Samsung confirms major free Android update, but is | Tech News

There was a time when Android telephones had superior {hardware} to Apple’s iPhone but alternatively had far inferior software program replace insurance policies. Thankfully these days are long gone, and now the preferred Android handsets obtain close-to month-to-month characteristic and security updates.

But the very largest companies akin to Google and Samsung have gone one additional, publicising when they’re pushing out important free software program updates to Pixel and Galaxy telephones which can be already out within the wild, moderately than bigging up new options unique to a new cellphone that’s launching.

Samsung has performed simply that, by confirming its newest model of Android 16, known as One UI 8.5, is formally out there to obtain for free – with three caveats. Only the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra are at present appropriate, and just for homeowners of these telephones within the UK, US, Germany, Korea, India, and Poland.

The last and important factor to notice is that this is a beta launch of One UI 8.5, which implies it’s an opt-in replace program, and you may anticipate there to be bugs and damaged components in some use instances. That’s as a result of beta software program is a model that is not fairly prepared for full public launch, but is steady enough for choose customers to check out with a view to see how it’s performing.

If you reside in a single of the included international locations and have one of these three S25 telephones, you may head to the Samsung Members app (downloadable through the Galaxy Store app) in your gadget to obtain the One UI 8.5 beta. Not that the Galaxy S25 Edge and S25 FE usually are not included within the enjoyable but.

I downloaded the beta onto a review pattern of the S25 Ultra with no points, although word it’s important to have a SIM card within the cellphone for it to work.

Given the Galaxy S26 collection is anticipated to be introduced both subsequent month or February, it is potential that this is a direct window into the software program these telephones will launch with.

It appears to be like as if One UI 8.5 barely modifications something visually, which is to be anticipated in a ‘point’ replace akin to this. In a press release, Samsung mentioned the new model “brings enhanced productivity, privacy and performance across the Galaxy ecosystem”, flagging updates to the AI software Photo Assist and a new characteristic in Android’s Quick Share that recognises people’s faces in pictures and might counsel sending these snaps to these people.

A major focus for One UI 8.5 is gadget connectivity, with the introduction of Audio Broadcast, which helps you to broadcast audio out of your cellphone to different units utilizing Auracast technology. A step up from Bluetooth, you should utilize it to broadcast your voice through the cellphone’s mic to close by headphones or headsets, which might be used on group tours or occasions.

Storage Share is designed to interrupt down obstacles for file entry by exhibiting information out of your different Galaxy units akin to tablets and PCs within the My Files app in your cellphone, plus you’ll even have the ability to entry these information in your Samsung TV.

Samsung additionally mentioned it has improved security with updates to Theft Protection on the telephones, and added Failed Authentication Lock that can lock the screen if somebody tries too many instances to enter a password, PIN or fingerprint.

The release of a beta often means the public release for different telephones isn’t far off, but you possibly can be ready a month or two. One UI 8.5 may launch formally with the S26, but it’s additionally more likely to come to the Galaxy S24 and S23 collection at the very least in the end, and likewise to Galaxy A collection telephones. A variety of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Android tablets also needs to benefit from the new software program sooner or later within the close to future.