Which Samsung Galaxy Devices Are Getting S26 Features in One UI 8.5?
Samsung is preparing to update a massive lineup of its smartphones to the highly anticipated One UI 8.5. However, while many phones will receive the standard operating system upgrade, only a select group of premium models will inherit the exclusive suite of features introduced with the flagship Galaxy S26 series.
If you have been considering an upgrade recently, you might want to review the eligibility list below first. Your current device might just receive the complete South Korean software package, saving you from an unnecessary hardware replacement.
Key Galaxy S26 Features Coming to One UI 8.5
Before diving into the list of supported devices, let’s explore the specific premium tools that will be included in this major update. These features focus heavily on artificial intelligence, productivity, and enhanced user control:
- Advanced Audio Eraser: An intelligent audio editing capability that allows users to seamlessly mute or isolate specific sounds and background noise across various applications running on One UI 8.5.
- Call Screening: A robust tool designed to combat spam and robocalls. It automatically answers calls from unknown numbers on your behalf, verifies the caller’s intent, and provides a real-time report, protecting your time and privacy.
- Creative Studio: A dedicated application for drawing and generating custom graphics. It is perfectly optimized for creating simple visual assets like stickers, digital invitations, and virtual business cards.
- Photo Assist: Leveraging advanced generative AI, this feature enables intuitive photo editing through natural language prompts, drastically simplifying complex image manipulation.
Supported Samsung Phones Receiving the Feature Pack
Which devices make the cut? Currently, the following Samsung Galaxy smartphones are slated to receive the complete Galaxy S26 feature set:
- Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra (Find out more about the Samsung Galaxy S25 One UI 8.5 update release date)
- Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Check details on the Samsung One UI 8.5 beta Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 rollout)
What About the Galaxy S23 Series and Older Foldables?
As of now, the update status for the popular Samsung Galaxy S23 series, as well as the older foldable generation (the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5), remains unconfirmed. It is highly possible that Samsung is still testing these models and we may simply need to wait a bit longer for an official announcement. We will keep you updated as soon as new information becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the Galaxy S26 features on older devices require a paid subscription?
Currently, Samsung provides these premium AI and productivity features for free on supported Galaxy devices. While Samsung has previously noted that certain advanced Galaxy AI features might transition to a paid model in the future, there is no definitive timeline or confirmation that this will apply to the specific One UI 8.5 toolset.
Why are older flagship models like the Galaxy S22 excluded from this specific feature pack?
Features such as Advanced Audio Eraser and Photo Assist rely heavily on the on-device Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Older smartphones often lack the necessary hardware processing power required to run these intensive AI tools smoothly without causing performance lags or severe battery drain.
Source: SamMobile. Opening photo: Jolanta Szczepaniak.