Samsung has begun rolling out the stable One UI 8.5 update globally.
The update is already available for over a dozen Galaxy devices, with more expected in the coming days.
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Whether you have received the update or are still waiting, these five upgrades make One UI 8.5 more than just an incremental update.
1. Quick Panel Gets Its Biggest Upgrade in Years
One UI 8.5 removes almost all restrictions on Quick Panel customization. Users can now drag, resize, and remove any slider, toggle, or widget.
You can even change sliders from standard bars to vertical bars. Major interface widgets like the media player, brightness slider, and volume slider can be shrunk or expanded.
In One UI 8.0, customization was limited to reordering specific sections. It did not allow removing or repositioning Smart View and Device Control tiles.
One UI 8.5 offers absolute freedom to customize the Quick Panel as needed, even allowing a completely blank layout.
2. Floating Tab Bar Brings Modern Aesthetics
One UI 8.5 replaces the traditional bottom navigation bar with a modern pill-shaped UI element called the "Floating tab bar."
It features a compact, translucent matte appearance with smooth gradient blur.
Unlike the previous navigation bar, the floating tab bar is detached from screen edges. It dynamically floats above on-screen content, offering a premium aesthetic and improved one-handed reachability.
Samsung has implemented the floating tab bar across many first-party apps, including Phone, Gallery, and Samsung TV Plus.
Third-party developers are also integrating it, pushing toward a unified user experience.
3. Galaxy AI Becomes More Useful
One UI 8.5 adds a "Call screening" feature within Call Assist. It can automatically pick up calls and ask the caller why they are calling.
Even if the AI answers, you can still talk to the caller anytime or switch to Text call.
This helps filter spam calls and avoid unnecessary calls when busy.
The update also features an upgraded Photo Assist. Users can edit photos with AI without saving each iteration, and a history button shows past generations.
The Sketch to Image feature has been replaced with a more versatile Create tab, allowing background changes or object additions using descriptive text prompts.
