung Galaxy S25 devices in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
Key Fixes in the Fourth Beta
Unlike previous betas that introduced new visual tweaks, this build focuses on polishing the existing experience. The main changes are bug fixes and stability improvements:
- Resolved occasional crashes in the Settings app.
- Fixed lock‑screen animation glitches reported by early adopters.
- Improved battery reporting accuracy after the Jan 2026 security patch.
- Addressed minor UI misalignments on large‑screen devices.
Feature Freeze and Polishing Phase
The limited scope of this beta suggests Samsung has entered a “feature freeze” stage. During this period, developers stop adding new features and concentrate on refining what’s already shipped, ensuring a smooth, stable experience for the final public release.
Preparing for the S26 Series Launch
The upcoming Galaxy S26 series, expected in March 2026, will ship with One UI 8.5 pre‑installed. Current S25 owners can test the beta now, but most will likely wait for the stable version that arrives with the new flagship.
How to Get the Beta
If you own a compatible S25 device, you can enroll in the One UI 8.5 beta via Samsung’s Software Update settings. For those who prefer to wait, the stable One UI 8.5 will be available out‑of‑the‑box on the S26 series when it launches.