Samsung’s December 2025 security update is spreading to more Galaxy flagships (including Verizon models in the US), while One UI 8.5 beta momentum builds—and a rumored Beta 2 date is now making the rounds.
Samsung’s software calendar is getting busy as mid-December arrives. Today’s Galaxy update headlines revolve around two parallel tracks: a fast-moving December 2025 security patch rollout for flagship phones and foldables, and the next phase of Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta—with fresh chatter about when the second beta could land.
If you’re holding a Galaxy S25, S24, or one of Samsung’s newest foldables, here’s what matters most right now: security fixes are actively expanding by region and carrier, and Samsung’s upcoming beta cadence may be clearer within days—especially as Week 3 of December begins. [1]
What’s happening today: the Galaxy software rollout is accelerating into Week 3
Samsung-focused trackers expect the pace of updates to continue (or speed up) in Week 3 of December 2025, with three big areas to watch:
- One UI 8.5 Beta 2 development and timing
- Broader expansion of the One UI 8-based December security patch
- Wearables: stable One UI 8 Watch rollout momentum (especially Watch 5/5 Pro) [2]
This matters because Samsung’s update story in December isn’t just about “one big release.” It’s a layered rollout: carrier builds, regional firmware releases, and Google’s own Android security and Play-system patch streams all intersecting—sometimes smoothly, sometimes not.
December 2025 security update: now live for seven flagship Galaxy phones in the US (Verizon first)
One of the biggest practical updates for US readers: Samsung’s December 2025 security update is already reported as live on Verizon for seven high-profile devices:
- Galaxy S25
- Galaxy S25+
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Galaxy S25 FE
- Galaxy S25 Edge
- Galaxy Z Fold 7
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 [3]
Verizon build numbers to check (US)
If you want a quick “yes/no” confirmation, these reported One UI build versions are the giveaway:
- F966USQS6AYKF — Galaxy Z Fold 7
- F766USQS6AYKF — Galaxy Z Flip 7
- S931USQS7BYJ9 — Galaxy S25
- S936USQS7BYJ9 — Galaxy S25+
- S938USQS7BYJ9 — Galaxy S25 Ultra
- S937USQS4BYJ9 — Galaxy S25 Edge
- S731USQS3AYK1 — Galaxy S25 FE [4]
What to expect next: Verizon-first releases commonly spread to other carriers in the following days, but rollout speed varies by device and region. [5]
Galaxy S24 gets a new security update: rollout begins in Korea
While US carrier rollouts get the spotlight, Samsung is also pushing firmware in its home market. The Galaxy S24 series has started receiving a new update in Korea, with SamMobile describing it as a security-focused release delivering the December 2025 security patch. [6]
Key details reported for the Galaxy S24 Ultra in Korea include:
- Firmware version: S928NKSS4CYL1
- Update size: 452.87MB
- Security content: reported to address 57 security issues (including 6 critical and 51 high-risk) [7]
Samsung’s typical pattern suggests that once an update hits Korea, broader regional expansion often follows—though timing varies across markets and carrier approvals.
Galaxy S25 in Korea: December patch lands with a sizable download
Samsung has also begun rolling out the December 2025 security patch to the Galaxy S25 series in South Korea, with a reported download size of 578.57MB and a claim that it fixes 57 security vulnerabilities. [8]
This “Korea first” push is especially notable because the S25 series is also Samsung’s entry point for the One UI 8.5 beta—meaning S25 owners are effectively at the front of both the security and feature-update pipelines right now.
What the December 2025 patch actually fixes: critical Android CVEs and Samsung-specific issues
Security patches can feel abstract until you know what they’re targeting. Samsung’s own security documentation for SMR-DEC-2025 spells out that this maintenance release includes Google’s Android security bulletin patches and Samsung’s own fixes. [9]
Samsung lists multiple critical Android CVEs included in the December 2025 package (along with a long list of high-severity items). [10]
Samsung’s “SVE” fixes: 11 items, including Quram image codec vulnerabilities
Samsung also states that SMR Dec-2025 Release 1 includes 11 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items, and the company calls out several high-severity issues in libimagecodec.quram.so—including out-of-bounds read/write and a heap-based buffer overflow scenario. [11]
Why that matters: Google’s threat research has previously highlighted real-world malicious image activity targeting a Quram library specific to Samsung devices, underscoring why image-parsing bugs can be especially serious on phones that process photos constantly (messages, browsers, social apps, etc.). [12]
The “emergency update” framing: why security urgency is rising in December
A widely shared security theme this month is urgency—some analysts and journalists have characterized early-December Android fixes as “emergency” level because Google warned of threats being exploited and rushed out fixes for its own Pixel line first.
A Forbes contributor summary (via Muck Rack’s article listing) describes Google warning that two threats were being exploited, that Pixel users received the fix quickly, and that Samsung users had to wait—before calling a Galaxy S25 security update a “December surprise.” [13]
Even without dramatic headlines, the practical takeaway is simple: if you see a December 2025 patch available, install it—especially on flagship models that are more likely to be in the first wave.
One UI 8.5 beta: what’s official, what’s rumored, and what’s “secret”
Security patches are only half the story. Samsung also officially kicked off the One UI 8.5 beta program on December 8, 2025, positioning it as a mid-cycle upgrade focused on creation, connectivity, and safety. [14]
Official One UI 8.5 beta highlights (Samsung)
Samsung’s own Global Newsroom release describes several headline features:
- Photo Assist improvements that support continuous editing and let users review an edit history
- Quick Share enhancements that can recognize people in photos and suggest sharing to those contacts
- Audio Broadcast using Auracast for LE Audio-supported nearby devices
- Storage Share for cross-device file visibility inside the My Files app (including access across Galaxy devices)
- Security additions like Failed Authentication Lock and broader Identity check protection [15]
Where the beta is available
Samsung says the beta is first available to Galaxy S25 series users in select markets including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US, with enrollment through the Samsung Members app. [16]
One UI 8.5 Beta 2: December 22 is the date being discussed
Multiple reports today point to a potential December 22 target for Beta 2, though this is not confirmed by Samsung.
- SammyFans reports Beta 2 rumors for Dec. 22, while noting it could arrive earlier, and frames Beta 2 as the moment the beta expands to India and Poland. [17]
- A separate SamFw report also points to Dec. 22 and says Samsung hasn’t published an official roadmap, even as interest grows. [18]
The “secret” One UI 8.5 angle: features Samsung may be holding for Galaxy S26
SamMobile reports that Samsung may be keeping some One UI 8.5 capabilities under wraps until the Galaxy S26 launch window, including a claimed AI notifications summary feature said to use Samsung’s Gauss AI model. [19]
In other words: even if you’re on the beta, you may not be seeing the full picture of what One UI 8.5 becomes by launch season.
A growing complication: Galaxy phones are lagging on Google Play system updates
There’s another under-the-radar update channel that matters for security: Google Play system updates (Project Mainline components). These can patch certain OS modules independently of full firmware updates.
SamMobile reports that many Galaxy devices appear to have fallen behind on Play system updates—often stuck on older months—despite receiving Samsung’s regular security patches, and suggests the unusual cadence of One UI releases may be a factor. [20]
SammyFans similarly reports many devices being stuck on older Play system update months, describing it as a recurring problem and noting that some newer models may still show older Play system versions. [21]
For context, Google’s Android Security Bulletin notes that for some Android 10+ devices, the Google Play system update can carry a date string matching the 2025-12-01 security patch level—underscoring that these Play-delivered updates are part of the overall security picture. [22]
Wearables: Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are now getting One UI 8 Watch in the US
Samsung’s update push isn’t limited to phones. The company is also rolling out stable One UI 8 Watch (Wear OS 6) to the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro in the US, with SamMobile indicating the rollout appears to be hitting cellular variants first. [23]
SamMobile also notes this stable watch update includes the November 2025 security patch, which it says fixes 25 security issues, and provides the path to check for updates in the Wearable app. [24]
How to update right now: the fastest checklist for Galaxy owners
On Samsung phones (One UI)
- Open Settings
- Tap Software update
- Tap Download and install [25]
Google Play system update (separate from Samsung firmware)
- Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Updates > Google Play system update (menu names can vary slightly by model/region). [26]
Galaxy Watch updates
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app
- Go to Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install [27]
What to expect next (the week ahead)
Based on what’s active today and what’s being forecast for Week 3:
- More countries and carriers should pick up the December 2025 patch for newer flagships (especially after Verizon’s early move in the US). [28]
- The S24/S23/S22 lines are widely expected to see broader expansion of the December security patch across global markets. [29]
- One UI 8.5 Beta 2 may arrive around Dec. 22 if current reporting holds, and could coincide with beta access opening more broadly (notably India and Poland). [30]
- Watch updates should continue rolling outward after the US/Korea push for Watch 5/5 Pro. [31]
References
1. www.sammyfans.com, 2. www.sammyfans.com, 3. www.sammyfans.com, 4. www.sammyfans.com, 5. www.sammyfans.com, 6. www.sammobile.com, 7. www.sammobile.com, 8. www.sammobile.com, 9. security.samsungmobile.com, 10. security.samsungmobile.com, 11. security.samsungmobile.com, 12. googleprojectzero.blogspot.com, 13. muckrack.com, 14. news.samsung.com, 15. news.samsung.com, 16. news.samsung.com, 17. www.sammyfans.com, 18. samfw.com, 19. www.sammobile.com, 20. www.sammobile.com, 21. www.sammyfans.com, 22. source.android.com, 23. www.sammobile.com, 24. www.sammobile.com, 25. www.sammyfans.com, 26. www.sammobile.com, 27. www.sammobile.com, 28. www.sammyfans.com, 29. www.sammyfans.com, 30. www.sammyfans.com, 31. www.sammyfans.com
