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Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Leaks Show Visual Refresh as Reports Point to Beta This Year

Built on Android 16, the mid-cycle release is expected to start a late-year beta before a Galaxy S26 launch, with features still provisional.

Overview

  • Leaked internal builds show 3D-style stock app icons and thicker status bar indicators, signaling a broader visual polish.
  • A newer build adds a narrower, floating, white-tinted search bar in the app drawer, replacing the previous wide, wallpaper-tinted field.
  • The Phone app gains a floating bottom tab bar and card-style favorites, reflecting a cleaner layout seen in recent screenshots.
  • Forbes, citing SamMobile, reports Samsung plans a One UI 8.5 beta later this year and an official debut with the Galaxy S26 in February 2026.
  • Reporting points to privacy and security additions such as Google’s automatic call screening, a temporary Auto Blocker disable option, and other protections, though some items remain unconfirmed or could require new hardware.