- Images of Samsung One UI 8.5 have leaked
- Some visual changes and flourishes are visible
- It's not clear when the software may roll out
With the Samsung One UI 8 update (based on Android 16) now rolling out to Galaxy phones and tablets worldwide, we've got what looks to be a sneak preview of the big One UI 8.5 update that's going to be on the way next.
Pictures of the software have appeared on SammyGuru, and show some significant changes to the user interface. The Settings pages have more compact menu items, the search bar is down at the bottom, and there are gradient effects at the edges.
With a few drop shadows added too, the overall impression is of an interface that's a little easier on the eyes, and with a bit more in the way of visual flourish. Other tweaks include a back button that floats over the rest of the interface.
As pointed out by SammyGuru, some of these changes are somewhat similar to what we've seen from Apple with iOS 26, but the imitation isn't too egregious – this still looks very much like a mobile operating system made by Samsung.
Leaks and betas
What we don't get here are any indications of new features or functions that might be introduced with One UI 8.5. Given that the version number is only jumping up by 0.5, we might not see much in the way of upgrades.
Before an official rollout and beta testing phase, we'll no doubt see several leaks too: Android Authority has already spotted a One UI 8.5 feature that seems designed to prevent seizures caused by photosensitive epilepsy.
There's also no indication yet as to when this software might start appearing on phones and tablets, though Samsung has increased the pace of its One UI updates in recent months – with OneUI 8 following on quickly from One UI 7.
The One UI 8 software made its debut with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 foldables, and is rolling out now to Galaxy S25 handsets. After that, it'll make its way to older devices over the coming weeks.
