Samsung had some ups and downs with the development of One UI 7. Unlike previous updates, the company took a long time to start updating its smartphones with the Android 15 software update. After all the constraints, it seems that the brand is finally sorting things out as the update is rolling out in some regions for 2024 Galaxy devices. However, Android 15 will soon feel outdated as Google is expected to unveil Android 16 very soon. With that in mind, Samsung smartphone owners will start looking to the next software update that will come in the form of One UI 8. Reports were indicating that Samsung had already started the development of One UI 8. Now, a new report suggests that the company is already working on the One UI 8.5 version, which should come with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series next year.
One UI 8.5 Spotted – Coming Next Year With S26 Series
The One UI 8.5 should be a major incremental update that will succeed One UI 8, which should be released later this year. In fact, the 8.5 update is expected to replace the “.1” update we’ve seen in the past years with the release of Galaxy flagships. The team over at SammyPolice discovered some references to One UI 8.5 in Samsung’s software system code. It suggests the Korean brand is skipping One UI 8.1 as its is nowhere to be seen.
It is worth noting that this would be the first “.5” version update since One UI 2.5 back in 2020. The company could be adopting a strategy used by Xiaomi in the days of updates like MIUI 12.5. Releasing a major version, and then a major incrementary update before the next version update. There are reports that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 will launch between July and August. They will carry One UI 8.0 based on Android 16.
Samsung Wants to Better Align One UI with Google Android Releases
Samsung will have more time to work on the update this year. After all, Google is rumored to unveil Android 16 as early as next month. That’s what the Android 16 Dev Program roadmap indicates. The next major update will receive an incremental update later this year. It may come as Android 16.1, and perhaps Samsung could bring this incremental patch with its One UI 8.5.
As per the new report, One UI 8.5 could be a major overhaul with an updated visual identity and overhauled AI features. The tipster Ice Universe states that Samsung is trying to align its One UI release with Google’s Android release. Therefore, One UI 8.0 could launch alongside Android 16 with the Z Fold7 and Z Flip7. Then, One UI 8.5 will arrive with the Galaxy S26 series shortly after the announcement of Android 16’s incremental release.
