Even though One UI 8 has yet to be officially released and the One UI 7 update has yet to reach most users globally, Samsung appears to have already entered the development phase of One UI 8.5.

The information comes from Sammypolice, who discovered code related to One UI 8.5 in Samsung's software system. Notably, there is absolutely no sign of One UI 8.1 or any intermediate builds, suggesting that Samsung may skip the minor update and jump straight to the major upgrade called One UI 8.5.

Reliable source Tarun Vats also confirmed this, saying that many of his internal sources revealed that One UI 8 will not come with 8.1 but will be followed by 8.5, marking the return of the โ€œ.5โ€ update that Samsung used, most recently with One UI 2.5 in 2020. This could be a turning point for the company to bring back a mid-cycle update with many valuable improvements instead of the usual small patches.

The slow rollout of One UI 7, especially in major markets like the US, has disappointed many Galaxy S24 users. However, this delay could be a stepping stone for Samsung to refine its software update strategy, aiming to bring a more optimal experience in the next versions.

One UI 8 is expected to launch with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in the second half of 2025, but this could just be a minor upgrade. On the contrary, One UI 8.5 is likely to be the key update, integrating many more features, especially in terms of AI, such as camera optimization, messaging, smart suggestions, or call management. If the roadmap is correct, the Galaxy S26 launched in early 202,6 will be the first device to have One UI 8.5 pre-installed.

Although Samsung has not yet confirmed, signs from the system show that One UI 8.5 is being carefully prepared, and that is the version that is really worth looking forward to after One UI 7.