Samsung has had a stellar year with firmware updates. Following two near-perfect major releases earlier this year, the Korean tech giant is already deep in development for its next iteration: One UI 8.5.
While the update is expected to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup early next year, it won’t stay exclusive to the new flagships for long. A massive roster of Galaxy devices—from top-tier foldables to budget-friendly A-series phones—is slated to receive the bump.
For our readers here in Kenya, this list is particularly interesting. While Samsung Kenya officially brings in a specific portfolio of devices, we know many of you rely on “grey market” imports or international purchases to get specific models (like the F-series or specific M-series variants) that aren’t sold locally. Regardless of where you bought your Galaxy, if it’s on this list, you are likely covered.
The “One UI 8.0” rule
Before diving into the specific models, there is a simple trick to check eligibility. Both One UI 8.0 and the upcoming One UI 8.5 are built on Android 16.
This means that generally speaking, if your device is eligible for One UI 8.0, it will almost certainly receive One UI 8.5. Even if Android 16 is the “end of the road” for your specific phone’s major OS updates, Samsung typically pushes the x.1 or x.5 mid-cycle updates to these devices before ending support.
Galaxy devices eligible for One UI 8.5
Here is the comprehensive list of Samsung Galaxy devices expected to receive the One UI 8.5 update.
Galaxy S Series
The bread and butter of Samsung’s lineup. The Galaxy S25 series will be the first to be updated after the S26 launch.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra / S25+ / S25
- Galaxy S25 FE
- Galaxy S25 Edge
- Galaxy S24 Ultra / S24+ / S24
- Galaxy S24 FE
- Galaxy S23 Ultra / S23+ / S23
- Galaxy S23 FE
- Galaxy S22 Ultra / S22+ / S22
- Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy Z Series (Foldables)
- Galaxy Z Fold 7 / Z Flip 7
- Galaxy Z Fold 6 / Z Flip 6
- Galaxy Z Fold 5 / Z Flip 5
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 / Z Flip 4
Galaxy A Series
A very popular segment in Kenya. Note the inclusion of the A2x and A1x lines, which are top sellers in Nairobi CBD stalls.
- Galaxy A73
- Galaxy A56 / A55 / A54 / A53
- Galaxy A36 / A35 / A34 / A33
- Galaxy A26 / A25 / A24
- Galaxy A17 / A16 / A15 (LTE+5G)
- Galaxy A06 (LTE+5G)
Galaxy Tab Series
- Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra / S10+ / S10 FE / S10 FE+
- Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra / S9+ / S9 (Wi-Fi/5G)
- Galaxy Tab S9 FE / S9 FE+
- Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra / S8+ / S8 (Wi-Fi/5G)
- Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024)
- Galaxy Tab A11 / A9 / A9+
Galaxy F & M Series
These are rarely sold officially by Samsung Kenya but are widely available through third-party retailers and online importers like Phone Place Kenya and Phones and Tablets Kenya.
- F-Series: Galaxy F56, F55, F54, F36, F34, F16, F15, F06
- M-Series: Galaxy M56, M55s, M55, M54, M53, M34, M33, M16, M15, M06
What’s new in One UI 8.5?
Samsung started beta testing One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S25 series in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US on December 8. Based on early changelogs, here is what we can expect:
1. Content creation & Photo Assist: Samsung is doubling down on AI-driven creativity. The updated Photo Assist will allow for “continuous” editing, meaning you can generate new AI elements or tweaks without having to save the image after every single change. It keeps the workflow fluid. Additionally, Quick Share is getting smarter; it will now recognize faces in your photos and proactively suggest sending the files to those specific contacts.
2. Ecosystem connectivity (Storage Share): This is a big one for those deep in the ecosystem. A new feature called Storage Share will allow you to view files from your other Galaxy devices (Tablets, PCs) directly inside the “My Files” app on your phone. It reportedly also allows access to phone files directly from a Samsung TV.
There is also Audio Broadcast, which utilizes Auracast to let you use your phone’s microphone to broadcast voice audio to nearby Bluetooth LE Audio-supported devices, which is perfect for tour guides or silent disco-style setups.
3. Enhanced security: One UI 8.5 will introduce Theft Protection features and a Failed Authentication Lock, which automatically locks down the screen after too many failed biometric or PIN attempts.
When will the One UI 8.5 update roll out?
One UI 8.5 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year. Following that debut, the rollout will trickle down to older devices, starting with the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold 7/Flip 7 series, likely reaching the A-series and budget models later in the year.
