Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta has become the company’s biggest and longest-running interface test to date, now spanning 21 Galaxy devices. That scale matters because it signals a broader software validation strategy, with Samsung testing the update across flagship phones, foldables, tablets, and even mid-range models before the stable release arrives.
The rollout also stands out because it expanded more slowly than many users expected. One UI 8.5 first opened in early December for the Galaxy S25 series, but support for additional devices did not appear until around three months later, which led some observers to believe the beta might stay limited to Samsung’s newest flagship line.
A wider beta than any previous One UI test
The pace changed in mid-March, when Samsung extended the beta to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. From there, the program kept growing, eventually reaching more than a dozen Galaxy models across multiple product families.
That expansion included the Galaxy A series, which is notable because Samsung usually reserves beta testing for higher-end devices. The presence of mid-range phones suggests Samsung wants feedback from a much broader hardware base before locking in the final software.
The beta is also unusual because it includes three generations of FE models in the same program. That detail highlights how aggressive Samsung’s testing strategy has become compared with earlier One UI cycles.
Devices currently included in the One UI 8.5 beta
Based on the referenced report, the beta currently covers the following devices:
- Galaxy S25 series
- Galaxy S24 series
- Galaxy S23 series
- Galaxy S25 FE
- Galaxy S24 FE
- Galaxy S23 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold 7
- Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 7
- Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Galaxy Tab S11
- Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
- Galaxy A55
- Galaxy A36
- Galaxy A35
That list adds up to 21 devices, making One UI 8.5 the largest beta program Samsung has run for One UI so far. The figure is especially significant because it covers multiple device classes rather than concentrating only on a single flagship family.
How One UI 8.5 compares with earlier beta programs
The broader rollout looks even larger when compared with Samsung’s previous interface tests. One UI 8.0 beta reportedly covered about 18 eligible devices, while One UI 7 beta reached only 12. Meanwhile, One UI 6.1 and One UI 6.1.1 each involved fewer than 15 devices.
| Beta program | Reported device coverage |
|---|---|
| One UI 7 beta | 12 |
| One UI 6.1 / 6.1.1 beta | less than 15 |
| One UI 8.0 beta | about 18 |
| One UI 8.5 beta | 21 |
Those numbers point to a clear shift in Samsung’s approach. Instead of limiting beta access, the company appears to be collecting feedback from a larger pool of users and device types before moving to the final release.
That wider testing base can improve compatibility. More hardware combinations make it easier to detect software bugs that might not appear on a single flagship model, especially across foldable designs, tablets, and mid-range phones with different chipsets and memory profiles.
Why the beta is also Samsung’s longest-running
The scale of the beta comes with a tradeoff: time. Gizmochina reported that One UI 8.5 has now become the longest-running beta in Samsung’s One UI history.
The Galaxy S25 series is the clearest example of the slow cadence. Those devices have reportedly received nine beta builds, which is the highest number ever delivered to a Galaxy device in a single One UI beta cycle.
That unusually long testing period has prompted some criticism, especially because the latest builds are said to be free of major bugs. Some observers argue that Samsung could now move faster toward a stable release, particularly for devices that joined the beta early.
What the broader rollout suggests
Even with the slower pace, the 21-device expansion shows that Samsung is taking One UI 8.5 seriously as a company-wide software effort. The inclusion of FE and Galaxy A models suggests Samsung wants the final version to be more stable across its ecosystem, not just polished for premium devices.
For Galaxy users, the size of the beta points to a more cautious release strategy. Samsung may be using the extended test window to reduce the chance of compatibility issues when One UI 8.5 reaches the public, especially across its growing mix of foldables, tablets, and mid-range phones.
