We got an early look at Samsung’s next big software update, One UI 8.5, and the company is focusing on practical artificial intelligence (AI) features and giving users more control over their phone’s look and feel. Built on top of the latest Android version, this update brings useful changes to the camera, home screen, and privacy settings for Galaxy devices.
Here are the key takeaways from our time with the One UI 8.5 beta:
- AI Video Tools: A new “Live Edit” feature in the Gallery app lets you remove objects or change backgrounds in videos.
- More Customization: The lock screen now supports interactive widgets, and the system’s color palette offers more theme choices.
- Privacy Dashboard Update: A new “Permission Log” shows a 7-day history of which apps accessed your camera, microphone, and location.
- Smoother Performance: Animations and app opening speeds feel faster and more fluid compared to the previous version.
A Focus on Practical AI
Samsung is expanding its Galaxy AI capabilities beyond photos and text. The main new feature we tested is called Live Edit. In the Gallery app, you can now open a video and tap on an unwanted person or object in the background. The AI will remove it and fill in the space, similar to how Magic Eraser works for photos. The process took a few seconds on a short clip and worked quite well, though complex backgrounds can sometimes look a little blurry.
The camera app also gets an AI boost with a “Style Transfer” mode for video. You can shoot a regular video and then apply an artistic style, like a painting or a cartoon, in real time. This is a fun feature for social media creators.
Deeper Personalization and Control
One UI 8.5 makes it easier to make your phone truly yours. The biggest change is on the lock screen, which now supports interactive widgets. For example, you can add a small music player widget and skip tracks without unlocking your phone. You can also add a quick to-do list and check off items directly from the lock screen.
The “Color Palette,” which pulls colors from your wallpaper to theme your icons and menus, has been improved. You now get more color combinations to choose from, giving you greater control over your device’s appearance. The overall performance also feels snappy. We noticed that apps opened a little faster and scrolling through menus and web pages was very smooth.
Stronger Privacy and Security
Samsung has updated the Privacy Dashboard with a useful tool called the “Permission Log.” This section gives you a detailed timeline of the last seven days, showing exactly which apps accessed sensitive permissions like your location, camera, or microphone and at what time. This makes it much easier to spot any apps that might be misusing your data.
Secure Folder, Samsung’s private space for files and apps, is still present and works as expected. The company continues to build on its Knox security platform to protect device data from the hardware level up. The update is expected to begin rolling out to the latest Galaxy S series phones in late 2025, followed by other flagship and mid-range devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: When will One UI 8.5 be released?
A: Samsung has not given an exact date, but the stable version is expected to start rolling out to flagship devices in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Q2: Which Samsung phones will get the One UI 8.5 update?
A: The Galaxy S25 series will likely be the first to receive the update. It is expected to come to other high-end models like the S24 series, Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and recent Galaxy A series phones in the following months.
Q3: What is the biggest new feature in One UI 8.5?
A: The most noticeable new feature is AI Live Edit for videos, which allows you to remove objects from video clips directly in the Gallery app.
Q4: Is One UI 8.5 based on Android 16?
A: Yes, One UI 8.5 is built on top of the core features and security updates from Google’s Android 16.
Q5: Are there any changes to how Samsung DeX works?
A: In our testing of the beta build, Samsung DeX functioned similarly to the previous version, with minor stability improvements for connecting to external displays.
