Samsung officially launched the One UI 8.5 beta yesterday, bringing a host of fresh tools to the Galaxy S25 series. While the release focuses on productivity and privacy, the announcement also accidentally revealed the design of the upcoming Galaxy S26, giving fans a surprise sneak peek at the future.
For those who love taking photos, the biggest change involves Photo Assist. You can now generate and edit multiple images in a row without pausing to save each one individually. You review your changes at the very end of the process. Quick Share is getting smarter, too. It can now recognize faces in your photos and immediately suggest sending the pictures to the specific people in them.
Connectivity sees some practical upgrades as well. A new Audio Broadcast feature lets you speak into your phone and project your voice through a connected Bluetooth speaker. Additionally, a feature called Storage Share better connects your ecosystem. You can open the “My Files” app on your phone and browse documents stored on your tablet or other Galaxy gadgets instantly.
Samsung also tightened security with this update. The new “Failed Authentication Lock” automatically freezes your screen if someone fails the fingerprint or password check too many times. The company also expanded the Identity Check system to protect more sensitive settings, adding an extra layer of defense against thieves.
Right now, the beta is exclusive to Galaxy S25 users in the US, UK, Germany, India, Korea, and Poland. If you want in, download the Samsung Members app, log in, and click the beta program banner at the top. Then, head to your settings menu and check for a software update.
Just be careful—beta software often has bugs and can crash unexpectedly. It is smart to back up your data before installing, or use a secondary phone if you have one available.
