The rollout has begun in South Korea and is gradually expanding to more markets. Europe, and specifically Spain, are among the first regions outside of Asia to receive One UI 8.5, although the update will be released in stages depending on the device model and region.
Launch and deployment dates in Spain and Europe
Samsung began rolling out One UI 8.5 in Korea on May 6th , and the update started reaching Europe, including Spain, on May 11th. The company is following its usual strategy: first the most advanced models , and then the rest of the compatible range.
In practice, this means that many Spanish and European users will begin to see the update notification on their Galaxy phones over the next few days. Not all devices will receive it at the same time : the rollout is organized by waves, model, and region, so two people with the same phone may receive the notification on different dates.
Samsung has also confirmed that the availability of certain features, especially those related to Galaxy AI , may vary depending on the country, market, and device itself. In other words, the version of One UI 8.5 released in Spain may include slight differences compared to the version offered in other regions.
In any case, the schedule indicates that, in Spain, the massive arrival of the update to the first batch of models will be completed in a few weeks, before the rollout is extended to more ranges and generations.
Galaxy devices that will be the first to update to One UI 8.5
The new version isn't rolling out to the entire catalog at once. Samsung has designed an initial wave of devices focused on recent flagship phones, foldables, and high-end tablets. This group includes both models receiving the update for the first time and others that came with One UI 8.5 pre-installed.
Among the most notable mobile devices are the Galaxy S25 family , the first to receive an update outside of Korea, followed by the Galaxy S24 and several foldable phones from the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series. The Galaxy Tab S10 and S11 tablets are also included.
Broadly speaking, the initial list of models that are already receiving One UI 8.5 or will do so in a matter of days in Europe and Spain includes:
- Galaxy S26 Series: S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra (with One UI 8.5 out of the box, no update required).
- Galaxy S25 Series: Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge and S25 FE.
- Galaxy S24 Series: Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra and S24 FE.
- Galaxy S23 Series: Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra and S23 FE.
- Galaxy S22 Series: Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra.
- Galaxy Z foldables: Galaxy Z Trifold, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 (including Z Flip7 FE), Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, plus Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4.
- Galaxy Tab S Tablets: Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra; Galaxy Tab S10+, S10 Ultra, S10 Lite, S10 FE and S10 FE+.
- Recent Galaxy Tab S and Tab A Tablets: Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE and S9 FE+; Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and S8 Ultra; Galaxy Tab A11+, Tab A9 and the rugged Tab Active 5.
This list also includes numerous models from the Galaxy A, M, F, and XCover series , especially those released in recent years, which will receive the update in later phases. Samsung has already announced that more than 70-80 devices in total will be compatible with One UI 8.5, ranging from high-end models to more affordable phones.
It's important to note that some of the lists circulating are not yet final. Samsung will confirm models and update windows as the rollout progresses, so it's always a good idea to periodically check your device's software update section.
Key improvements in One UI 8.5: Galaxy AI, communication, and creativity
One UI 8.5 is more than just a cosmetic change. The update brings new Galaxy AI features and overhauls of several system areas to make communication, creativity, and productivity easier in everyday life.
In the realm of calls, one of the most talked-about features is AI Call Screening , an intelligent filtering system that can answer unknown numbers for you, ask who's calling and why, and display a real-time transcript on the screen. This allows you to decide whether it's worth answering or letting the assistant handle the call.
It also includes an advanced voicemail system capable of generating live transcripts of incoming messages. You can read what the other person is recording as it happens and, if it's urgent, hang up and reply immediately.
Another key feature is Now Nudge, a keyboard-integrated tool that offers contextual suggestions based on the conversation on screen. From creating a calendar event to filling in useful information, the goal is to reduce switching between applications and streamline common tasks.
In parallel, Bixby is evolving towards a more conversational user experience . The assistant better understands natural language, can chain actions between applications, and handle multi-step tasks, such as locating a specific photo and sending it by email without you having to manually open and close apps.
AI-powered editing and customization features
The creative aspect is one of the pillars of the update. One UI 8.5 expands the capabilities of Galaxy AI in the gallery and camera , strengthening image editing and customization tools.
Creative Studio is now more accessible from the app drawer and has become a platform for creating wallpapers, stickers, and profile pictures using AI. You can start with your own photos or use automatically generated suggestions.
The new editing system includes Text-to-Edit Photo Assist, which lets you describe in words the changes you want to make to an image: from modifying clothing colors to adding elements to the background. Galaxy AI processes that instruction and applies the edit without requiring you to master complex tools.
Another new feature is Object Transfer, aimed at those who edit a lot of photos. This function allows you to move people or objects from one photo to another directly from the gallery, similar to copy and paste, using automatic contour detection to facilitate cropping.
AI also helps maintain a more continuous creative flow: image generation can be done in successive iterations without saving each version, and then a history is available from which to retrieve only the results of interest.
As for the visual interface, Samsung introduces transparent blur effects and smoother animations that provide a greater sense of depth. The system icons have a more three-dimensional look , and the transitions between the lock screen and the home screen have been refined for a smoother experience.
More flexible home, lock, and quick panel screens
One UI 8.5 expands customization options for the lock screen, home screen, and quick panel. The goal is to give each user more freedom to organize shortcuts, widgets, and controls .
When choosing a photo for the lock screen, the system can automatically adjust the composition to better fit the clock and widgets, reducing overlaps with faces of people or pets. In addition, new fonts and thickness options are available for the clock, giving you more flexibility to customize the design.
Another striking new feature is the integration of dynamic weather effects into the wallpaper: if it rains or snows in your location, the weather animation is also reflected on the screen, both on the lock screen and on certain interactive backgrounds.
The quick panel, meanwhile, becomes much more configurable. You can now rearrange and resize the buttons , decide which controls appear first, and tailor the layout to your actual usage. This includes not only the classic toggles (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) but also shortcuts to advanced functions.
The status bar, navigation bar, and certain floating menus have also been redesigned to better integrate into the screen, resulting in a cleaner look and an overall feeling of fluidity when scrolling through the interface.
Camera, audio and productivity: changes you'll notice in everyday use
Beyond the visual aspect, One UI 8.5 introduces improvements in camera, sound and work tools that can make a difference in the daily use of the mobile phone or tablet.
The camera app receives a more comprehensive document scanning mode , capable of processing multiple pages and generating a single PDF, removing fingers that sneak into the photo, correcting bent corners, and adjusting the perspective to make the final result more legible.
A smart motion photo mode has also been added , which only activates animated captures when it detects actual movement in the scene. If there are no changes, the system saves a traditional static photo to conserve space.
For those who record video, One UI 8.5 allows you to apply real-time cinematic LUT previews (color corrections), both during recording and when reviewing the footage in the gallery or the Studio app. This way, you can see in advance how the final color of the video will look.
In the audio realm, the update incorporates an AI-powered sound cleaner that reduces background noise in recordings to highlight the voice. This feature is integrated into the recording tools and is useful for both voice memos and more elaborate content.
In terms of productivity, Samsung is strengthening its integration with its ecosystem. The My Files app allows access to the storage of other linked phones, tablets, and computers, and even lets you view phone files from a compatible TV, making it easy to share documents and multimedia content.
Battery, security, and digital health in One UI 8.5
The update also dedicates a significant section to improving battery life, security, and digital wellbeing , both on the mobile device itself and in the Galaxy ecosystem in general.
In terms of energy, the battery panel has been redesigned to offer clearer graphs of daily and weekly usage, with information on estimated remaining time and the power consumption of each application. The power saving mode is now divided into a Standard mode, which is more configurable, and a Maximum mode that disables almost everything non-essential to get the most out of each charge.
In terms of privacy, Samsung is reinforcing its approach with proactive security alerts . The system notifies users when an app's permissions may pose a potential risk to their personal data and includes suggestions for mitigating those risks without requiring them to navigate through complex menus.
It also includes specific anti-theft protection, which allows the device to be locked after several failed unlock attempts using fingerprint, PIN, pattern, or password. This lock aims to make it more difficult for a third party to continue trying combinations until they gain access to the phone's contents.
Knox Matrix, Samsung's security platform, now displays the update status of all Galaxy devices associated with the same account, indicating when any of them need a new software patch to keep protection up to date.
In terms of health, Samsung Health is improving its weekly reports, which already include medication tracking data and mindfulness sessions. Depending on the compatible watch model, advanced measurement features are also being added , such as antioxidant tracking on the latest Galaxy Watch models.
Prerequisites and tips for upgrading to One UI 8.5
Before installing the new version, it's a good idea to prepare the system a bit. Samsung itself recommends meeting three basic conditions : sufficient free space, battery above 50%, and a good Wi-Fi connection.
The update package can take up several gigabytes , especially if you're coming from One UI 8.0, so it's recommended to free up 3 to 4 GB of internal storage. The quickest way to do this is usually to check your gallery and downloads folder, uninstall any unused apps, or let the system clean up temporary files from the device maintenance settings.
Regarding the battery, the system itself blocks the installation if it falls below 50% . This isn't just a warning: if you don't reach that charge level, the process won't start. Ideally, your phone should be almost fully charged and connected to the charger if you want to ensure a smooth installation.
The download should ideally be done via Wi-Fi . While mobile data may be allowed in some cases, the file size makes using your data plan inadvisable unless you have a very generous or unlimited plan. It's also best not to switch networks during the download to avoid interruptions.
Finally, Samsung strongly recommends backing up your data beforehand . While a system update doesn't erase your data, there's always a small margin of error. You can save your content to Samsung Cloud, Google One, or use Smart Switch to create a full backup on a computer.
How to check if One UI 8.5 is available and install it
When the update is ready for your model and region, your phone will usually display an automatic notification indicating that a new software version is available. However, you can also check manually.
The process is simple: go to Settings > Software update > Download and install . Your device will check Samsung's servers to see if One UI 8.5 is available for your specific model and country.
If the update is already available, it will appear on the screen with information about the size and main new features. Simply tap Download and Install and follow the on-screen instructions. During the process, your phone will restart and display a progress bar; generally, the process can take between five and fifteen minutes, depending on your device.
If no update appears, it doesn't necessarily mean your Galaxy will be left out. Your model might be on the list, but the corresponding update wave for your region or specific device hasn't been activated yet . Checking once a day is usually more than enough; there's no need to keep going into Settings.
While the progress bar is moving and the phone displays the update screen, it's best not to touch anything or force a shutdown . If the process seems to freeze for an extended period, then you should consult Samsung's support website for specific instructions for your model.
One UI 8.5 represents a significant step forward for Galaxy mobile and tablet users , not so much for a visual revolution as for the sum of practical improvements: more AI tools, a more flexible quick panel, better camera and editing options, reinforced security, and an update system that continues to extend advanced features to an ever-widening range of devices, including in Spain and the rest of Europe.
