One UI 8.5’s Biggest Performance Boost Leaks for Galaxy
▼ Summary
– A tipster claims Samsung has upgraded the Android kernel in a One UI 8.5 beta, making the system feel smoother and more responsive.
– This kernel upgrade, from version 6.6.77 to 6.6.98, is reportedly the first of its kind for Samsung and was found in a Galaxy S25 series beta build.
– There is conflicting speculation on whether this change will appear in a future beta or is part of the planned stable launch version of One UI 8.5.
– Samsung recently released One UI 8.5 Beta 3, a large 1.2GB update that fixed issues like battery drain, lock screen glitches, and gallery lag.
– Separate from the beta, the Galaxy S25 series also received a January 2026 security update addressing around 55 major security flaws.
A significant performance enhancement appears to be on the horizon for Samsung Galaxy devices, according to recent leaks surrounding the upcoming One UI 8.5 update. Reports suggest a foundational upgrade to the Android kernel is in testing, promising a noticeably smoother and more responsive user experience. This system-level change could represent a major leap in optimization for Samsung’s software.
The information originates from prominent tipsters who monitor Samsung’s development channels. They indicate that within a recent beta build, Samsung has updated its kernel version, which acts as the core bridge between a phone’s hardware and its operating system. This marks the first time Samsung has undertaken such a kernel upgrade for its One UI software, making it an unexpected but potentially impactful move. Early hands-on impressions from these tests describe improvements in system fluidity, touch responsiveness, and overall animation smoothness.
There is some debate, however, about when users will experience this change. One source suggests the enhanced kernel will arrive with a future beta release for testers. Another claims the upgrade is actually part of the planned stable version of One UI 8.5, discovered on official servers. This divergence means it’s unclear if the improvement is a final feature or still undergoing evaluation in the beta program.
Samsung recently distributed the third beta for One UI 8.5, a substantial update that addressed numerous user-reported issues. The lengthy fix list included problems like lock screen glitches, gallery app lag, and a specific concern over abnormal battery drain caused by certain applications. The company has been actively refining the software through these beta phases, with the previous version having launched just a few weeks prior.
While the final rollout timeline for One UI 8.5 remains unconfirmed, the kernel upgrade leak points to meaningful under-the-hood work. Outside of the beta program, Galaxy users are currently receiving standard monthly security patches. For now, the potential for a major performance boost in the next full software update gives Galaxy owners a compelling reason to watch for official announcements from Samsung in the coming months.
(Source: Android Central)
