One UI 8.5 began its rollout to a wide array of Samsung Galaxy devices on May 6, 2026. Though Samsung took some time to initiate the rollout, it quickly extended the update to devices from the most premium models to the more affordable ones released from 2023 onwards. Historically, Samsung has provided every subsequent One UI update based on a specific Android version until devices receive their final major Android OS upgrade. However, this year, it seems that devices like the Galaxy S22 and others launched in 2022 might not receive the One UI 8.5 update, despite having received the Android 16-based One UI 8 update.
Development of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S22 and similar models was halted in April. Although initial development had started, as evidenced by test firmware on Samsung’s servers, there has been no progress since early April. The last test build for the Galaxy S22’s European variant appeared in early April, followed only by regular monthly security updates.
A press release from Samsung Germany indicated that One UI 8.5 would be available for flagship devices as recent as the Galaxy S23 and the last three generations of the A series. Although not explicitly stated, this suggests that older phones might not receive the update, especially given the halted development for pre-2023 devices.
One UI 8.5 differs from previous updates because it is based on Android 16 QPR2, a newer branch that includes additional platform changes. This makes the update more complex and resource-intensive for older devices. With Samsung already supporting newer flagship phones for up to seven years, allocating additional resources to older models that have fulfilled their upgrade promises may no longer be practical.
Samsung’s commitment to its update policy remains intact, promising a specific number of OS generations based on major Android versions, not interim updates like QPR. Thus, while devices like the Galaxy S23 will receive Android 17 or One UI 9.0, they may not get One UI 9.5 if it is based on Android 17 QPR2.
To determine if your Galaxy device will receive One UI 8.5, check its eligibility for Android 17. If Android 16 is the final major OS upgrade for your device, it is unlikely to receive One UI 8.5, although exceptions may exist.
