Samsung’s software engine is roaring back to life. After the ambitious but delayed One UI 7 rollout tested everyone’s patience, the company has clearly found its rhythm again with One UI 8. And while that update is just starting to land, chatter about the next big upgrade for Galaxy phones and tablets, known as One UI 8.5, is already heating up.
Early leaks suggest Samsung is embracing a fresh aesthetic, and it’s borrowing some serious swagger from an unlikely source: Apple’s iOS. This update, currently in internal testing, is expected to debut with the Galaxy S26 series early next year and later roll out to older Galaxy devices.
The leaked information comes from a One UI port developer, who managed to get a modified version of an internal One UI 8.5 build running on a Galaxy S21 Plus (via SammyGuru). The evidence was spotted on a leaked Settings page, and the differences are immediately obvious.
The Settings app now features a bottom-aligned search bar and a floating back button, which takes a page out of iOS 26’s design playbook. Additionally, menu items have become more compact since every subtitle text has been removed, and containers sport subtle drop shadows. The updated UI introduces gradient overflows at the top and bottom edges of menus, along with a three-column grid layout in the expanded search page.
Floating back button and fading gradients
Design tweaks you’ll actually notice
Furthermore, the back button now floats in the top-left corner instead of sticking to the header like before. At the same time, menus have picked up an overflow gradient, giving the top and bottom edges a smooth, fading touch.
Samsung is expected to roll this design across its first-party applications. Sure, some touches might remind you of Apple’s iOS style, but if borrowing a good idea makes the UI feel fresh and smooth, who’s complaining?
The full feature lineup for One UI 8.5 is still under wraps, but it’s expected to boost performance and bring some fresh tricks tailored for the Galaxy S26 series. True to Samsung’s style, these upgrades will probably milk every bit of power from the latest hardware.
