Samsung Expands One UI 8.5 Beta to More Galaxy Devices with New Features

Samsung is continuing to refine its Android experience with the rollout of One UI 8.5 beta, bringing a range of subtle design improvements, enhanced AI features, and usability upgrades. Initially introduced with the upcoming flagship lineup, the update is now expected to expand to several premium Galaxy devices, including earlier flagship models.

Rather than introducing drastic changes, One UI 8.5 focuses on polishing the overall user experience, making the interface cleaner, smarter, and more intuitive.

Refined Design and User Interface Improvements

One of the most noticeable aspects of One UI 8.5 is its refined design language. Samsung has focused heavily on minimalism and ease of use, particularly for one-handed operation.

The lock screen now feels more dynamic, with enhanced weather animations that reflect real-time conditions. This adds a subtle but immersive visual touch without overwhelming the interface.

The control center has also been redesigned to offer greater customization. Users can now adjust the size and shape of sliders such as brightness and volume, along with smoother animations that make interactions feel more fluid.

Across the system, Samsung has embraced a capsule-shaped or pill-style design. This is visible in search bars, menus, and system elements, creating a consistent and modern look. App icons have also been refreshed with added depth and shadow effects, giving them a more premium appearance.

Additionally, the settings menu has been simplified. By removing unnecessary clutter and complex sub-menus, Samsung has made navigation more straightforward, helping users find options quickly without confusion.

New Features That Improve Everyday Use

One UI 8.5 introduces several practical features designed to enhance daily smartphone usage.

A major addition is partial screen recording, allowing users to record a selected portion of the screen instead of capturing everything. This is especially useful for tutorials, content creation, and sharing specific app interactions.

The system-wide search functionality has also been upgraded. A more powerful Finder tool is now integrated into the home screen, enabling users to search across contacts, files, gallery items, apps, and even system settings in one place. This significantly improves productivity and reduces the need to navigate through multiple apps.

Samsung has also redesigned the Calculator app with a cleaner layout and better visibility. It now intelligently detects numbers copied from messages and offers instant calculation suggestions, saving time for users who frequently perform quick calculations.

Enhanced Privacy and Gallery Features

Privacy continues to be a priority in One UI 8.5. A new Private Album feature allows users to securely store sensitive photos and videos. This album is protected with biometric authentication, adding an extra layer of security beyond the standard gallery.

The Gallery app also benefits from improved AI-powered editing tools. Users can now remove shadows and reflections from images more effectively, resulting in cleaner and more professional-looking photos without needing third-party apps.

Changes in Battery and System Behavior

Samsung has made a small but notable change to battery display settings. The option to hide the battery percentage has been removed, making it a permanent element in the status bar. While this may not appeal to all users, it ensures consistent visibility of battery information at all times.

Galaxy AI Features Get Smarter

Artificial intelligence plays a key role in One UI 8.5, with several new and improved features designed to make the device more responsive and helpful.

One standout feature is intelligent notification assistance, which analyzes user activity and suggests actions based on context. For example, it can recommend scheduling events when relevant messages are received.

Audio enhancement tools have also been upgraded. Background noise reduction now works across a wider range of apps, including third-party platforms, improving the quality of videos and recordings.

Samsung has further enhanced its voice assistant capabilities by integrating smarter search technologies, enabling more accurate and context-aware responses.

Another exciting addition is generative photo editing, where users can provide text prompts to guide AI-based image modifications. This gives users more control over creative edits and opens up new possibilities for photo customization.

Areas That Still Need Improvement

Despite the improvements, there are still some features users have been requesting that are not yet included.

A real-time internet speed indicator in the status bar remains absent, even though it is a highly demanded feature among Android users.

Similarly, a built-in app lock system is still missing. Users must rely on alternative solutions such as secure folders instead of having a simple, system-level locking option for individual apps.

There is also room for improvement in interactive notifications. While Samsung has introduced a more dynamic notification system, broader support for third-party apps could make it even more powerful and competitive with other platforms.

Additionally, users may benefit from more advanced Always-On Display features, such as real-time tracking or live activity indicators.

Supported Devices and Rollout Expectations

Samsung is expected to expand the One UI 8.5 beta to several flagship Galaxy devices. These include newer models as well as previous-generation premium smartphones, ensuring that a wider audience can experience the update.

The broader rollout strategy reflects Samsung’s commitment to long-term software support, allowing users with older flagship devices to enjoy modern features and improvements.

Final Thoughts

One UI 8.5 may not be a revolutionary update, but it represents a thoughtful evolution of Samsung’s software ecosystem. By focusing on cleaner design, smarter AI integration, and practical features, Samsung continues to enhance the overall user experience.

For users, the update offers a more refined interface, improved productivity tools, and better privacy controls—all without compromising performance. As the beta expands to more devices, One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be a solid upgrade that prioritizes usability and consistency.