Samsung begins One UI 8.5 beta rollout for Galaxy S25 series

(Samsung Electronics)

Samsung Electronics has begun beta testing One UI 8.5, the next-generation operating system that will debut with the Galaxy S25 series. The update enhances AI-powered editing capabilities, device connectivity and theft-prevention security to improve the overall user experience.

Based on One UI 8, the new version significantly expands AI use cases. Photo Assist—Samsung’s AI image-editing suite—now supports seamless transitions across generative editing, portrait studio features and other tools without requiring step-by-step saves. Users can also review editing history in finer detail and selectively apply or remove changes at each stage.

Quick Share, Samsung’s content-sharing feature, has also been upgraded. When the user links gallery portraits with contacts, the device automatically recommends sharing photos with the people appearing in them—particularly useful for users who frequently communicate through images.

Device connectivity has been expanded as well. A new “audio broadcast” function allows users to transmit their voice from a Galaxy smartphone to nearby audio devices. By supporting the LE Audio standard, the feature enables low-power voice streaming to multiple devices simultaneously.

The new shared storage function lets users browse and open files stored on other Galaxy devices—such as tablets or PCs—directly from their smartphone.

Security has also been strengthened with “authentication failure lock,” which automatically locks the device if a phone is lost or stolen while the screen is on. The phone switches to the lock screen immediately if fingerprints, PINs or passwords are repeatedly entered incorrectly during authentication procedures.

The beta program will run sequentially across six countries—including Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and India. Users can enroll through the Samsung Members app.

Samsung plans to incorporate beta feedback before releasing the official version of One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26 series in the first half of next year, with expansion to additional Galaxy devices to follow.