Hot on the heels of the Galaxy S26 series launch, Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.5 Beta 6 for the Galaxy S25. As the sixth beta iteration for the 2025 flagship, this update prioritizes under-the-hood optimizations and bug squashing over flashy new features.

While One UI 8.5 comes out of the box with the newly minted Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, Samsung is rigorously testing the software on its older devices to ensure peak stability ahead of a wider public rollout.

Weighing in at 568MB for the S25 Ultra, the latest beta (firmware version ZZAO) is currently rolling out over-the-air (OTA). It is available to registered beta testers in select markets, including India, Germany, and South Korea.

Rather than introducing major new tools, One UI 8.5 Beta 6 focuses on cleaning up lingering system bugs. Key fixes in the changelog include:

  • Resolving an issue with custom wake-up phrases in Bixby Labs.

  • Fixing a glitch in the Gallery app's sketch converter that caused duplicate "Preview" buttons to appear.

  • Improving the text, icon, and Always-On Display (AOD) visibility for the Now Bar and Now Brief suggestion cards.

  • Addressing app crashes triggered by changing camera regions in Settings > Display.

  • Patching a lock screen style error when using the Basic mode in Modes and Routines.

  • Smoothing out the animation effects for notification cards.

With the bulk of these tweaks aimed at system stability and UI consistency, it’s clear that Samsung is entering the final polishing phase.

Barring any last-minute hurdles, the stable version of One UI 8.5 is expected to begin its official rollout in March 2026. The Galaxy S25 lineup will be first in line, followed by a broader release to other eligible Galaxy devices.