Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Update: Samsung has been quietly testing its next major software upgrade, One UI 8.5, for several months. While the internal development hasn’t been perfectly smooth, a major leak has now revealed the most detailed look yet at what Samsung is preparing for millions of Galaxy users. The information comes from tipster Tarun Vats, who posted a large chunk of the alleged changelog — and it shows that Samsung is gearing up for one of its biggest updates in years.
Below is a complete, easy-to-understand breakdown of everything coming with One UI 8.5.
Smarter DeX With Better App Handling
Samsung DeX is already a fan-favorite for users who treat their phones like mini-computers. With One UI 8.5, DeX becomes even more practical. The update will now remember the size and position of app windows, making multi-tasking smoother. Each time you open apps in DeX mode, everything will reopen exactly how you left it — just like a real desktop.
A More Detailed, Transparent Battery Menu
Battery information is going to get a massive upgrade. Samsung is adding a new battery stats screen that clearly shows:
- Remaining time
- Charging status
- Daily usage reports for the past week
This makes it easier to understand how your battery behaves over time, what drains it, and how to fix it.
Additionally, Power Saving Mode is getting two different levels:
- Standard Saving
- Maximum Saving
This gives you more control depending on whether you want moderate efficiency or extreme battery stretching.
Quick Share Gets Safer and Smarter
Samsung is also revamping its file-sharing features. In One UI 8.5, Quick Share becomes more secure and more intelligent.
New Receive-Only Mode
You can set Quick Share to accept files only from devices logged into your Samsung or Google account, blocking others from pushing random files to your phone.
Face Recognition Suggestions
On the opposite side, sharing becomes smarter too. Quick Share will use face recognition in your photos and automatically suggest sending them to the people who appear in them. This is similar to how Google Photos offers suggestions but built directly into Samsung’s ecosystem.
Cross-Device Magic: Storage Sharing Across Phone, Tablet, PC, and TV
One UI 8.5 is taking Samsung’s ecosystem to Apple-like levels with cross-device storage sharing. You will be able to:
- Access files on your Samsung tablet from your phone
- Open your PC files directly from your phone
- Even browse phone files straight from your Samsung TV
This makes media transfers, backups, and file management incredibly fast and convenient. It also aligns with Samsung’s gradual shift away from Microsoft OneDrive and towards Samsung Cloud as a more unified solution.
The update will also allow screen mirroring to more Samsung devices, including TVs, creating a seamless, connected ecosystem.
More Powerful Auracast Features
One UI 8.5 expands Samsung’s support for Auracast, the broadcast audio technology. With the update, you can:
- Broadcast your voice to supported speakers or headsets
- Share audio more widely and easily
This is especially useful for group activities, presentations, or listening together without complicated pairing steps.
Big AI Boost: Bixby and Galaxy AI Get Smarter
As expected, Samsung is pushing major AI improvements across the system.
Bixby Improvements
Bixby will be better at:
- Changing settings
- Accessing features
- Answering questions more naturally
It will also keep a conversation history, making interactions more fluid and context-aware.
Galaxy AI Photo Assist Upgrades
The Photo Assist editor will now:
- Generate and edit images without forcing you to save after each step
- Allow you to experiment faster
- Save an edit history, so you can roll back to your favorite version anytime
This makes the editing workflow much faster and more flexible.
Extra Features: Customization, Theft Protection & Samsung Health Upgrades
Some of the other improvements mentioned in the leaked changelog include:
- More customization options for themes and UI elements
- Better anti-theft features to keep your data safer
- New enhancements in Samsung Health to track wellness more effectively
Though small individually, these additions together make One UI 8.5 a more polished package.
When Will One UI 8.5 Arrive?
Samsung is expected to debut One UI 8.5 alongside the Galaxy S26 series in late January. After that, eligible devices from the Galaxy S, Z, A, and other series will get the update gradually. However, the exact rollout timeline is still unclear.
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