Samsung Begins One UI 8.5 Testing for the Galaxy S23 FE

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta may be limited to the Galaxy S25 series, but the company is actively working on the update for several other devices. Its official test servers currently host One UI 8.5 firmware for a bunch of smartphones and tablets across various price points, including budget models. The Galaxy S23 FE is the latest to enter the ever-growing list, but it surely won’t be the last.

Galaxy S23 FE enters One UI 8.5 testing phase

Tipster Alfaturk spotted the first internal One UI 8.5 build for the Galaxy S23 FE. The global variant appeared on Samsung servers with the build version GYLF. As with most other devices, users shouldn’t expect access to a public beta. Samsung may expand beta programs to a few more models, but the S23 FE is unlikely to be among those. Instead, this device will receive the stable build in the first half of 2026.

While we do not have a more accurate release timeline yet, Samsung has confirmed that One UI 8.5 will debut with the Galaxy S26 series before making its way to other models. The new flagships are unlikely to hit the market before March 2026. So at best, the Galaxy S23 FE may receive the update in April, though the rollout could slip well into May or even June. Samsung will then shift focus to Android 17-based One UI 9.

Launched in October 2023 with Android 13-based One UI 5 out of the box, this device is also eligible for One UI 9. That will be its last major OS upgrade, introducing Android 17. One UI 8.5, meanwhile, runs Android 16 at its core and focuses on UI enhancements alongside new features and functional upgrades. It may be a mid-cycle “point” release, but it has plenty in store. Stick around for more updates.