One UI 8.5 Beta Launch Window Tipped and It May Not Be Far Off

Samsung has nearly completed the One UI 8 rollout, with only one device still waiting for the update. That shouldn’t take much longer. Meanwhile, the focus is quietly shifting to the One UI 8.5 beta program, which is expected to begin in the early part of the second week of December, according to two reliable tipsters.

Samsung may launch the One UI 8.5 beta program for Galaxy S25 series on December 8

Tipster @ya_sking12767 on X says that Samsung will launch the One UI 8.5 beta program on December 8. Adding more detail, another tipster, Tarun Vats, claims that users in the US, UK, Korea, and Germany will receive the beta update on December 8. Meanwhile, users in India and Poland will get it on December 22. Additionally, according to Vats, the second and third beta builds could roll out on December 22 and January 5, respectively.

Yesterday, the first One UI 8.5 beta build for the Galaxy S25 trio surfaced on Samsung’s servers. If the past is any indication, Samsung typically doesn’t take long to open beta testing once the initial build appears. Earlier leaks had suggested a late-November rollout window, but that has already slipped. This gives us even more reason to believe that December 8 could indeed be when Samsung opens the One UI 8.5 beta program for select devices.

Another interesting question is which Galaxy devices will be eligible for the One UI 8.5 beta. The most obvious candidates are the Galaxy S25 trio. The chances of the Galaxy S25 Edge and S25 FE joining the beta seem slim, but we’ll have to wait and see if they make the list. Beyond that, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 could also be eligible. Though likely not in the first wave.

We’ll, of course, keep you updated on everything as it happens. Even before the beta officially begins, we’ve already detailed a number of new features and visual changes coming in One UI 8.5, so feel free to check those out. And if you’re wondering when One UI 8.5 will make its public debut, it will launch with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series early next year. If you plan on picking one up, don’t forget that you can also claim our mystery boxes.