Samsung Expands One UI 8.5 Beta to Older Galaxy Phones

Samsung is expanding the One UI 8.5 beta to a broader set of devices. The company is rolling beta builds to older flagships and mid-range models including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, and the Galaxy A36 across select markets such as India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S. The update surfaces a refreshed UI, deeper Galaxy AI integration through Bixby, and limited AirDrop compatibility via Samsung's Quick Share/Nearby Share collaboration.

One UI 8.5 centers on AI features, UI polish, and file-sharing improvements. Key items practitioners should note:

• •AirDrop support: software-level compatibility for transfers with Apple devices is being added, but full AirDrop functionality remains limited to Samsung's latest S26 series for now.
• •Galaxy AI / Bixby: on-device and cloud-assisted LLM features are increasingly embedded in core flows such as assistant responses, summarization, and contextual suggestions. Expect incremental capability differences between flagship and mid-range hardware due to compute and NPU variations.
• •UI and multitasking: refreshed icons, redesigned apps, improved Quick Settings, and lock-screen customization, the update specifically optimizes multitasking on foldable inner displays, increasing split-screen and drag-and-drop workflows on Fold models.
• •Beta cadence and versions: Samsung is using phased regional betas. Some devices are receiving beta 1, while others are on beta 2 or beta 3 depending on model and market. Enroll via the Samsung Members app and then check Settings > Software update > Check for updates to pull builds.

This expansion is meaningful for developers, QA teams, and enterprise mobility managers. First, granting mid-range A-series owners access to a beta program is unusual for Samsung and signals a broader strategy to unify the Galaxy ecosystem around newer software-driven capabilities rather than hardware exclusivity. Second, the partial AirDrop integration increases cross-platform file-sharing surface area, which will affect how apps handle intent resolution and inter-app transfers on Android. Third, broader distribution of Galaxy AI features means more fragmentation testing: server-side fallbacks, latency, on-device model sizing, and privacy/legal considerations will vary by device class and region.

For mobile engineers and AI teams, particular attention should be given to compatibility regressions in sharing intents, permission flows for on-device LLM features, and UX changes that affect background/foreground lifecycle events during multitasking on foldables.

Monitor Samsung's developer documentation and the One UI beta feedback channels for API or SDK announcements that expose Galaxy AI capabilities. Also watch how Apple-Samsung file-transfer interoperability evolves, since full AirDrop parity is not yet available on older devices and may require firmware or chipset-level changes.

Practical takeaways for practitioners: enroll test devices where possible, validate cross-device file transfers and intent handling, audit privacy and network usage for AI features, and prioritize foldable UI flows in your test matrix given One UI 8.5's multitasking focus.