Overview
- Samsung began the public One UI 8.5 beta on December 8 for Galaxy S25 devices in select regions, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the US, with enrollment via the Samsung Members app.
- Official beta features include an upgraded Photo Assist with edit history, Audio Broadcast using Auracast on S25 models, Storage Share for cross‑device file access and expanded theft protection with automatic lock after failed authentication attempts.
- Files within a pre‑release build reportedly reveal Galaxy S26 series graphics and internal codenames M1, M2 and M3, pointing to S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra with a familiar vertical camera layout and extra sensors on the Ultra.
- Additional entries reported from the same build suggest faster charging, with indications of roughly 20W wireless for S26 and S26 Plus, about 25W wireless for S26 Ultra and around 60W wired for the Ultra, all unconfirmed by Samsung.
- Leaked code also points to a location‑aware “vacation” storage suggestion in My Files and a more customizable Quick Panel, while the final One UI 8.5 release is expected to ship with the S26 lineup in early 2026.