Next One UI 8.5 Beta Could Make Galaxy S25 Smoother with Kernel Upgrade

Samsung is expected to roll out a new One UI 8.5 beta update for the Galaxy S25 series next week. Beyond the usual bug fixes and stability improvements, the upcoming release could deliver tangible performance gains. A well-known industry insider claims the next beta will introduce a major kernel upgrade, potentially making the system smoother and more responsive.

One UI 8.5 Beta 4 brings a major kernel jump to Galaxy S25

Samsung kicked off One UI 8.5 Beta in early December and has since rolled out three beta builds for the Galaxy S25 series. These updates have largely focused on bug fixes and stability. The upcoming beta 4, meanwhile, may have something more on offer. According to well-known tipster Ice Universe, Samsung is currently testing a One UI 8.5 build with firmware version ZZAA, and it includes a significantly newer Linux kernel.

The kernel version reportedly jumps from 6.6.77 to 6.6.98, skipping 21 revisions in a single update. The source adds that this is the first kernel upgrade since Samsung began One UI 8.5 development. Until now, all beta builds have reportedly relied on the same kernel base, limiting how much Samsung could improve low-level performance and responsiveness.

If the next beta firmware is built upon Linux kernel v6.6.98, we could see substantial improvements in system smoothness. On Android devices, the kernel acts as the critical link between software and hardware. It manages how the system communicates with components like the CPU, GPU, memory, storage, and touch controller. As a result, kernel updates can bring improvements across system performance, memory management, and more.

The leaker claims that the Galaxy S25 Ultra running the new kernel feels noticeably smoother compared to earlier One UI 8.5 beta builds. Animations appear more fluid, touch response feels sharper, and overall system responsiveness has improved. We will let you know once Samsung officially rolls out Beta 4.