Samsung has extended the One UI 8.5 beta program to the point where it is now the longest beta cycle in the history of One UI. While the extended timeline may feel frustrating for some users, it has also enabled the company to roll out the beta to a wider range of Galaxy devices, making it the largest beta program Samsung has ever conducted.
The beta first went live in early December 2025, initially limited to the Galaxy S25 series. For nearly three months, there was no expansion to other devices, which led to speculation that the program might remain exclusive to the S25 lineup. However, Samsung eventually took a different approach.
By mid March 2026, the One UI 8.5 beta was expanded to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 for the first time. Since then, the rollout has grown to include more than a dozen Galaxy devices. One of the biggest surprises has been the inclusion of Galaxy A series models, which usually do not receive minor One UI updates. The beta list also includes three generations of FE models, marking another first for the program.
At the time of writing, the One UI 8.5 beta program is available across a total of 21 Galaxy devices. The full list includes:
- Galaxy S25 series, S24 series, S23 series
- Galaxy S25 FE, S24 FE, S23 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold 7, Fold 6, Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 7, Flip 6, Flip 5
- Galaxy Tab S11, Tab S11 Ultra
- Galaxy A55, A36, A35
This brings the total number of supported devices to 21, which exceeds participation levels seen in previous One UI beta programs. For comparison, the One UI 8.0 beta covered around 18 devices, while the One UI 7 beta was limited to about 12. Earlier beta programs like One UI 6.1 and 6.1.1 included fewer than 15 devices each.
Although Samsung deserves credit for expanding the beta to a broader audience, there are still areas where the rollout could have been handled better. The initial months of the program saw very little expansion, which created uncertainty among users. Additionally, the Galaxy S25 series appears to be stuck in an extended beta phase, especially since recent builds have not introduced any major issues. The device has already received nine One UI 8.5 beta updates, the highest number for any Galaxy device so far. Even so, considering the new features and improvements included in One UI 8.5, many users may find the longer wait worthwhile.
(via)
