SEOUL, April 10, 2026, 01:22 KST
Samsung Electronics expanded its One UI 8.5 beta program—the Android 16-based interface—on April 9, bringing the update to the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy S23 FE, and Galaxy A36 5G. That same day, Samsung rolled out a second One UI 8.5 beta build to Galaxy S24 devices in India and South Korea.
This shift is significant right now: Samsung is doubling down on software, trying to lock in longtime Galaxy users as AI tools start driving upgrade decisions—or convincing them not to jump ship. The company said a broader rollout of the One UI 8.5 beta is coming later in April, signaling a push to get the update onto more models fast.
That moves the needle in its rivalry with Apple and Google. Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta, now live, brings Apple’s AirDrop-style functionality to select newer Galaxy phones via Quick Share, its proprietary file-sharing feature. Meanwhile, Google confirmed the Galaxy S26 series shipped with expanded Gemini integration and baked-in scam detection for the Samsung Phone app.
Samsung says its latest beta will hit devices in waves, landing first in India, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S., all depending on which model you’ve got. Right now, the Galaxy A36 5G beta is India-only. Fold5 and Flip5 get beta access just in Korea and the U.S. out of the gate, which puts the A36 ahead as the first A-series phone to join One UI 8.5 beta.
On the Galaxy S24 series, SamMobile reports the second beta rollout in India landed at roughly 897 MB, with firmware ending in ZZD5. This update rolls out nine tweaks: three fresh camera filters are in, and users should notice fewer Bluetooth drops and less screen flicker while dual recording. April’s security patch is also on board—Samsung’s bulletin details critical and high-severity Android vulnerabilities addressed, plus the company’s own fixes.
Samsung rolled out the beta for its Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra models, with package sizes topping 4 GB in India and Korea, according to SammyGuru. Meanwhile, on April 9, the Galaxy S25 lineup received its ninth beta in India, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S.—marking an unusually drawn-out testing phase for Samsung’s flagship.
Samsung isn’t mincing words about its strategy. “We will apply AI to all products, all functions, and all services as quickly as possible,” mobile chief T M Roh told Reuters back in January. Fast-forward to MWC in March, and Roh pressed the point further: Samsung wants to highlight not just where Galaxy AI stands today, but its next steps. Reuters
Getting users to actually adopt those features is the bigger challenge, according to analysts. Paolo Pescatore at PP Foresight thinks AI must come across as “boringly useful” rather than a passing novelty. Counterpoint’s Yang Wang, meanwhile, sees Apple and Samsung as “best-positioned to weather the next few quarters,” even as rising costs squeeze the phone market. The Associated Press
One hitch remains. Earlier this week, Gadget Hacks said Samsung confirmed that AI-powered call screening — which lets your device handle or filter unknown callers — would arrive on the Galaxy S25 via a later software update. On the flip side, Android Central noted that other posts on the Samsung Community suggested otherwise, and Samsung’s April 9 beta didn’t clarify which, if any, S26 AI features might be rolled out more widely.
Uncertainty is hitting just as phone makers prepare for what could be a rougher year ahead. Back in January, Reuters cited IDC and Counterpoint projections showing global smartphone sales might contract in 2026 as memory prices climb. That’s likely behind Samsung’s move to roll out new software updates to older devices right now, rather than stockpiling features for its next flagship.
