Just days after halting the One UI 8 rollout for the Galaxy S23 series, it appears that Samsung has shifted its focus to One UI 8.5 – the next update that is expected to launch alongside the 2026 flagship.

According to Tarun Vats, Samsung is testing firmware S918BXXU9FYJ3 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. This is considered an internal version of One UI 8.5, which is still in the early stages of development and has not yet appeared on Samsung's official test servers. However, the discovery of a new firmware is usually a sign that the company has started the software upgrade process for this series.

Previously, the Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra series received the One UI 8 update based on Android 16, but just a few days later, Samsung suddenly removed the update from the OTA system without giving a reason. Some markets have yet to receive the update, leaving users curious about the company's upcoming software plans.

One UI 8.5 is expected to officially launch with the Galaxy S26 series in 2026, and then be released to older devices like the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S23. However, if the Galaxy S26 launch schedule is delayed, as some recent rumors suggest, users may have to wait longer to experience One UI 8.5.

Samsung has yet to announce details of the new features of One UI 8.5, but it is likely that this will be an update focused on enhancing the AI ​​experience and optimizing system performance - continuing the company's software strategy with Galaxy AI as the focus in 2025.