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Samsung One UI 8 Beta: Everything you need to know | Release date, features, and eligible devices

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Samsung Galaxy S25 One UI 7

Samsung fans are excited about the next big software update for Galaxy devices. The One UI 8 Beta has officially launched. If you are curious about what’s available now, the key features, and which devices are supported, you are in the right place. Let’s break it down with the latest official information.

What is the One UI 8 Beta program?

One UI 8 is Samsung’s latest software update, officially based on Android 16. The beta version is a test phase where you can try new features early, report bugs, and help Samsung refine the software before the stable release. Unlike previous expectations of minor changes, One UI 8 brings substantial improvements, including enhanced productivity tools, redesigned apps, new multitasking features, and innovative technologies like Auracast for multi-device audio streaming.

When is the One UI 8 Beta available?

The One UI 8 Beta is now live. Samsung officially launched the beta program earlier than any previous One UI version, thanks to improved collaboration with Google. The first beta update (version ZYER) is over 3GB in size and available for download. The stable version of One UI 8 is expected to launch this summer, debuting on the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, with rollout to other devices following shortly after.

On June 12, Samsung officially released the One UI 8 Beta 2 update (build ZYF3) for the Galaxy S25 series. The June update introduces bootloader version 4 to the Galaxy S25 series, the same as that found in the latest internal One UI 8 beta builds, which enables users who install the second beta to roll back to One UI 7 without issues.

On June 30, Samsung released the One UI 8 Beta 3 for the S25 series. Along with some reported bugs, it brings back the ‘back swipe preview’ gesture. In addition, Samsung has also started the One UI 8 Watch Beta program for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra users.

Expanded regional availability

Major Expansion: Samsung has now expanded the One UI 8 Beta program to include India and Poland with the Beta 2 release. With the Beta 2 rollout, Samsung’s One UI 8 Beta is now available in Germany, India, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US.

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Updated Regional Support:

  • Phase 1: US, UK, Germany, South Korea (launched May 28, 2025)
  • Phase 2: India, Poland (added June 12, 2025)

Which devices currently support the One UI 8 Beta?

Samsung has officially confirmed the eligible devices and regions:

Currently Available:

  • Galaxy S25 series (S25, S25+, S25 Ultra): The beta is live for these devices
  • Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra
  • Supported Regions: United States (T-Mobile locked and unlocked devices), United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, Poland, and India.

How to Join:

  1. Open the Samsung Members app on your Galaxy S25 device
  2. Look for the “One UI 8 Beta Program” banner
  3. Scroll to the beta section and find “One UI 8 S25 Beta project”
  4. Agree to terms and conditions to complete sign-up
  5. Go to Settings > Software Update to download the beta (requires Wi-Fi connection)

Future Expansion:

Based on Samsung’s historical patterns, the beta program may expand to include:

  • Galaxy S24 series
  • Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6
  • Select Galaxy tablets
  • Some Galaxy A series devices

However, this expansion typically happens months after the initial launch, so Galaxy S25 users currently have exclusive access.

Key Features in One UI 8 Beta

Productivity Enhancements:

  • Enhanced Quick Share with streamlined file sending/receiving
  • Smarter My Files app with download source filtering
  • Redesigned Samsung Internet with customizable menus
  • Instant AI Select without waiting times

Multitasking Improvements:

  • Advanced Samsung DeX with WQHD resolution support and display rotation
  • Split-screen edge-pinning for better app focus
  • Redesigned Reminder app with smart templates and voice input

New Technologies:

  • Auracast for simultaneous audio streaming to multiple devices via QR codes
  • Samsung Health Together with competitive running challenges
  • Enhanced Secure Folder with complete encryption options

Additional Features:

  • Bluetooth hearing aid support
  • Improved alarm groups with home screen widgets
  • Calendar integration with direct reminder management
  • Weather app with dynamic background animations

How to Prepare for the Beta

If you have a Galaxy S25 device and want to join:

  • Ensure adequate storage: The beta update is over 3GB
  • Backup your device: Beta software may contain bugs
  • Connect to Wi-Fi: Beta updates can only be downloaded over Wi-Fi
  • Check Samsung Members app: Look for the beta program banner
  • Be patient with bugs: This is test software designed for feedback

Current Status and What’s Next

Official Confirmation: Samsung has officially launched the One UI 8 beta program, marking the earliest beta release in the company’s history.

Timeline: The stable One UI 8 release is expected this summer (July-August 2025), launching with the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7.

Expansion: Additional devices and regions may be added to the beta program in the coming weeks, following Samsung’s typical rollout pattern.

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For the latest official updates, monitor the Samsung Members app and Samsung’s official channels. The Galaxy S25 series currently leads this beta program, offering users early access to Samsung’s most comprehensive software update to date.

Drop your feedback, questions, or tips on my X handle @SamsungSWUpdate.


Updated Information: June 30, 2025 – Based on official Samsung announcements and beta program launch

Hi, I'm Robin, a passionate tech writer with a deep dive into the world of Samsung. With years of experience, I've explored every points of Samsung's Galaxy series and the evolving One UI and Beta testing. I keep myself ready for upcoming Samsung technologies and UI changes, forecasting what users might expect in future updates.

One UI

Samsung One UI 8.5 – Release Date, Eligible Devices, Features and Latest News

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Samsung One UI 8.5

Samsung One UI 8.5

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update may launch early next year with the new flagship phones. The company hasn’t officially confirmed the new version, but all signs point to a potential launch of Android 16-based One UI 8.5.

This post, updated today on July 18, will be kept updated with the latest content when a credible and useful input appears.

Samsung is reportedly working on an Android 16-based One UI 8.5 version. This mid-cycle update is shaping up to be a game-changer, reportedly launching with the Galaxy S26 series and skipping the usual One UI 7.1 and 7.1.1 updates.

Samsung One UI 8.5

Let’s dive into everything we know so far—release timeline, devices that’ll get it, cool new features, and the hottest news straight from the rumor mill.

Release Date

Samsung’s keeping quiet on an official release date for One UI 8.5, but the rumor mill is churning. Based on leaks and rumors, I’m betting we will see it debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026, probably in January or February.

For older Galaxy devices, the rollout might kick off a month or two later, maybe March 2026. Samsung’s been stepping up its update game lately as One UI 8 Beta is already rolling out to devices like the Galaxy S25 series.

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Eligible Devices

Since One UI 8, also based on Android 16, is set to hit foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in summer 2025, One UI 8.5 feels like a refined follow-up. I’m excited to see how fast Samsung pushes this one out!

Here’s a projected list of devices expected to receive One UI 8.5, based on current leaks and Samsung’s update commitments:

Galaxy S Series:

  • Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21 FE, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra

Galaxy Z Series:

  • Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4

Galaxy Tab Series:

  • Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S9, Tab S9+, Tab S9 Ultra.

Galaxy A Series:

  • Galaxy A56, A55, A36, A35, and plenty of other Galaxy A phones.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Tab S10 Ultra Generative Edit

Source – Samsung

Features

Here’s what’s floating around in the rumor mill:

Design language:

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After the July Unpacked, Samsung’s Yang stated that Samsung will “continue to align the GUI (Graphic User Interface) with the underlying style of the product for future releases, too.” Although Yang’s statement didn’t mention One UI 8.5 or the Galaxy S26 series, design deployment is indeed planned for these two upcoming products.

Galaxy AI:

One UI 8 is bringing AI goodies, and One UI 8.5 might take it up a notch, especially for the S26 series with its modern Exynos and Snapdragon chips. I’m hoping for smarter photo editing and AI-powered functionalities so iPhones may feel outdated.

Customization:

Android 16 is all about flexibility wth Material 3 Expressive, and Samsung might lean into that with new lock screen widgets, slicker themes, or better ways to tweak your home screen. I’m hungry for personalization features, so this one has got me excited.

Smoother Vibes:

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One UI 8 already feels snappy even in Beta, with smoother animations. Early Geekbench scores for Galaxy devices running One UI 8 are promising, and One UI 8.5 could make your phone feel like new; fingers crossed for zero lag!

Foldable-optimized UI:

With the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 launching on One UI 8, I’m betting the One UI 8.5 will fine-tune multitasking for foldables. An earlier leak mentioned a bigger cover display on the Z Flip 7, so maybe we will see UI tweaks to make it shine.

Security Boosts:

Google’s Android 16 update has got cool stuff like post-theft lockdown, and Samsung is likely to double down with its own Knox-powered features. Privacy is a big deal, and I’m curious to see what the Galaxy maker adds here.

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Latest One UI 8 beta removed its highlights

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One UI 8

The One UI 8 beta testing is still underway, and in the middle of the test phase, Samsung has removed some of its unique highlighted features, which kept us excited.

Test software version ZYG5 has appeared on Samsung’s software server and has removed some essential features that are expected to be its key highlights. Tipster @tarunvats33 has spotted that this version lacks an adaptive lock screen clock. The Now Brief notifications with read aloud, call captions, and audio eraser integration in the Gallery app are also gone.

We’ve seen some of these features with the Galaxy Z Fold 7/Flip 7 launch last week. Meanwhile, the public One UI 8 beta testers don’t have these removed features.

Samsung launched the One UI 8 beta program in late May and pushed three beta OTA updates to date. It packs new upgrades for animations, fluency, and additions to the existing features to improve the user experience.

One UI 8

One UI 8 (Source – Samsung)

A separate video comparison from Sammobile shows that this information is correct and Samsung has removed the above-mentioned features from the latest server build. However, the adaptive clock was still available in their One UI 8 beta.

Furthermore, a server build spotted for the Galaxy S24 series suggests that these removed features are also coming for last year’s flagship, while specific information remains unknown.

Amid these ups and downs, users are waiting for the One UI 8 rollout, but it appears that Samsung is facing some problems with beta software development. Fortunately, these additions and removals are part of the testing phase, and we can expect the phone maker to bring them with a stable release.

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Still, these features were working fine in the previous software, and it’s hard to explain by Samsung chose to kill them off.

You should know that these changes have appeared in the build uploaded on the Samsung server; to reiterate, these aren’t available to public users and weren’t there in the past three beta updates.

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This popular Samsung notification feature got a new name in One UI 8

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra One UI 7 Lock Screen Now Bar

If you are using a Samsung Galaxy phone with One UI 8 and can’t find the popular Edge Lighting style notification feature, don’t worry, it hasn’t been removed. With the One UI 8 update, Samsung has introduced several changes to improve the user experience, and one of those changes is renaming the Edge Lighting style feature.

Samsung has renamed the Edge Lighting style feature to Light Notification Effect with One UI 8. This change aims to make the feature more accessible and easier to understand for users.

The decision to rename the popular notification feature might be due to the existence of a Good Lock module named Edge Lighting+, and Samsung likely wanted to avoid confusion between the two features.

Edge Lighting was a feature that showed glowing lights around the edges of the phone’s screen when you got a notification. It was a great way to see calls, messages, or alerts without unlocking your phone. The lights could be customized with different colors and styles, which makes notifications more fun and personal.

The newly named Light Notification Effect retains all the core functionalities of Edge Lighting. It continues to offer the same eye-catching visual alerts for calls, messages, and app notifications.

How to Enable Light Notification Effect in One UI 8:

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The process of enabling the Light Notification Effect is similar to the Edge Lighting style, as Samsung just renamed the functionality. To use the feature, you just need to follow a few easy steps:

  • Go to Settings and tap on Notifications.
  • Select Notification Pop-up Style.
  • Tap Add Light Notification Effect.
  • Choose your preferred visual effect and tap Done.

Samsung One UI 8 Light Notification effect feature

This renamed feature ensures users can still enjoy vibrant and dynamic notifications, but with a name that better reflects its functionality. So, if you’re missing Edge Lighting in One UI 8, look for Light Notification Effect. It’s the same great feature with a refreshed identity.

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Samsung is now more aggressively testing One UI 8 on the Galaxy S23 FE

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE March 2025 security update

Samsung is working on bringing One UI 8, based on Android 16, to more Galaxy devices. Right now, only Galaxy S25 users can try the new features through the beta program, and only Samsung’s latest foldable phones have arrived with the stable version. However, Samsung is also testing One UI 8 internally on many other devices, including the Galaxy S23 FE.

Now, the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE running One UI 8 appeared online through a Geekbench test. This gives us a first look at how the phone performs with the upcoming software.

The test results are from the European version of the phone (model number S711B). On Geekbench, the Galaxy S23 FE scored 1319 points in the single-core test and 3559 points in the multi-core test.

These scores show that the phone is running well on One UI 8, even though it’s still an early version. The final software could perform even better once it’s fully optimized.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE One UI 8 performance

Image via Alfaturk

When compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the S23 FE scored a bit lower. But the results are still good and show decent performance overall.

Besides the Galaxy S23 FE, other phones like the Galaxy S24 series, S23 series, S22 series, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Fold 6, Flip 5, Fold 5, Galaxy A56, A36, and more are also testing One UI 8 internally.

Samsung hasn’t officially shared the update schedule for One UI 8 yet, even though the stable version is already out with latest foldables. It’s expected that Samsung will announce the rollout plan soon. Stay tuned for more inforamtion as Samsung prepares to release One UI 8 to more devices.

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7 Samsung apps packed with hidden features get big One UI 8 boost

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Samsung Good Guardians app

Samsung continues to establish an effortless One UI 8 ecosystem before the update’s expansion begins. In the latest development, Samsung has updated 7 apps that offer access to hidden features with One UI 8 compatibility.

Among the 7 Samsung apps that are gaining One UI 8 support, one is EdgeTouch from Good Lock, while the other six are plugins of Good Guardians. Recently, Samsung updated the main Good Guardians with support for the new OS.

Good Lock is pretty famous among Galaxy users because of its powerful customization capabilities and experimental features from core Android. Good Guardians include 6 plugins that help you make the most out of your smartphone.

Here are the details:

Good Lock Apps

    1. EdgeTouch 1.3.16

Galaxy users use Good Lock’s Edge Touch to personalize the edge areas of their phone’s screen, preventing accidental touches and enabling gesture-based actions.

Good Guardians

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    1. Battery Tracker 8.0.07
    2. Battery Guardian 8.0.07
    3. Memory Guardian 8.0.07
    4. Media File Guardian 8.0.09
    5. Galaxy App Booster 8.0.05
    6. Thermal Guardian 8.0.07

Samsung’s Battery Tracker and Battery Guardian plugins are related to core battery tools, such as showing optimized usage stats and tracking power-hungry apps and services.

Memory Guardian and Media File Guardian are related to your phone’s storage. These modules display storage occupied across apps, as well as cleaning memory by deleting useless hidden files.

Galaxy App Booster is built to transfer an app’s executable assets for performance improvement. Thermal Guardian ensures the device stays cool by letting you know of source of activities causing overheating.

With One UI 8 support, these apps are now ready to function seamlessly on the new OS. It will ensure the Galaxy users won’t miss out on any existing perks like crashing and lagging after the One UI 8 rollout begins for older models.

Good Lock is officially available worldwide as a single app, which consists of over a dozen plugins. Meanwhile, you may find it difficult to have Good Guardians, as this is a more experimental feature suite with limited availability.

For all the latest news and software updates, follow SammyFans on Google News

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X/Twitter DMs are also open for tips, suggestions, and feedback – DM Yash on X (open to followers).

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