The wait is over for a lot of Galaxy owners.
Samsung has finally pulled back the curtain on something millions of Galaxy users have been asking for. One UI 8.5 Beta is no longer exclusive to the latest flagships. Older phones, foldables, and tablets are now officially in the programme, and the feature list is bigger than most people expected.
If you have been watching Galaxy S25 users enjoy the new experience for the past four months while your device sat on the sidelines, Samsung just changed that.
And here is the thing. There is a lot more packed into this update than the headlines are letting on. Better AI, cross-device freedom, a feature that mobile gamers have wanted for years, and a clear signal of where Samsung is taking its entire 2026 software strategy.
This is not just another beta rollout. This is Samsung making a statement.
The Beta Just Got a Lot Bigger
For the past four months, One UI 8.5 was locked behind a velvet rope. Only Galaxy S25, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7 owners could get in.
That rope has now been removed.
Samsung has officially added these devices to the beta programme:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Series
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Series
If you own one of these and live in the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea, or India, you can join right now. Open the Samsung Members app, find the One UI 8.5 Beta banner, and sign up. Then go to Settings, Software Update, and Download and Install.
Do not wait too long. Beta slots fill up fast.
This Is Not Just a Small Update. Here Is What You Are Actually Getting.
Bixby Finally Works the Way It Should
For years, Bixby was the assistant people turned off. That changes with One UI 8.5.
Samsung rebuilt Bixby with Perplexity AI behind it. It can now answer real, complex questions and actually understand what you are asking. This is not a small tweak. It is the biggest thing to happen to Bixby since it launched.
Your Samsung Devices Can Now Talk to Each Other
One UI 8.5 brings a feature called Storage Share. It lets you browse and access files on your other Samsung devices wirelessly. No cables. No apps. Zero hassle. Just pick up your phone and see what is on your tablet or laptop.
Mobile Gamers, This One Is for You
Here is the feature almost nobody is talking about, and it might be the best one in the whole update.
Game Booster+ is coming to Samsung through Good Lock, and it includes something called Touch Mapping. You can now connect an Xbox or PS5 controller to your Galaxy device and map the buttons directly to your touchscreen controls. Games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact, which have never supported controllers properly, can now be played the way they were always meant to be played.
If you game on your phone, this changes everything.
The Little Things That Add Up
The Weather widget is fresher. The interface feels rounder and cleaner. Icons are easier to spot. These are small things, but they are the kind of small things you notice every single day.
Samsung Is Putting One UI 8.5 Everywhere
The Galaxy S26 launched earlier this month with One UI 8.5 already on board. Now Samsung has also confirmed that two brand new mid-range phones, the Galaxy A57 and the Galaxy A37, ship with it too.
Samsung is not just updating its flagships. It is building its entire 2026 lineup around this software. That tells you a lot about how confident the company is in what One UI 8.5 delivers.
And One UI 9 Is Already Coming
Here is something worth knowing. While One UI 8.5 is still rolling out, Samsung has already started working on One UI 9.
So if you are thinking this update is Samsung’s big bet for the year, you are right. But it is also just the beginning of what is coming next.
More Devices Are Joining in April
Not on the list yet? Samsung has confirmed the beta will expand again in April 2026. That is also when the stable version is expected to start rolling out, starting with the Galaxy S25 series.
April is close. Hang tight.
Bottom Line
One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s best updates in recent memory. A smarter Bixby, cross-device storage, a game-changing feature for mobile gamers, and a cleaner interface all in one package.
If your device is supported, there is no reason not to try it today.
Stay with DeepReviewLab for hands-on coverage the moment the stable release drops.
