Samsung’s gears are already grinding toward Android 16 — even though most Galaxy users are still tapping their feet waiting for Android 15 to show up. Yep, One UI 8.0 is officially on the horizon, and things just got real: Samsung has created a dedicated One UI 8 beta program subforum on its U.S. community website. And if history is anything to go by, this usually means the public beta is just days—or at most, a couple of weeks—away.
This move pretty much confirms what was previously just a strong hunch. Back in mid-May, reports emerged that Samsung planned to kick off its One UI 8 beta sometime this month, and here we are. The creation of this subforum, specifically for the Galaxy S25 series, shows that the company is laying the groundwork to open the floodgates for eligible users soon.
As expected, U.S. users will be first in line, along with Samsung’s home crowd in South Korea. If you’re in either of these two countries and rocking a supported device, you’ll likely be among the first to play with all the shiny new features of Android 16 dressed in Samsung’s fresh One UI 8 skin.
Of course, Samsung’s beta programs have always been a bit of a closed club. Besides the U.S. and Korea, the beta is usually rolled out to folks in Germany, India, Poland, China, and the UK — and we don’t expect that list to grow this year. So, if you’re in Kenya or any market outside this exclusive club, you’ll have to wait a little longer — or a lot longer — before the update shows up.
While the Galaxy S and Fold series devices have already jumped on the Android 15 train globally (yes, including here in Kenya), the Galaxy A series—where most Samsung phones live and breathe—is still staring at the departure board. For devices like the Galaxy A73, A55, A54, A35, A15, and A16, One UI 7 is starting to show up in select markets, and there’s hope that Kenya is next in line. But for others in the A-series family? It’s still radio silence.
So yes, One UI 8 news is exciting—if you own a Galaxy S25, S24, or another eligible foldable flagship. But for the majority of users still waiting for their slice of Android 15, it feels a bit like being served dessert before you’ve even had dinner.
Still, if Samsung sticks to its usual playbook, the One UI 8 beta rollout should begin shortly, first in the U.S. and Korea, and then to other select regions. We’ll be keeping an eye out for that beta toggle to light up and will let you know the moment it does.
For now, whether you’re itching to try One UI 8 or still dreaming of One UI 7, buckle up. Samsung’s update train may have multiple stops, but eventually, it gets where it’s going.
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