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Samsung Speeds One UI 8.5 Rollout as S26 Pace Cools and Foldable Rumors Mount

The broad update push showcases Samsung's effort to lock in loyalty ahead of higher-priced hardware.

Overview

  • Samsung expanded the stable One UI 8.5 update on Monday to the Galaxy S23 and S24 lines, Z Fold5/Flip5, and A36/A56, bringing a refreshed interface, Quick Share with AirDrop support, and new AI tools.
  • The rollout, which started in South Korea and is spreading to more regions, also reached the Korea-only Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition in a faster-than-usual move to older models.
  • Counterpoint data reported by Android Central shows Galaxy S26 sales ran about 15% ahead of S25 in the first six weeks, led by an Ultra model that made up roughly 70% of pre-orders, before sell-through slowed as prices rose.
  • Retailers in India cut Galaxy S25 prices to clear inventory, with the S25 Ultra down by Rs 26,000 on Amazon and the S25 Plus listed near Rs 74,449.
  • Unconfirmed leaks point to July foldable launches, with a Galaxy Z Fold 8 tipped for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 50MP ultrawide, plus a wider Fold Wide variant, and separate reports outline early Galaxy S27 Pro/Ultra changes.