Intensive Testing Underway: Which Samsung Devices Are Receiving the One UI 8.5 Update?

Samsung is actively pushing the boundaries of its software ecosystem, with internal testing for the next major iteration, One UI 8.5, expanding rapidly across a wide range of Galaxy devices. While the official public rollout is anticipated following the launch of the Galaxy S25 series in Q2 2025, the development team is already integrating this software, based on Android 16, into numerous models. This rigorous internal "Alpha" testing suggests a broad scope for the update, which promises significant visual refinements and functional enhancements.

It's important to note the distinction between the highly limited Public Beta program and the extensive internal Alpha testing. The Beta is currently exclusive to the flagship Galaxy S25 models (excluding the Edge and FE variants), whereas the Alpha testing reveals Samsung's commitment to updating a vast portfolio of its smartphones and tablets.

Here are the key takeaways from the current development status:

• ✨ **Public Beta Focus:** Current public testing for One UI 8.5 is strictly limited to the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra.
• ✨ **Extensive Alpha Testing:** Internal testing is already covering a massive lineup, including the latest Z Fold/Flip devices, the S22 through S25 series, and many budget-friendly Galaxy A, M, and F series models.
• ✨ **Upcoming Support:** Development is also underway for the unreleased Galaxy S26 series, alongside the Galaxy A37 and A57 smartphones.
• ✨ **Android Base:** One UI 8.5 is built upon the forthcoming Android 16 core, bringing along a visual redesign featuring extensive use of blur effects across stock applications.

The sheer number of devices included in the internal testing phase is remarkable. Samsung appears to be preparing a comprehensive update schedule, ensuring that even older flagships and popular mid-range devices benefit from the visual and underlying improvements of the next generation OS.

Samsung Devices Enrolled in One UI 8.5 Alpha Development

The following lists detail the devices currently undergoing internal testing for the One UI 8.5 software. This comprehensive internal testing scope suggests that Samsung prioritizes a wide device upgrade path for the new Android version.

Public Beta Participants

• Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra

Internal 'Alpha' Testing Group

The following sections detail the models actively being tested internally:

Galaxy Z Series Foldables

Model Segment	Devices in Testing
Future Foldables	Galaxy Z TriFold, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 as well as Flip 7 FE
Current Generation	Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5

Galaxy S Series Flagships

Model Segment	Devices in Testing
S25 Series (Non-Beta)	Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S25 FE
S24 Series	Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24 FE
S23 Series	Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23 FE
S22 Series	Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra

Galaxy A Series Mid-Rangers

Generation	Devices in Testing
Next Gen A	Galaxy A17 LTE/5G, Galaxy A07, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, Galaxy A26, Galaxy A16 LTE/5G, Galaxy A06
Current/Recent A	Galaxy A55, Galaxy A35, Galaxy A25, Galaxy A15 LTE/5G, Galaxy A54, Galaxy A34, Galaxy A24, Galaxy A53, Galaxy A33

Galaxy Tab Series

Segment	Devices in Testing
Tab S Series	Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra
Tab FE & Others	Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE+, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+, Galaxy Tab A9, Galaxy Tab A11+, Galaxy Tab Active 5

Galaxy M/F Series

Series	Devices in Testing
M/F Series	Galaxy M17/F17, Galaxy M07/F07, Galaxy M56/F56, Galaxy M16, Galaxy M35, Galaxy M54/F54, Galaxy M34/F34, Galaxy M53

The testing scope confirms that Samsung is not limiting the One UI 8.5 experience to just its premium offerings. The inclusion of the Galaxy A series and the M/F lines indicates a significant effort to bring the latest Android 16 features across the entire spectrum of its user base.

One UI 8.5, built upon Android 16, is expected to introduce a more polished user interface, leveraging new dynamic blur effects across many stock applications to enhance visual appeal. For users interested in the immediate future of Samsung customization, recent updates to Good Lock modules like Sound Assistant and LockStar are already hinting at the underlying changes coming in One UI 8.5. For instance, LockStar now supports new unlock animations and manual brightness control for the Always On Display (AOD) on compatible devices.

The development pipeline also includes firmware preparation for the next-generation Galaxy S26 series, suggesting that these devices will launch with One UI 8.5 ready, or receive it very shortly after launch.

What is the primary focus of the One UI 8.5 update based on current development?

The primary focus appears to be a comprehensive visual overhaul, integrating new blur effects across stock apps, alongside underlying stability improvements and feature parity across a very wide range of devices, from flagships to budget A-series phones.

When is the stable One UI 8.5 update officially expected to release?

While the Beta testing is currently active on the S25 series, the stable rollout is generally slated to begin after the launch of the subsequent flagship line, the Galaxy S26 series, likely around mid-March, followed by phased distribution to other eligible devices.

What new customization options have been seen in related One UI 8.5 modules like LockStar?

LockStar updates for One UI 8.5 have introduced fresh unlock animation effects (like Slide, Expand, Spread, Wave, and Warp) and granted users manual brightness control over the Always On Display (AOD) for full-screen models, offering granular control over screen appearance.

🔎 As Samsung continues its aggressive internal testing schedule for One UI 8.5, the breadth of supported devices—spanning five generations of flagships and numerous mid-range models—underscores a commitment to extending the life cycle and feature set of its hardware. Users should continue to monitor official announcements, but the current internal activity provides a clear roadmap for the future of the Galaxy software experience.