Introduced with the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, the One UI 8.5 beta program is now available to more devices including Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6, Galaxy Z Flip6, Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Tab S11 in select markets[1] including India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S.

The beta program will extend to more Galaxy devices in April. Users can register for the beta program via the Samsung Members app.

[1] Availability and timing may vary by market.

“Since we introduced our first AI phone in 2024, we’ve been committed to making them easier to use so more people can benefit from AI — that’s why we decided to integrate a device agent directly into the experience,” said Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “To support this, we redesigned Bixby to enable more natural interactions and intuitive device control, reducing friction in everyday tasks.”

Intuitive Device Control Through Natural Conversation

Bixby allows users to control and navigate Galaxy devices using natural language, without the need for exact setting names or commands. Users don’t need to learn how device menus are structured or remember specific terms to get things done; they can simply describe what they want — or ask why something is happening on their device — in their own words. Bixby understands the intent and takes the appropriate action, reducing the time and effort required to manage everyday device settings and features.

For example, a user could say, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it.” Bixby understands the request and immediately turns on the ‘Keep Screen on While Viewing’ setting — without requiring them to navigate through settings or know the feature’s exact name.

Rather than offering generic instructions, Bixby can also identify the current settings of the device and suggest various possible solutions. This reduces trial and error, helping people complete tasks more quickly, even when they are unfamiliar with the device or its features.

If a user asks, “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?” Bixby will use the context of the situation and bring up relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, allowing them to turn it on directly.

Real-Time Web Search Capabilities

Bixby also supports real-time web search capabilities. Now it can access live and up-to-date information, with results appearing within Bixby’s own user interface. This means users can explore topics and get answers to questions as part of one consistent and seamless experience.[2] Without being redirected to a separate browser or app, users can find what they need more quickly and stay focused on the task at hand.

For instance, users can say to Bixby, “Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids.” Bixby processes the request and provides relevant web search results directly within its interface, allowing users to explore available options without interruption or delay.

Availability

The latest Bixby update is available in One UI 8.5 in select markets including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U.S. with plans for broader expansion to follow. For more information about Bixby, visit Samsung.com.

[1] Bixby service availability requires Samsung Account login and data connection. Available functions and features may vary by country, region, and language. Bixby only recognizes certain accents and dialects of English (UK), English (US), English (India), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Japanese (Japan), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China), Spanish (Spain), Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish (Latin America). Other supported languages may be added in the future. Not all accents, dialects, and expressions are recognized, and actual performance may vary depending on pronunciation, voice level, and the surrounding environment.

[2] User’s consent to access location information is required when a response depends on it, and is requested at the initial interaction. The data will be used solely for generating responses and will not be utilized for any other purposes. All location data will be deleted immediately after the response is provided.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the One UI 8.5 beta program, introducing new and easier ways to create, connect, and stay protected. One UI 8.5 enables users to enable more seamless actions, device management and enhanced security.

One UI 8.5: What’s New for Content Creation?

One UI 8.5 makes creating and sharing content more intuitive from start to finish. Users can keep generating new images without interruption with the updated Photo Assist ¹. They can edit photos using Photo Assist features continuously, without needing to save each iteration. When finished, they can easily review all the creations in edit history and pick their favourites to keep.

Sharing is smoother too, thanks to enhancements to Quick Share² which now recognizes people in photos and proactively suggests sending them directly to those contacts.

How Does One UI 8.5 Improve Device Connectivity?

New cross-device features make managing devices easier, whether users need to manage files, share their network, or communicate with nearby devices. Audio Broadcast³ enables effortless communication with LE Audio-supported devices nearby using Auracast. In addition to audio from media sources, users can now broadcast their voice using their Galaxy phone’s built-in microphone – ideal for group situations like tours or events.

Storage Share⁴ brings even more fluidity to the Galaxy ecosystem by showing files from other Galaxy devices – including tablets and PCs – directly in the My Files app. It also allows users to access their phone’s files from other Samsung devices, including their TV.

How Is My Galaxy Device Staying Protected?

For additional protection, Failed Authentication Lock automatically locks the screen if there are too many failed attempts to verify identity by fingerprint, PIN or password. Identity check also safeguards more settings than before, adding an extra layer of protection.

Availability

The One UI 8.5 beta program will be first available to Galaxy S25 series users in select markets including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U.S. from December 8. The availability of One UI 8.5 beta is not yet confirmed for Canada.

¹ Generative Edit feature for Photo Assist requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit may result in a resized photo. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.

² Available on devices with One UI 2.1 or above, with Android Q OS version or higher installed. Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi connection are both required for Quick Share. Actual speed may vary depending on device, network condition and user environment. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.

³ Only available on Galaxy S25 series devices, including Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.

⁴ Each device must be signed in to same Samsung account and must have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Requires updated Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 7 or higher and kernel version 5.15 or higher and Galaxy Book2 or later(Intel) and Galaxy Book4 or later(Arm) and Samsung Smart TV models including U8000 and above released after 2025. Feature availability may vary by region and device model. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.