9 new options coming to your Galaxy telephones with One UI 8.5

Replace: September 24, 2025 (12:09 AM ET): A brand new One UI 8.5 leak revealed one other cool characteristic coming to Galaxy telephones with One UI 8.5. We’ve added it to the listing proper on the finish. Assume freedom to customise the management panel any method you need! Counds thrilling? Learn on to search out out extra.

Unique article: September 23, 2025 (5 AM ET): Android 16-based One UI 8 is simply beginning to roll out to Galaxy telephones worldwide, and Samsung hasn’t formally introduced something about One UI 8.5 but. Nonetheless, we and some people received our fingers on a leaked firmware construct that reveals a number of upcoming options in your Galaxy telephones. Whereas we’ve already written about these options individually, right here’s a fast roundup of essentially the most thrilling new options coming to your Galaxy telephones when the One UI 8.5 replace finally lands.

Samsung appears to be getting ready a brand new characteristic referred to as Personal Show (or Privateness Show), which can make it more durable for folks round you to peek inside your display. The characteristic is meant to restrict visibility from aspect angles, so solely you’ll be able to clearly see what’s on the show. This seems like it’ll debut on the upcoming Galaxy S26 Extremely, which is rumored to make use of Samsung’s “Flex Magic Pixel” expertise. That tech makes use of AI to manage viewing angles, adjusting pixels so that they’re not as seen to folks sitting subsequent to you. In response to the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware, customers will be capable of decide between completely different privateness ranges, together with a “Most Privateness” choice that dims the display even additional.

Proper now, Galaxy customers depend on Bixby Textual content Name to manually display calls. You faucet a button when somebody calls, and Bixby asks why they’re calling earlier than you determine to choose up the telephone. It really works with each contacts and unknown numbers, but it surely requires your handbook enter each time.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung seems to be bringing Pixel-inspired computerized name screening for Galaxy telephones. Code within the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware signifies that your Galaxy telephones will mechanically deal with suspicious calls in your behalf and present you a reside transcript of the dialog. This fashion, you received’t have to raise a finger if an incoming name from an unknown quantity is more likely to be spam. The handbook Bixby Textual content Name choice will nonetheless stay for individuals who choose to set off name screening themselves.

Fast Share is Android’s reply to Apple’s AirDrop, however the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware suggests it’s about to get even simpler to make use of in your Galaxy telephones. We noticed strings pointing to an NFC-based file sharing choice, the place transfers start just by holding two units shut collectively.

This seems like a callback to the previous Android Beam days, however Fast Share must be a lot sooner since it’ll seemingly depend on Wi-Fi Direct quite than Bluetooth after the preliminary NFC handshake between units. Samsung even appears to be testing particular animations that play when this switch is triggered. It seems just like the characteristic will probably be experimental when and if it launches, so customers could must choose in to strive it.

Samsung as soon as provided pollen monitoring inside its Climate app, however quietly eliminated the characteristic. Now, it seems like pollen monitoring will make a comeback on Galaxy telephones with the One UI 8.5 replace. The code within the leaked construct suggests the app will as soon as once more present pollen ranges for timber, grass, and ragweed.

Every sort is represented with a color-coded leaf icon, and severity ranges like “None,” “Low,” and “Reasonable” to assist these with allergy points know what to anticipate. Alongside this, the app may additionally get barely refreshed navigation buttons with a extra trendy look.

Samsung appears to be getting ready a brand new AI shortcut proper within the launcher. This could make it simpler to ask questions and get on the spot responses. Primarily based on what we’ve seen within the code, the solutions will probably be quick and conversational, capped at round three sentences.

Apparently, the code references a number of AI suppliers, and it seems like customers will be capable of select between Gemini, Perplexity, or Samsung Gauss for these fast solutions.

Design adjustments are additionally on the playing cards in your Galaxy telephones with One UI 8.5. Leaked screenshots from a modified construct present that Samsung is experimenting with extra iOS-inspired layouts and visuals.

For instance, the Settings web page is now extra compact, with subtitle textual content faraway from menu objects. The search bar has been moved to the underside of the display, and containers now embody drop shadows. There’s additionally a floating again button and an overflow gradient impact on the edges. These adjustments may make their method throughout Samsung’s apps, freshening the look of the complete UI

One UI 6 launched Auto Blocker, a safety characteristic that stops unauthorized apps, USB instructions, and extra from putting in or operating in your Galaxy telephone. Whereas the characteristic may be very helpful, it may frustrate energy customers who sideload apps or join their telephones to PCs.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung would possibly give customers the capacity to briefly disable Auto Blocker, with an choice to have it mechanically flip again on after half-hour. This fashion, you’ll nonetheless be capable of sideload what you want or check one thing rapidly, whereas nonetheless maintaining the safety enabled by default.

One UI 8.5 additionally appears to be including an accessibility characteristic that might make an enormous distinction for some customers. The system will be capable of detect flashing lights in movies and mechanically dim the display to cut back the impression in your eyes.

That is designed to assist folks with photosensitive epilepsy (PSE), who may be triggered by quickly flashing lights in movies, video games, or animations. Whereas it’d look like a small addition, it may assist make Galaxy telephones simpler to make use of for many who endure from the problem.

As extra leaks floor, we’re now discovering out that One UI 8.5 may deliver a completely customizable management panel to Samsung’s telephones. All modules may develop into movable and detachable, representing the largest design change for the characteristic in years. Leaked screenshots present that the entire management panel may develop into extra modular, providing you with way more freedom to rearrange controls. You might also be capable of take away any part you need, no matter how vital it is likely to be.

These are the eight largest adjustments we’ve noticed within the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware to date. Samsung hasn’t confirmed something but, so options may nonetheless change earlier than launch. After all, this listing will even develop as improvement continues and we get nearer to the launch of the Galaxy S26 sequence early subsequent 12 months. We’re anticipating a ton of latest options for every little thing from images to productiveness, AI, and extra. But when these early findings are something to go by, One UI 8.5 might be a big replace in your Galaxy telephones.