SEOUL, February 10, 2026, 18:23 (KST)
- Samsung has released the fourth One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 devices in several regions.
- Now available: “Direct Voicemail” with live transcription inside the Phone app, alongside the February 2026 security patch.
- This update focuses mostly on fixes as Samsung gets ready to launch the stable One UI 8.5, which will arrive alongside the Galaxy S26 series.
Samsung Electronics has launched the fourth One UI 8.5 beta for its Galaxy S25 series, bringing a new “Direct Voicemail” feature that transcribes incoming messages in real time, tech sites reported Monday. The update also packs in the February 2026 security patch and addresses bugs in both the Phone app and system UI. 1
Samsung is pushing the beta ahead of its next flagship launch, putting more emphasis on software control. One UI 8.5 is expected to leave beta and launch officially with the Galaxy S26 series. The company is betting big on its Android skin as a standout feature, with users paying as much attention to AI functions and call handling as they do to camera specs and screen performance.
Samsung is reportedly testing One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, on the Galaxy S25 series. This update skips flashy redesigns. Instead, it focuses on tidying up the interface, boosting stability, and adding a calling feature that keeps more functions directly on your phone.
The Beta 4 firmware, known as “ZZAL” in reports, clocks in at about 1.5 gigabytes and is rolling out to Galaxy S25 beta testers in South Korea, India, Germany, the UK, and the US. According to the update’s changelog, it fixes lock screen glitches and several call-related bugs.
Direct Voicemail is the feature users will notice right away. It can automatically send incoming calls to voicemail after a specified time or let users divert callers on demand. Voicemail messages show up in Samsung’s Phone app, complete with a live text transcript that appears in real-time as the caller speaks.
This approach mirrors Apple’s Live Voicemail in iOS 17 and Google’s Pixel voicemail transcription. But Samsung’s version, as reported by Android Police and others, bypasses carrier voicemail altogether, managing recording and transcription right on the phone. 2
The Beta 4 update tackles some persistent bugs: the lock-screen clock drifting downward, glitches when tapping search history in the Phone app, and problems with call audio and Bluetooth headset switching. It also fixes a reported issue where Samsung’s AI Select tool wouldn’t close after pressing “Copy.” 3
Samsung hasn’t slowed down. Back in December, One UI 8.5 beta builds for the Galaxy S25 started rolling out, followed by another wave in January. After a longer break, Beta 4 finally arrived as the company pivots to the Galaxy S26 cycle.
Beta software tends to be chaotic. Features can change or disappear before the official launch, and rollout timelines differ by country—even for devices already enrolled in testing. Transcription accuracy also varies with language and background noise, a typical hurdle for voicemail-to-text tools.
If you’re part of the One UI 8.5 beta program, you can update now by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install, per Android Central. Right now, the public beta is only available for the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. There’s no update on whether other devices will get access yet. 4
