SEOUL, May 12, 2026, 04:07 (KST)
- One UI 8.5 is out of beta. Samsung started pushing the stable update to Galaxy S24 devices in South Korea.
- This update brings Galaxy AI and new security tools to more than just Samsung’s latest phones, cranking up the software rivalry with Apple and Google.
Samsung is pushing out the stable One UI 8.5 update to Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra owners in South Korea, marking the latest expansion of a software rollout kicked off earlier this month. According to SamMobile, the firmware—version S92xNKSU5DZOP—lands at over 4GB for those upgrading from the existing stable One UI.
This shift is notable—Samsung is putting features that debuted on its latest Galaxy models into some older high-end phones. One UI, the company’s Android skin, hits version 8.5 and spreads more Galaxy AI capabilities, tweaks to design, and updated privacy tools across both phones and tablets. Those additions aren’t just for the newest devices anymore.
Samsung users finally get a more concrete schedule after waiting through extended beta testing. Forbes put the next big step as a free Android upgrade rolling out on May 11. According to SamMobile, regions including Europe, Hong Kong, India, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan are set to join Korea within days.
Samsung is kicking off the One UI 8.5 rollout in Korea on May 6, the company said, with additional markets lined up after that. On the initial list: Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S24 and S24 FE, the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, and both the Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S10 lines.
SamMobile reports the Galaxy S24 FE is now picking up the update in South Korea, firmware S721NKSUBDZDP, trailing the earlier rollout for the flagship Galaxy S24 models. More regions are set to get the update within days.
According to Samsung’s One UI site, the update brings Photo Assist for AI-powered editing, Now Nudge—which analyzes your screen to offer suggestions—and Now Brief. There are tweaks to Bixby, a revamped Quick Panel with more customization, plus fresh privacy features like Privacy Display and Privacy Alerts.
Samsung’s latest Bixby overhaul is being positioned squarely in its broader AI strategy. “We redesigned Bixby to enable more natural interactions and intuitive device control,” said Won-Joon Choi, chief operating officer for Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division, during February’s One UI 8.5 update reveal. Samsung Global Newsroom
Samsung’s latest move keeps its Galaxy lineup aligned with rivals in the ongoing software-driven AI contest. Apple says its Apple Intelligence will run on newer iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Google, for its part, continues delivering AI updates and new tools to Pixel phones through its Pixel Drops after the initial release.
The rollout could end up looking patchy for users. Samsung flagged that when features actually arrive will depend on the market and model involved. Plus, certain Galaxy AI tools hinge on which device, language, or region you’re in—or even the service terms. So a Galaxy S24 user in Seoul might notice a different release schedule—or a different list of features—than someone with the same phone in the U.S. or Europe.
That move signals One UI 8.5’s shift from beta to a full-scale launch. After about five months of beta, 9to5Google says the update is hitting devices like the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, Z Fold7, and more worldwide.
