Samsung has officially confirmed the start of distribution of the stable version of the One UI 8.5 interface, which arrives as one of the most significant updates in the last few years. Although the Galaxy S26, S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra arrive in Strata with One UI 8.5, the company has also announced a clear gradual update plan for older models.
Stable builds of One UI 8.5 will start arriving during March 2026, and as usual, the latest flagship models are first on the list. Owners of the Galaxy S25 and S24 series can expect the update a few weeks apart, while users of the Galaxy S22 and older A series will have to be more patient, which is common practice given the size of Samsung’s Android portfolio.
What One UI 8.5 brings and what the update plan looks like
According to the published schedule, the first phase of the update during March and April includes the Galaxy S25 series, as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. In the second wave, during April and May, it is the turn of the Galaxy S24 models, Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Galaxy Tab S11 tablets and selected models of the Galaxy A series. The third wave, planned for May and June, will include the Galaxy S23 and S22 series, as well as some Galaxy A, M and F models, while the rest of the mid-range will receive the update during the second and third quarters of 2026.
One UI 8.5 is more than a classic system tweak. Samsung describes it as a visual and AI reset, based on two main pillars: Ambient Design and the improved Bixby assistant. The most noticeable change is a new visual style with blurred, semi-transparent elements, a layered interface and discrete 3D effects that dynamically adapt to the background.
On the software side, Bixby gets a deeper integration of the Perplexity AI system, which allows for more natural queries, conversational continuity and more complex requests. This functionality is currently available in beta, while the full version will arrive with the stable release of One UI 8.5.
With this update, Samsung clearly shows that One UI 8.5 is not treated as a secondary upgrade, but as an important step in the further development of the Galaxy ecosystem, with an emphasis on design, artificial intelligence and long-term software support, reports Sammy Fans.