Samsung is broadening the scope of its One UI 8.5 testing phase, moving beyond its flagship and premium mid-range lines. For the first time, the budget-friendly M series has surfaced on the internal development roster, with the Galaxy M54 running an early build of the upcoming software.

According to tracked data, test builds for the Galaxy M54 have appeared in several regional markets, including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and the UAE. Specifically, the firmware spotted in Vietnam bears the version number M546BXXU9FYL1. While its appearance on a test server does not guarantee an imminent public release, it marks a definitive step in Samsung's development roadmap for the device, signaling that the M series is being integrated into the update pipeline earlier than usual.

The M54 follows a wave of Galaxy A series devices already spotted with One UI 8.5 builds, a list that includes the Galaxy A56, A55, A54, A36, and even the entry-level A16 5G. Furthermore, unreleased handsets such as the Galaxy A57 and A37 are rumored to launch with the software pre-installed next year, pointing to a widespread deployment strategy.

Originally launching with Android 13, the Galaxy M54 has since been upgraded to One UI 8 (based on Android 16). Under Samsung's current software policy, the device is eligible for one final major OS upgrade—likely Android 17—which will mark the end of its core operating system lifecycle.

The stable version of One UI 8.5 is expected to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year, with a broader rollout to eligible devices slated for the first half of 2026. With the Galaxy M54 already under internal testing, users can be optimistic that the update process for the M series will be more timely than in previous years.