One UI 8.5 Gives Older Samsung Phones a New Lease on Life — Here’s What the Update Brings

Samsung continues to impress with the speed of support for its smartphones and tablets. While most of the tech world is focused on One UI 9 and the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup, the company is already rolling out One UI 8.5 to both current and previous-generation flagship devices.

The update is arriving not only for the Galaxy S25 and S24 series, but also for older Galaxy S23 models. Galaxy S22 owners are also eagerly waiting for the new firmware, as the lineup remains part of Samsung’s supported devices program. In addition to smartphones, One UI 8.5 is gradually making its way to Galaxy Tab tablets as well.

The big question is whether One UI 8.5 can genuinely improve older devices or if this is just another minor maintenance update. Judging by the list of changes, Samsung may have delivered one of its most meaningful mid-cycle updates in recent years.

One UI 8.5: which Samsung smartphones and tablets are getting the update

At the moment, One UI 8.5 is gradually rolling out to the following devices:

• Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra;
• Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra;
• Galaxy S24 FE;
• Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra;
• Galaxy S23 FE;
• Galaxy Z Fold6 / Fold7;
• Galaxy Z Flip6 / Flip7;
• Galaxy Tab S11 series;
• Galaxy Tab S10 series;
• Galaxy Tab S9 series (expected).

The Galaxy S23 series has already started receiving the stable version of One UI 8.5 in several regions. The Galaxy S24 lineup is currently in an active rollout phase, while the Galaxy S25 series was among the first to receive the update. As for smartphones, we have already published the latest One UI 8.5 rollout schedule in Europe.

Samsung has also officially confirmed One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S10 series. In addition, test builds of the firmware have already been spotted for the Galaxy Tab S9 lineup.

As for the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung has not yet officially announced the rollout of One UI 8.5 for these devices. However, the chances of the update arriving remain extremely high, since the S22 lineup has already received Android 16 and continues to be covered by Samsung’s 5-year software support policy.

One UI 8.5 interface redesign: what changed visually

Samsung has noticeably refined the system interface. One UI 8.5 feels more modern visually, with smoother animations, faster transitions and a more responsive overall experience.

The improvements are especially noticeable on the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S24 and newer Galaxy Tab models, where the enhanced optimization makes the software feel closer to the upcoming Galaxy S26 experience.

Key interface changes include:

• updated system animations;
• redesigned lock screen;
• new customization options;
• improved quick settings panel;
• smoother multitasking;
• refreshed design of Samsung’s stock apps.

Even the Galaxy S22 lineup benefits from a noticeably fresher user experience, although some visual effects may not feel quite as smooth due to the older chipset.

Galaxy AI in One UI 8.5: which features older flagships are getting

One UI 8.5 brings several Galaxy AI features from the Galaxy S26 series to older devices. This is exactly what makes the update particularly important for Galaxy S23, Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Tab owners. In practice, users of 2–3-year-old devices are getting an interface and feature set much closer to modern Galaxy S26 phones without upgrading their hardware.

New AI-powered features include:

• Call Screening for unknown callers;
• multi-step Bixby voice commands;
• improved text and translation tools;
• AI-powered camera and gallery features;
• smarter notification handling.

For example, Call Screening allows Bixby to automatically answer calls from unknown numbers and display a real-time transcript of the conversation. Users can then decide whether they want to answer the call themselves.

In addition, Bixby can now perform more advanced multi-app tasks. You can ask the device to find a specific photo and instantly send it to a selected contact.

Some AI features are currently limited to English, although Samsung continues to expand language support.

One UI 8.5 improves battery life and thermal performance

One of the biggest improvements in One UI 8.5 is better power management. Samsung has significantly optimized background processes and standby behavior.

Here’s what changed:

• reduced battery drain in standby mode;
• lower device temperatures during gaming;
• more aggressive background app management;
• faster app launches;
• improved stability under heavy workloads.

Galaxy S23, Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Tab users are already reporting more stable temperatures during gaming and extended usage sessions.

The Galaxy S22 series may also see meaningful battery life improvements, which is especially important for devices with aging batteries.

Quick Share now supports file transfers between Samsung and Apple devices

One of the most unexpected additions in One UI 8.5 is expanded Quick Share compatibility.

Samsung Galaxy users can now send files directly to Apple devices — including iPhone, iPad and Mac — through Quick Share without relying on third-party apps.

For users deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, this is a major improvement to everyday convenience.

One UI 8.5 also improves the Galaxy Tab experience

For Samsung tablets, One UI 8.5 is an especially important update. Samsung continues to expand multitasking capabilities and desktop-style functionality.

Galaxy Tab users are getting:

• improved multitasking tools;
• smoother Samsung DeX performance;
• better interface scaling;
• additional AI-powered features;
• updated system app designs.

On the Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S11 series, One UI 8.5 becomes one of the most feature-rich Android tablet experiences currently available.

Security improvements in One UI 8.5

The update also includes a major security package. Samsung has fixed more than three dozen Android and One UI vulnerabilities, including several critical security issues.

The company has additionally improved:

• system process protection;
• private data handling;
• Samsung Account security;
• app permission management.

Even users who are not interested in new features should install the update simply for the security improvements alone.

What One UI 8.5 brings to Galaxy S22, S23, S24 and S25

Galaxy S25

The Galaxy S25 lineup gets the full set of new AI features and the most complete interface optimizations. On these devices, One UI 8.5 feels almost like an entirely new-generation software experience.

Galaxy S24

The Galaxy S24 series receives nearly all major One UI 8.5 features, including expanded Galaxy AI capabilities, camera improvements and smoother animations.

Galaxy S23

Samsung has already confirmed One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S23 lineup, and the rollout is gradually expanding across multiple regions. The phones gain many features previously reserved for newer models and feel significantly more modern after the update.

Galaxy S22

The Galaxy S22 series has not officially received stable One UI 8.5 yet, although the update is widely expected. The lineup already runs Android 16 / One UI 8.0, while One UI 8.5 serves as an intermediate update within the same Android generation.

Galaxy S22 owners can expect improved battery life, a refreshed interface, smoother system performance and important security patches.