The first beta firmware of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra has been uploaded to Samsung’s servers. Therefore, it’s possible that the beta program will begin this November or December. However, it’s more likely that the schedule will be postponed.
This is significant because One UI 8.5 is expected to debut with the Galaxy S26. However, there are rumors that Samsung may postpone the launch of this range, which would also delay One UI 8.5. Nonetheless, this upload to Samsung’s servers marks an important step towards the start of the public testing program. This indicates that despite the challenges faced by Samsung, the timeline hasn’t been completely disrupted.
The Release of the Beta Program of One UI 8.5 Delayed?
Historical data from previous versions of the Android-based interface provides clues about the deployment of One UI 8.5, which will introduce a new Galaxy AI feature called Now Nudges. The beta firmware for One UI 7 appeared 24 days before its public release, while for One UI 8, it showed up 17 days prior to distribution to testers. If Samsung follows this timeline, we can expect the beta program for One UI 8.5 to start during the third week of December.
Breaking ‼️
Galaxy S25 Series has just spotted the FIRST One UI 8.5 Beta Build on the test server! 🔥
Build Version: S938NKSU7ZYKP/S938NOKR7ZYKP/S938NKSU7CYKP
Big things are coming, folks! 😎
Share the news! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/OkMMuzoZLG— Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) November 25, 2025
Of course, this timeline should be taken with caution until Samsung makes an official announcement. It depends on various internal factors within the company. Uncertainty still looms over which regions will have access to the One UI 8.5 beta, which will let AI choose important notifications for you. Samsung’s past patterns make it difficult to predict what their strategy will be for this interim version of their Android interface. Markets that typically enjoy beta programs for the interface might not be included this time.
Despite being an interim version, it is likely to be deployed much more quickly and less spread out in time than One UI 7 or One UI 8. In short, many improvements await One UI 8.5 users, including clearer notifications facilitated by AI. While much focus has been on AI-driven updates, let’s not forget that other software adjustments are also in store, including significant photo features for Galaxy smartphones.
