Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Update Bring NFC-Based Quick Share

It’s no secret that Samsung is developing its next major Android 16-based software update, One UI 8.5. We recently revealed some features the company plans to introduce for its Galaxy devices with this update. Now, we know that the new software may bring NFC-based file sharing using Quick Share, a feature that allows users to transfer files simply by bringing two devices close together.

Samsung is testing NFC-based Quick Share in One UI 8.5

Folks over at Android Authority have recently discovered some interesting strings within the internal One UI 8.5 firmware. These strings hint that Samsung is testing NFC-based Quick Share as an experimental feature, meaning users will need to enable it manually to try it out. The description reads: “This experimental feature allows you to share files directly with nearby devices using Quick Share using NFC.”

If you remember, we saw a similar concept with Android Beam several years ago. With Android Beam, NFC first initiated the connection when users brought two devices close together. It then used Bluetooth to transfer the files, which was convenient at the time but fairly slow compared to modern methods. When Wi-Fi Direct became standard, Google eventually discontinued Android Beam and replaced it with Nearby Share (now called Quick Share).

It looks like One UI 8.5 might bring back this old file transfer experience, but with a modern twist. Instead of using Bluetooth, Quick Share may use Wi-Fi Direct for the NFC-based file sharing, which is faster and more stable. Furthermore, Samsung could allow users to set animations for NFC transfer. The string reads: “The animation will play as configured on the sending device. Select a type from the tabs below.”

It is worth noting that Google’s version of Quick Share supports NFC transfers. However, people use this feature rarely because devices usually show up in the nearby list, making the NFC option almost invisible. So, we can expect Samsung’s Quick Share in One UI 8.5 to not only support NFC transfers but also make it more noticeable. We will learn more about it in the coming weeks.