Samsung Rolls Out One UI 8.5 to Older Galaxy Devices with Fresh AI Capabilities

Samsung is broadening the One UI 8.5 update to additional Galaxy smartphones and tablets, introducing functionalities initially launched alongside the Galaxy S26 series back in February 2026. The deployment has commenced in South Korea, with other territories expected to receive the update at a later date, contingent upon local markets and specific device variants.

Which legacy Galaxy gadgets are receiving One UI 8.5?

The software refresh is targeting the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Tab S11 series, and Galaxy Tab S10 series. Owners of these previous-generation flagships and tablets can now enjoy Samsung’s most recent Galaxy AI utilities without needing to purchase the latest hardware.

Nadeem Sarwar / Techgeeks

What fresh AI capabilities arrive with this update?

One UI 8.5 introduces a suite of communication and productivity enhancements absent from One UI 8.0. Compatible devices will gain access to AI Call Screening, a tool that can field calls from unknown numbers on your behalf, inquire about the caller’s purpose, and provide a real-time transcript to help you decide whether to answer. Additionally, live voicemail transcripts allow users to read incoming messages as they are being recorded.

Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

Samsung has also integrated a novel keyboard feature named Now Nudge. This function proposes calendar appointments, helpful information, or relevant actions tailored to the current conversation, enabling users to act on details without leaving their chat app. Bixby has received an upgrade with enhanced agentic abilities, empowering it to manage complex, multi-step tasks across different applications. For instance, it can locate a particular photo and send it to a contact via email.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, typing in a Generative Edit prompt. Tom Bedford / Techgeeks

The refresh also introduces advanced AI photo editing capabilities via the Creative Studio app and Text-to-Edit Photo Assist. Rather than manually adjusting images, users can simply describe the desired changes, such as swapping the background or adding new elements. A feature named Object Transfer enables users to relocate people or items from one image to another directly within the gallery app.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, typing in a Generative Edit prompt. Tom Bedford / Digital Trends

For customization, the update includes AI Weather Effects, which generate dynamic lock screen wallpapers that reflect local weather conditions like rain or snow. As with previous updates, Samsung notes that feature availability and support may differ depending on the region, market, and specific device model.