Full Breakdown
Samsung Expands One UI 8.5 Beta 2 Rollout Across Galaxy Lineup
4/28/2026, 5:27:48 AM
One UI 8.5 Beta 2: Current Deployment Overview
Samsung is rolling out the second beta of its One UI 8.5 (Android 16) to a broad set of Galaxy devices. The rollout began in South Korea, has reached India, and is slated to expand to additional eligible regions in the coming days.
Background and Context
One UI 8.5 debuted with the Galaxy S26 series, adding UI refinements, new camera capabilities, AI tools and security enhancements such as theft protection, failed-authentication lock, auto-blocker and inactivity restart. The first beta was released in early April, initiating a multi-stage testing program.
Timeline of Recent Beta Deployments
- Early December 2025 – Beta testing program launched (10 beta releases to date).
- Early April 2026 – First One UI 8.5 beta released to select devices.
- April 27 2026 – One UI 8.5 Beta 2 released for the Galaxy S23 series (India, Korea) and the mid-range A55, A36, A35 (India).
- April 27-28 2026 – Beta 2 rolled out to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 (limited to Korea).
- April 30 2026 – Stable One UI 8.5 expected for the Galaxy S25 series in Korea.
- Early May 2026 – Global rollout for the S25 series targeted for May 4.
- Mid-May 2026 – Wider rollout for other models anticipated.
- June 2026 – Potential stable release for the A55, A36 and A35.
Devices Receiving Beta 2 (Key Models)
- Flagship: Galaxy S23 series – build ZZDP, ~800 MB.
- Mid-range: Galaxy A55 (ZZDC), A36 (ZZD7), A35 (ZZD9).
- Foldables: Galaxy Z Flip 5 (F731NKSU6ZZDN, 764.73 MB) and Galaxy Z Fold 5 (ZZDN).
- Upcoming stable: Galaxy S25 series (April 30, Korea; May 4, global).
Core Fixes in Beta 2
- Security: Strengthened device protection, theft protection, failed-authentication lock, auto-blocker, inactivity restart.
- Audio: Improved low-speaker call volume and driving-related audio quality.
- UI: Fixed subtext error under “Show brief pop-ups even when the screen is off,” screen-transition glitches after saving contacts, and message-input overlap with the navigation bar.
- Camera: Resolved preview-capture mismatches in FUN mode, filter bugs, and macro-shooting issues.
- Connectivity: Fixed Bluetooth autoscan failures, Bluetooth crash, and multi-touch malfunctions.
- System stability: Addressed Quick Panel lag, System UI ANR after OTA updates, and green-line artifacts in 4K HDR video recording.
Why It Matters
Samsung’s staggered regional rollout lets the company collect real-world feedback, address bugs, and align the update with the April 5 2026 Android security patch. By focusing on stability before the final release, Samsung aims to narrow the gap with competitors that have historically delivered security updates more quickly.
Official Statements & Responses
Samsung states that One UI 8.5 “strengthens device protection” and gives users clearer control over security settings. The company confirms the beta phase is ongoing and that the stable One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 series is slated for April 30 in Korea, with a global rollout expected shortly after. Samsung emphasizes that the second beta primarily delivers bug fixes rather than new features, underscoring a focus on polishing before the final launch.
Criticism & Opposition
Forbes characterizes the testing campaign as “the most criticised software testing campaign Samsung has ever launched,” reflecting user frustration with prolonged beta cycles and delayed stable releases.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Some sources list May 4 as the global launch date for the stable S25 update, while others cite an April 30 release in Korea, creating uncertainty about the exact timeline.
- Coverage for mid-range A-series devices varies: The BluNtimes predicts a June stable rollout, whereas DealNTech suggests the beta may precede an earlier stable release, but no definitive date is provided.
- Reliability scores differ across sources, and several articles lack explicit reliability assessments, limiting verification of rollout details.
Verbatim Quotes
- “and gives users clearer control over their security settings.” — Samsung, Official Statement
- “Per SammyFans, “based on leaks, the company is poised to release this firmware update to all Galaxy S25 series users starting April 30.” — SammyFans, Analyst
- “5 Beta 2 update for the Galaxy S23 series comes with build version ZZDP and is around 800MB in size.” — Tarun Vats, Twitter User
- “The goal is clearly to improve stability and performance ahead of the final rollout.” — The BluNtimes Editorial
What’s Next
Samsung is expected to begin the stable One UI 8.5 rollout for the Galaxy S25 series in Korea on April 30, followed by a global rollout in early May. Mid-range A-series devices are slated for stable updates around June, pending final beta validation. Ongoing monitoring of bug reports from beta participants will guide any additional beta iterations before the final public release.
