8 new options coming to your Galaxy telephones with One UI 8.5

Android 16-based One UI 8 is simply beginning to roll out to Galaxy telephones worldwide, and Samsung hasn’t formally introduced something about One UI 8.5 but. Nevertheless, we and some folks acquired our fingers on a leaked firmware construct that reveals a number of upcoming options on your Galaxy telephones. Whereas we’ve already written about these options individually, right here’s a fast roundup of essentially the most thrilling new options coming to your Galaxy telephones when the One UI 8.5 replace ultimately lands.

Samsung appears to be making ready a brand new characteristic referred to as Personal Show (or Privateness Show), which can make it tougher for folks round you to peek inside your display. The characteristic is meant to restrict visibility from facet angles, so solely you’ll be able to clearly see what’s on the show. This seems to be like it can debut on the upcoming Galaxy S26 Extremely, which is rumored to make use of Samsung’s “Flex Magic Pixel” know-how. That tech makes use of AI to regulate viewing angles, adjusting pixels in order that they’re not as seen to folks sitting subsequent to you. In response to the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware, customers will be capable to decide between completely different privateness ranges, together with a “Most Privateness” choice that dims the display even additional.

Proper now, Galaxy customers depend on Bixby Textual content Name to manually display calls. You faucet a button when somebody calls, and Bixby asks why they’re calling earlier than you resolve to choose up the telephone. It really works with each contacts and unknown numbers, nevertheless it requires your handbook enter each time.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung seems to be bringing Pixel-inspired computerized name screening for Galaxy telephones. Code within the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware signifies that your Galaxy telephones will robotically deal with suspicious calls in your behalf and present you a reside transcript of the dialog. This fashion, you gained’t must carry a finger if an incoming name from an unknown quantity is more likely to be spam. The handbook Bixby Textual content Name choice will nonetheless stay for individuals who desire to set off name screening themselves.

Fast Share is Android’s reply to Apple’s AirDrop, however the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware suggests it’s about to get even simpler to make use of in your Galaxy telephones. We noticed strings pointing to an NFC-based file sharing choice, the place transfers start just by holding two units shut collectively.

This appears like a callback to the previous Android Beam days, however Fast Share needs to be a lot sooner since it can seemingly depend on Wi-Fi Direct quite than Bluetooth after the preliminary NFC handshake between units. Samsung even appears to be testing particular animations that play when this switch is triggered. It seems to be just like the characteristic will likely be experimental when and if it launches, so customers might need to decide in to strive it.

Samsung as soon as provided pollen monitoring inside its Climate app, however quietly eliminated the characteristic. Now, it seems to be like pollen monitoring will make a comeback on Galaxy telephones with the One UI 8.5 replace. The code within the leaked construct suggests the app will as soon as once more present pollen ranges for timber, grass, and ragweed.

Every sort is represented with a color-coded leaf icon, and severity ranges like “None,” “Low,” and “Average” to assist these with allergy points know what to anticipate. Alongside this, the app might additionally get barely refreshed navigation buttons with a extra fashionable look.

Samsung appears to be making ready a brand new AI shortcut proper within the launcher. This might make it simpler to ask questions and get immediate responses. Primarily based on what we’ve seen within the code, the solutions will likely be brief and conversational, capped at round three sentences.

Curiously, the code references a number of AI suppliers, and it seems to be like customers will be capable to select between Gemini, Perplexity, or Samsung Gauss for these fast solutions.

Design adjustments are additionally on the playing cards on your Galaxy telephones with One UI 8.5. Leaked screenshots from a modified construct present that Samsung is experimenting with extra iOS-inspired layouts and visuals.

For instance, the Settings web page is now extra compact, with subtitle textual content faraway from menu gadgets. The search bar has been moved to the underside of the display, and containers now embrace drop shadows. There’s additionally a floating again button and an overflow gradient impact on the edges. These adjustments might make their means throughout Samsung’s apps, freshening the look of the complete UI

One UI 6 launched Auto Blocker, a safety characteristic that stops unauthorized apps, USB instructions, and extra from putting in or working in your Galaxy telephone. Whereas the characteristic could be very helpful, it could frustrate energy customers who sideload apps or join their telephones to PCs.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung would possibly give customers the skill to quickly disable Auto Blocker, with an choice to have it robotically flip again on after half-hour. This fashion, you’ll nonetheless be capable to sideload what you want or take a look at one thing shortly, whereas nonetheless maintaining the safety enabled by default.

One UI 8.5 additionally appears to be including an accessibility characteristic that would make an enormous distinction for some customers. The system will be capable to detect flashing lights in movies and robotically dim the display to scale back the influence in your eyes.

That is designed to assist folks with photosensitive epilepsy (PSE), who might be triggered by quickly flashing lights in movies, video games, or animations. Whereas it would appear to be a small addition, it might assist make Galaxy telephones simpler to make use of for many who undergo from the problem.

These are the eight greatest adjustments we’ve noticed within the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware thus far. Samsung hasn’t confirmed something but, so options might nonetheless change earlier than launch. In fact, this listing may even develop as improvement continues and we get nearer to the launch of the Galaxy S26 collection early subsequent 12 months. We’re anticipating a ton of recent options for every little thing from images to productiveness, AI, and extra. But when these early findings are something to go by, One UI 8.5 could possibly be a big replace on your Galaxy telephones.