Samsung Rolls Out Free Upgrade to Millions of Galaxy Phones
▼ Summary
– Samsung is rolling out One UI 8.5 globally to older and midrange Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy A56 series.
– The update includes a redesigned interface with floating pill-shaped menus, new Quick Panel and Lock Screen customization, and AirDrop compatibility via Quick Share.
– Galaxy S24 series phones and newer receive four AI tools from the Galaxy S26: Audio Eraser, Creative Studio, Call Screening, and updated Photo Assist.
– The Galaxy S23 range and A-series phones will not receive these four AI features.
– The update is now available for devices released in the last three to four years, including the Galaxy S25, S26, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and select A-series models.
After officially releasing One UI 8.5 to the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 lineups,packed with a host of advanced new AI tools,Samsung is now pushing the update to older flagship and midrange Galaxy phones worldwide. However, these devices won’t get the full suite of AI features that debuted with the Galaxy S26.
Read on for the full breakdown, and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for instant deal updates and Samsung news.
Samsung began rolling out One UI 8.5, its latest software update built on Android 16, on May 6th in South Korea, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. The global rollout expanded on May 11th, initially reaching the Galaxy S25 series and the newest foldables, with the Galaxy S24 series following shortly after. Today marks the third major wave, as the update lands on older and more affordable Galaxy phones globally. Galaxy S23 users in Germany, Pakistan, Portugal, and Spain are reporting they’ve received the update, while Galaxy A56 owners in South Africa, Norway, Egypt, and other countries are also seeing it. To check if One UI 8.5 is available on your device, go to Settings and then Software Update.
Which phones will receive the One UI 8.5 update today? Today’s wave includes the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy A56, and Galaxy A36. The Galaxy S23 FE is expected to follow soon. The full list of eligible devices now covers most Galaxy phones released in the last three to four years, including the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 and upwards, and select A-series devices.
What One UI 8.5 brings to your Galaxy phone The headline features include a redesigned interface with floating pill-shaped menus, new Quick Panel and Lock Screen customization options, and AirDrop compatibility through an updated Quick Share integration. The major AI upgrades are the real story, though they don’t come to every device equally. If you own a Galaxy S24 series phone or newer, One UI 8.5 brings four AI tools that originally debuted on the Galaxy S26 earlier this year. Audio Eraser lets you isolate and adjust specific sounds,including voices, music, and background noise,while streaming content through the Quick Panel. Creative Studio is a generative AI image editor that transforms sketches into finished artwork or completely changes the style of an existing image. Call Screening answers unknown calls and transcribes them in real time so you can decide whether to pick up. And an updated Photo Assist uses text prompts to add or remove objects, or change specific details like clothing colors. However, these four AI tools won’t make it to the Galaxy A-series phones or the Galaxy S23 range.
(Source: Forbes)
