The South Korean manufacturer has officially announced the distribution strategy for its next generation of software, confirming the arrival of One UI 8.5 built on the Android 16 architecture. The update aims to raise usability standards and integrate advanced artificial intelligence features, consolidating the brand’s ecosystem with a focus on stability, security and improved performance for consumers.
The migration process will be carried out entirely via OTA (Over-The-Air), allowing users to download and install automatically as soon as the notification appears, eliminating the need for cables or computers. However, due to the high demand for graphics and neural processing in the new version, support was restricted to newer hardware, ending the cycle of major updates for models prior to the Galaxy S21 family, with the exception of the Fan Edition versions.
Priority for premium line Galaxy S
High-performance smartphones lead the development schedule, receiving software innovations as a priority to maximize the potential of processors and image processing. The compatibility list ranges from the most current releases to previous generations that maintain robust performance.
Confirmed S Series models include:
– Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge and S25 FE
– Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, S24 Ultra and S24 FE
– Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra and S23 FE
– Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra
– Galaxy S21 FE
Optimizations for foldable screens
The flexible screen segment received dedicated attention in the engineering of One UI 8.5, with specific adjustments for multitasking and smoother screen transitions. The system improves the management of floating windows and introduces new features in “Flex Mode”, adapting the content automatically according to the device’s tilt.
Owners of foldable models will have access to the interface designed for the hybrid format on the following devices:
– Galaxy Z Fold 7, Fold 6, Fold 5 and Fold 4
– Galaxy Z Flip 7, Flip 7 FE, Flip 6 and Flip 5
Expansion to series A intermediaries
Responsible for the manufacturer’s large sales volume, the intermediate line was widely included in the update roadmap. The focus for these devices is to optimize RAM memory and reduce latency, democratizing access to modern resources without compromising battery life, although release may occur in a second stage.
Coverage for series A is extensive and covers:
– Galaxy A56, A55, A54 and A53
– Galaxy A36, A35, A34 and A33
– Galaxy A26 and A25
– Galaxy A17, A16 and A15 (including 5G versions)
Tablets and Rugged Devices
For the corporate and tablet segment, the update focuses on productivity and integration with other mobile devices and notebooks. The new version improves split-screen mode and improves the response of smart pens, transforming devices into more efficient workstations.
The list of tablets and robust models includes:
– Galaxy Tab S11 and S10 (complete lines)
– Galaxy Tab S9 and S8 (complete lines)
– Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024 edition)
– Linhas Galaxy Tab A11 and A9
– Galaxy Tab Active 5 and XCover 7 (including Pro versions)
Privacy and visual refinement
One UI 8.5 introduces a revamped privacy dashboard, offering detailed reports on app access to sensitive features like the camera and microphone. The security system was also reinforced with new biometric authentication requirements for critical changes, making malicious actions more difficult in the event of the device being lost.
In visual terms, the animations were rewritten to ensure greater fluidity in navigation. Power management now uses machine learning algorithms to identify usage patterns, intelligently suspending background processes to extend charge duration on all supported models.