Sometimes small tweaks become a major upgrade, and that’s the case with the battery background removal option in One UI 8.5, improving the visibility factor.

The battery is the main source of a smartphone’s power supply. The One UI, similar to every other phone software, brings a battery indicator icon that shows the remaining power level. With One UI 7, Samsung revamped this battery indicator, turned it horizontal, and added interesting animations.

Besides this change, the core feature remains the same. You can enable or disable the battery percentage in both cases. However, One UI 7 made it look better.

However, One UI 8.5 no longer showcases power levels. Instead, the battery icon now comes by default with battery percent. Or you can remove the background and go solo with the percentage only. So, I tried the second way for over a week, and I realized that this option should have been enabled from day one.

By removing the battery icon background, you see large numbers. This scenario improves the visibility compared to the background shape. On top of that, Samsung has tailored this new version with charging and low battery scenarios. All of that with the same animations as before.

The new battery icon background removal feature is available for the One UI 8.5 software, which will soon be released for eligible devices.

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Samsung has been rolling out the One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series since December 2025. This minor One UI upgrade is based on Android 16, which brings improvements focused on easier content creation, better sharing, smoother performance, and some AI tweaks.

The beta program has been one of Samsung’s longest and most active ones, with multiple builds released to fix bugs before the final stable version drops.

Here’s a simple, date-wise breakdown of the beta releases for the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra, based on what we have seen so far. Keep in mind that exact changelogs can vary slightly by region, and not every build brought new stuff, many focused on fixes and stability. Let’s start:

One UI 8.5 Beta 1:

On December 8, 2025, Samsung kicked off the One UI 8.5 beta program for the S25 series in select countries like the US, UK, South Korea, Germany, India, and Poland. This was the first build with most of the new features. You could sign up through the Samsung Members app. What it included:

• Upgraded Photo Assist for more seamless image editing and generation (you can keep creating variations without saving each one and review your edit history later).
• Better Quick Share that smartly suggests sending photos to people recognized in them.
• New connectivity options like Storage Share, enhanced Auracast for audio, and other sharing/connectivity improvements.
• General UI tweaks for easier everyday use, plus early performance and privacy enhancements.

Beta 2:

Around December 22-23, 2025, the second beta was released about two weeks later and expanded to a couple more regions. It was around 1.1 GB in size for new installs. What it included:

• Mostly bug fixes: Fixed stuttering in call menus, issues with the volume button, and some third-party apps crashing unexpectedly.
• Camera Assistant now supports dual recording and single take mode more reliably.
• Included the December 2025 security patch.
• Minor stability improvements.

Beta 3:

Around January 5, 2026, this one brought the January 2026 security patch and focused on polishing the experience. What it included:

• Fixes for battery drain issues.
• Reduced lag in the Gallery app.
• Resolved lock-screen clock glitches.
• Other general bug fixes and performance tweaks.

Beta 4:

Around early to mid-February 2026, Samsung kept the momentum with smaller, targeted updates. What it included:

• Minor tweaks and fixes (details were light, mostly stability and small UI adjustments).
• Continued bug squashing from previous feedback.

Beta 5 and Beta 6:

Mid to late February 2026. These builds kept coming steadily. Beta 6, for example, started rolling out in places like India shortly after the Galaxy S26 series launched with stable One UI 8.5. What included:

• Focus on system stability and performance.
• Various small fixes to apps and connectivity.

Beta 7:

Around March 12, 2026, by this point, the beta was getting more stable. What it included:

• Critical bug fixes: Stopped unintended video calls, Gallery app crashes, and false DeX overheating warnings.
• Improved Messages app (no more stuttering when opening threads).
• Better Wi-Fi recovery when switching networks.
• Overall smoother performance and stability improvements.

Beta 8:

Late March 2026: Another incremental update that continued the stability push. What it included:

• More bug fixes and refinements (specifics were mostly under-the-hood, with users noting fewer random issues).

Beta 9:

Around April 9, 2026 (rolled out in South Korea, India, and later the US), this one landed in the US recently for carrier-locked models. What it included:

• Nine specific changes/fixes (Samsung listed them in the changelog, covering stability, app behavior, and minor UI polish).
• April 2026 security patch elements in some variants.
• Continued improvements to animations, Quick Panel, and overall responsiveness.

Beta 10:

Expected around April 20, 2026, Samsung reportedly has plans for a 10th beta. Testing for a build (ZZD9) has already started internally. What it might include:

• Possible addition of a few AI features from the newer S26 series (like enhanced tools that were hardware-exclusive at first).
• Final round of bug fixes and optimizations before going stable.
• More polishing for the camera, connectivity, and daily smoothness.

The beta program has since expanded beyond the S25 series to older models like the S24, S23, foldables, and even some FE and Tab devices, but the S25 lineup got the most builds and earliest access.

When will the stable One UI 8.5 update come for the Galaxy S25 series?

We are getting close. According to reliable leaks and even some Samsung support chats, the stable One UI 8.5 version is starting to roll out on April 30, 2026, first in South Korea. Global rollout (including the US and other regions) should follow shortly after, likely around May 4, 2026.

The S25 series (including S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and probably the FE/Edge variants) should be in the first wave. The stable build will include all the features and fixes from the betas, plus final optimizations.

Since the Galaxy S26 series already ships with stable One UI 8.5, Samsung has had time to refine it well. A quick tip:

If you are on the beta, you will likely get the stable update automatically once it drops (or you can unenroll and wait for it). For everyone else on the S25 series, just a couple more weeks, and you will get the stable version without joining the beta program.

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AirDrop to Samsung via Quick Share is a significant move, but the sharing system has one more issue, this time with PDF files with certain names.

The headline feature, cross-platform file sharing with AirDrop compatibility, is functional on paper. In practice, the current One UI 8.5 Beta exposes gaps in how Samsung is handling file systems and metadata during the handshake protocol.

The most immediate issue is with PDFs.

When a file is sent from an iPad using AirDrop, certain filenames break the transfer entirely. Specifically, filenames containing characters like “/” fail to land on Galaxy devices.

Android’s directory structure treats “/” as a reserved separator. The result is a silent failure: no error prompt, no fallback rename, just a dropped transfer. For a feature that aims to simplify sharing, that lack of feedback stands out.

Then comes the deeper problem, metadata loss. Files that do make it across are often stripped of their EXIF data. That includes GPS location tags, lens information, and camera hardware identifiers.

For anyone relying on file integrity, photographers, journalists, or even social media creators, this is a serious regression. The data is present on the source device but disappears during the Quick Share to AirDrop transfer.

Samsung moderators responded to users’ complaints, but mentioned that the team was not able to reproduce the issue in their testing. The user was asked to reshare the PDF file after removing the special character from the file name.

Quick Share engineering team is reportedly working on fixes, with a patch expected in the next Beta update cycle. For now, One UI 8.5 Beta users get a preview of the future, but also a reminder that polish still matters.

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Samsung’s One UI 8.5 seems to have entered the final phase for Stable rollout. Beta Program is underway, and the last update could be coming next week. Meanwhile, Samsung shifted its focus to Stable builds over the past few days.

Back in December, Samsung opened One UI 8.5 Beta Program for the Galaxy S25 series. The activity has arrived in six countries, while users in others are still stuck to the One UI 8.0, based on Android 16 operating system.

Samsung rolled out 9 Beta updates to Galaxy S25 series throughout the Beta Program. The last, 10th, Beta update could be pushed on April 20. Final rollout of the One UI 8.5 firmware is said to kickstart on April 30 in South Korea.

Latest Stable One UI 8.5 builds for Galaxy S phones

The Korean tech giant this week uploaded new Stable builds to its server. The latest builds belong to Galaxy S series smartphones. The Galaxy S22 series has yet to grab any attention in terms of a major software update.

The appearance of new Stable builds isn’t sudden, but strategic. With Samsung nearing the official rollout timeline, preparations are seeing notable progress. Pre-rollout testing is necessary to ensure reliable update distribution.

• Galaxy S23 series – FZD7
• Galaxy S24 series – DZD9
• Galaxy S25 series – CZDB
• Galaxy S23 FE – GZD7
• Galaxy S24 FE – DZD7

Samsung revealed nothing about the One UI 8.5 rollout timeline. What we know from rumors is April 30 as the Korean rollout date and May 4 as Global. Like Beta releases, the Stable distribution roadmap may also be accurate.

If you’re waiting for the One UI 8.5 update, the next two weeks are important. Once the rollout begins for the Galaxy S25 series, the company won’t waste much time expanding the availability of the Stable update for older models.

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Samsung Research Institute Noida’s Managing Director, Kyungyun Roo, sat down with reporters recently and revealed something the company doesn’t usually broadcast: India shaped some of the Galaxy S26 family’s most practical features.

Most people assume Samsung’s best ideas come from South Korea, but that assumption is wrong.

Backup calling is the clearest example; Indians carry two SIM cards because coverage is patchy and no single operator owns every corner of the country. The SRI Noida team looked at that daily friction and built a solution.

When one SIM drops signal, the feature routes calls through the data service on the second SIM automatically. The team pitched it to Suwon headquarters and got a nod. Now it ships on every Galaxy S26 smartphone worldwide.

Direct Voicemail followed a similar path. Noida team developed it first for the A-series based on direct feedback, then it climbed up to the flagships. Roo was clear about the process: the SRI Noida team worked hand in hand with Suwon to get it done.

Other features with Noida fingerprints include Privacy display, which blocks side-view snooping, Call Screening, which acts as an AI-powered personal assistant to answer, transcribe, and filter incoming calls, and Creative Studio, a one-stop image generation tool built around prompts, sketches, and existing photos.

The Galaxy S26 itself, Samsung’s third AI smartphone, is being manufactured at the Noida plant. So India isn’t just contributing ideas, but also building the physical hardware.

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Leaked One UI 9 preview exposes a major shift: Samsung is considering decoupling toggles from brightness and sound sliders.

With the One UI 7, Samsung introduced Galaxy’s redesigned Quick Settings and separated Notification Panel. The interface consisted of various components, including tiles, toggles, cards, expandable cards, and sliders.

Samsung has slapped a thin border across the cards, toggles, and sliders in One UI 8. It was the first step in adopting the frosted glass design language. This shift improved visibility while keeping the design idea unchanged.

One UI 8.5 marks a major progress in terms of customization. You can remove the cards that you don’t want and create your own. Good Lock’s QuickStar even allows you to tweak the orientation and alignment of sliders.

One UI 9 decouples toggles from sliders

Samsung’s upcoming One UI 9 could take Quick Panel one step ahead by delinking the legacy Dark/Light mode and Sound/Vibrate/Silent toggles from the brightness and sound sliders.

A screenshot posted by TarunVats shows off the Dark/Light mode and Sound tiles separated from the display brightness and speaker sound adjustment sliders.

The firmware has also increased the thickness of sliders. They look different at first glance, but prove more accessible once you get familiar with the updated design.

Samsung fans are divided over the decoupling redesign. Keeping toggles stapled with their respective functions was a wise move, but not everyone wants them to stay stuck.

How do you see this design shift?

One UI 9 is based on Android 17, and an official launch is due in July 2026. Expect the Beta Program for the Galaxy S26 series by May, with sequential expansion to more Galaxy models.

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Galaxy S27 Pro is shaping up to be a real thing after Samsung failed to bring the Galaxy S26 Pro this year. The so-called Galaxy S27 Pro version has entered the supply chain discussion, but its arrival isn’t officially confirmed.

Samsung is reportedly making Galaxy S27 Pro equivalent to the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Consumers who want a top-notch experience without Ultra vibes will love buying the Galaxy S27 Pro if the phone progresses as the rumors claim.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro Expectations

Galaxy S27 Pro may target the iPhone 17 Pro before Apple brings the iPhone 18 Pro. The Galaxy S27 Ultra may be presented as an alternative to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as Apple’s Pro iPhones.

Samsung may launch the Galaxy S27 Pro with a 6.8-inch screen. The device may also feature Samsung’s anti-reflective layer along with Privacy display. Screen’s resolution, refresh rate and OLED materials may match Ultra.

In terms of optics, there’s nothing known. What we expect is an Ultra-style camera setup, bringing a 200-megapixel primary, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, a 50-megapixel ALoP telephoto and an upgraded 3x telephoto camera.

If Samsung prefers a triple camera setup, the module should include a 200-megapixel primary, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 50-megapixel ALoP telephoto. The front camera may remain the same as S26s, 12MP sensor.

Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to come with variable aperture camera technology.

In terms of performance, Samsung may use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processor worldwide. Exynos 2600 is decent and Exynos 2700 will be even better. However, Snapdragon helps Samsung flagships compete with Apple iPhones.

Samsung may use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro in the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The Qualcomm chipset could be paired with cutting-edge memory solutions. We may see LPDDR6 RAM, a major upgrade over LPDDR5X. USF 5.0 is also said to be featured in the S27 Pro and S27 Ultra with almost 2x speed.

Samsung may not bring S Pen support to the Galaxy S27 Pro. It will be the biggest thing to differentiate the Pro and Ultra. Meanwhile, the screen could support a stylus, and the Pen can be purchased as an additional accessory.

The Galaxy S27 Pro may pack a 5000mAh battery and support 45W or 60W charging speed. Wireless charging may also match the Ultra version, but built-in Qi2 charging magnets are the real upgrade fans are waiting for.

Galaxy S27 Pro, if it actually happens, could be priced between the Galaxy S27 Plus and Galaxy S27 Ultra. After a price hike over S25 series, the S26 Plus costs $1,099 and the S26 Ultra starts at $1,299 in the United States.

That said, the Galaxy S27 Pro may launch at $1,199 in the US.

Are you excited for the first Pro flagship from Samsung?

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Disclaimer: The specs and features written in the post are derived from rumors, leaks, industry chatter, and assumptions. None of the specs or features are confirmed or final; Samsung hasn’t even confirmed the S27 Pro for 2027.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is now being advertised as “free” through T-Mobile. The company’s latest wearable push just got a major carrier boost, but like most telecom deals, the real story sits in the fine print.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is not instantly free on T-Mobile, as most buyers expect. For buyers already planning to add a smartwatch line, this deal makes sense. For everyone else, it is a commitment disguised as a perk.

Here is how the numbers actually work:

• Retail price: about $400
  • You pay that upfront or finance it
• T-Mobile refunds that amount via monthly bill credits over 24 months
• You must add a Watch Plan Plus line
• There is also a $35 connection fee

So, month to month, you are essentially committing to a two-year contract where the watch cost is offset, not waived. The catch is simple: cancel early, and the remaining credits disappear, leaving you to pay the balance.

The real cost is the Watch Plan Plus line. That is the ongoing monthly expense that makes this deal viable for T-Mobile. In other words, the watch becomes “free,” but the connectivity is not.

Galaxy Watch 8 – Key specs and features

Health tracking remains a strong pillar. Sleep reports, workout logs, and sport-specific guidance are all here, making it a practical daily companion rather than just a notification screen.

• 40mm case with sapphire crystal for durability
• 1.34-inch display with sharp, readable UI
• 32GB onboard storage for apps and media
• Improved battery with up to a few days in standby

You also get Samsung’s AI-powered assistant baked into the experience, handling quick searches, voice notes, and message drafting without needing your phone nearby.

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The second-generation triple-folding Samsung phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold 2, could launch with an improved hinge. Beyond durability, the device may also improve some other aspects over the first-generation product.

As per a Naver source, Samsung is developing an improved hinge for the Galaxy Z TriFold 2. The company is prioritizing lightweight and ultra-slim design. The new hinge may be utilized in other foldable products as well.

The OG TriFold is 12.9mm thick when closed, far thicker than the 8.9mm Fold 7 and 7.9mm S26 Ultra. The device weighs 309 grams, a significant difference from the Z Fold 7 and S26 Ultra, which weigh 215g and 214g, respectively.

Foldable devices rely heavily on the hinge, which supports the entire form factor. Hinge is the component that keeps the screens attached. Folding and unfolding of the smartphone is solely handled by the hinge.

Over the years, Samsung has improved its foldable hinge. As a result, the durability of Galaxy foldables has improved greatly. The last three generations show major improvements, such as folding the phone flat without a gap.

Galaxy Z TriFold folds/unfolds twice, one extra time from regular foldables. To make it happen, Samsung had to use two hinges to attach three panels. It seems the next-gen TriFold may feature a hinge improved by user feedback.

Samsung has released TriFold in limited numbers, with the last restock selling out in the US. There’s very little hope for another restock, and the company may finally shift its focus to the second-generation products.

Related article:

• Galaxy Z TriFold joins Samsung’s shortest-lived innovations list

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Samsung is about to phase out LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X RAM products and push the LPDDR5 standard, benefiting future Galaxy phones.

According to supply chain sources (via TheElec), Samsung has effectively pulled the plug on LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X as part of pushing LPDDR5 RAM in next-gen Galaxy phones.

LPDDR4X has been around for nearly a decade; perfect for mid-range phones.

Samsung is not replacing it with something equivalent. It is jumping straight to LPDDR5, and mid-range Galaxy phones are about to inherit flagship-grade memory performance. We are talking about a jump from roughly 4.3Gbps to 6.4Gbps.

Devices like the upcoming Galaxy A17 sit right in the transition window. Early batches could still rely on LPDDR4X if inventory holds, and later units might switch to LPDDR5.

At Samsung’s Hwaseong complex, specifically Line 12, the company is reshaping production priorities. Older memory and even some NAND lines are being phased out or reworked.

The goal is clear: free up capacity for newer DRAM generations that are in higher demand and tighter supply.

For chipmakers and OEMs, this forces a redesign cycle. You cannot keep shipping new silicon tied to LPDDR4X when supply is drying up. That is why players across the ecosystem are already moving toward LPDDR5 and even LPDDR5X support.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold is now completely sold out in the US, both online and in retail stores, following a final restock on April 10.

What is more telling is how Samsung now frames the device. The company has quietly labeled it a “limited-run” product, a term that only showed up after discontinuation, not at launch.

Galaxy Z TriFold was one of the most ambitious pieces of hardware Samsung’s shipped in years. The device pushed past the familiar book-style foldable and stepped into something closer to a pocket-sized tablet.

The TriFold barely had time to settle into the market before it disappeared. A March discontinuation, followed by a brief US restock in April, and now a full sell-out. That is a lifecycle measured in months, not years.

There is no official confirmation that the TriFold line is dead for good. At the same time, nothing on Samsung’s side suggests a near-term return. Reports of a potential sequel exist, but they sit firmly in early development territory.

If you land on the TriFold page today, you are redirected toward safer bets. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy S26 Ultra are now the recommended paths forward.

If a TriFold 2 shows up, it will not be a continuation. It will be a more calculated second attempt.

Galaxy Z TriFold

The limited-run Galaxy Z TriFold is now completely sold out. Keep visiting samsung.com to make sure you don’t miss upcoming one-of-a-kind innovations, and shop the latest foldables and premium mobile devices now from Samsung Galaxy.

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While the price of existing smartphones is going up, Samsung is launching some good offers on its flagship phones. In the latest edition, the company is giving away a $300 discount for anyone who buys the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

This is the first time the phone has dropped below the $1,000 range. That said, the base model, after discount, starts at $999, over the $1,299 launch price. On the other hand, the 512GB version now costs $1,119, reduced from $1,419. And the 1TB version slashed to $1,359 from $,1659.

It is available in all colors, including Titanium Jadegreen, Jetblack, Pinkgold, Black, Gray, Silverblue, and Whitesilver.

In comparison, the 256GB version of the Galaxy 26 Ultra starts at $1,099, down from $1,299. The rest of the models have a $200 discount. Samsung has this discount, in case you want to grab the S26 Ultra instead of its predecessor. However, if you seek to save extra, you should definitely opt for the S25 Ultra.

The S25 Ultra still has one of the most competitive flagship camera experiences. The Design includes a titanium frame, which is degraded to an aluminum frame in the latest generation. The phone retains the slightly boxy look, and it sits well in the hand. It has seven OS updates and 7 years of security update pact just like the new device.

Its performance comes from the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, running all of your favorite apps and games without any compromises.

Besides the $300 off, Samsung is also offering over $580 trade-in credit to swap your previous device with a new Galaxy S25 Ultra. Moreover, you can check-in up to 40% discount on smartwatch and smart audio devices.

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Samsung One UI 9 for Galaxy S26 series has been upgraded to Android 17, adding Tap to Share, new Bixby widgets, and more.

One UI 9 is starting to take shape, and the changes aren’t buried deep in menus. Folks over at SamMobile had a look at the latest One UI 9 test builds, showing focus on faster interactions, better hardware use, and fewer dependency gaps.

Tap to Share

The standout here is Tap to Share. It lives inside Quick Share, but it changes how you initiate transfers. Instead of hunting for devices, you just tap your phone against another, and it’s done.

On the Galaxy S26 series, this works more reliably because Samsung is using dual NFC placement. There’s an antenna on the back, where you expect it, and another on the top edge.

Bixby widgets

New home screen widgets let you jump straight into commands. The smaller ones give you instant access to voice and keyboard input. The larger 4 by 2 widget adds a full text bar with a mic button right beside it.

A lot of users avoid voice assistants in public or busy environments. This fixes that. You can type a command instantly without opening the app or triggering voice detection.

Accessibility tweaks

Key accessibility features are no longer locked behind a separate download. Select to Speak and Text Spotlight are now built directly into the One UI 9 settings. Previously, you had to install Google’s Accessibility Suite to get this.

Support hub inside Settings

There’s also a new Warranty and Care section in device settings. It pulls together warranty info, repair status, diagnostics, and remote support tools in one place. Bixby ties into this too, so you can ask for help instead of digging through menus.

User interface tweaks

Quick Panel controls, like brightness and volume sliders, are now noticeably larger than before. Samsung is optimizing for easier touch targeting, especially on bigger displays.

Well, One UI 9 is still under active development, but the timeline is already clear. Samsung is expected to introduce it alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 in July 2026.

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Samsung is gearing up to bring three AI features from the Galaxy S26 series to the Galaxy S25 series with One UI 8.5 Beta 10 update.

Earlier this month, Samsung rolled out the 9th One UI 8.5 Beta to the Galaxy S25 series. The company has recently started testing the 10th Beta build – ZZD9 (via Alfaturk), which could start rolling out to users next week.

According to recent leaks (via TarunVats), the 10th One UI 8.5 Beta could bring a set of AI features to the Galaxy S25 that debuted with the S26 series. That includes tools Samsung initially hinted might stay exclusive to newer hardware.

What’s coming with the 10th Beta

This beta is shaping up to be feature-heavy. Not just tweaks, but meaningful additions that change how users interact with their devices daily.

Call Screening

It uses on-device AI to answer calls when you cannot or do not want to pick up. The system asks who is calling and why, records the interaction, and then provides a transcription.

For users dealing with spam or unknown numbers, this could quietly become one of the most used features in One UI.

Related post:

• Galaxy S25 to get S26’s Call Screening feature with One UI 8.5

Advanced Audio Eraser

In One UI 8.5, it works across apps like Instagram, Netflix, and YouTube. You can pull down the Quick Panel, enable it, and manually tune how much background noise you want to suppress.

Related post:

• Galaxy S26 Audio Eraser steps into the spotlight before One UI 8.5 rollout

Creative Studio

It is a dedicated app where users can create drawings, stickers, wallpapers, and even invitation cards. You can sketch something quickly or type a prompt and let the AI generate variations. Then tweak it with built-in styles and effects.

Photo Assist (Enhanced)

You can now edit images using text prompts with better control. It is closer to what users expect from modern AI editing, but built directly into the gallery workflow.

By pushing S26-level AI features down to the S25 and even S24 series, the company is stretching the lifespan of its flagships.

Related article:

• Samsung tailors S26 AI features for Galaxy S24 series

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Samsung may debut UFS 5.0 storage with the Galaxy S27 series next year, but only Pro and Ultra models may be eligible.

Galaxy S27 series is expected to launch with Exynos and Snapdragon chips. It’s widely rumored that the next-generation Snapdragon processor, likely the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 6 Pro, will support UFS 5.0 storage.

We’ve heard plenty of rumors tied to the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Wide and Z Flip 8. The next-gen foldables are expected to arrive in July this year. However, the real attraction is slab-style phones, which will land in early 2027.

A new rumor confirmed UFS 5.0 for the Galaxy S27 series, the standard and Plus models may lack this storage upgrade. The South Korean tech giant may keep the new standard limited to the upper-tier models, Pro and Ultra.

Samsung usually launches three flagship models in its Galaxy S lineup. 2027 is expected to add one more model: Pro, starting with the Galaxy S27 series. The smartphone is said to be like the Ultra without the S Pen technology.

UFS 5.0 is a major upgrade over UFS 4.0 and UFS 4.1. The new storage technology offers speeds of up to 10.8Gbps, almost double that of the previous generations. We may also see a major upgrade in the utilization of RAM technology.

Costs of DRAM and NAND flash memory are seeing a steep hike, and it isn’t stopping anytime soon. It will be difficult for Samsung to keep smartphone prices unchanged if they actually bring these crucial hardware upgrades.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra users are receiving Expert RAW 5.0.09.0 version, which adds Virtual Reflector and Ocean Mode camera features.

Earlier, Samsung offered Ocean Mode and Virtual Reflector features to the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 7. The medium for those devices was the same: Expert RAW update, but only One UI 8.5 Beta participants were eligible.

X user Kailash surfaced Expert RAW 5.0.09.0 for Galaxy S26 Ultra, with the changelog confirming the addition of Virtual Reflector and Ocean Model camera features.

We are familiar with the Ocean Mode camera feature. After being limited to professional ocean photographers, the software perk is now available to general users. Samsung, meanwhile, recommends the use of specific cases.

Now comes the Virtual Reflector, which is a big deal.

Virtual Reflector allows you to apply studio-style light to your photos. It also supports the filling of shadows and the enhancement of the light. These tools combined offer outputs that are natural, balanced and professional.

What’s new

• Virtual Reflector:
  • Simulate studio-style reflectors to fill shadows and shape light for naturally balanced, professional-looking photos.
• Ocean Mode:
  • Optimized for water and underwater scenes, enhancing color, clarity, and detail by compensating for light loss and distortion.

Expert RAW is becoming a must-have application on Galaxy flagships. Samsung has already elevated the importance of Camera Assistant. Some basic features now require manual activation through Camera Assistant of Good Lock.

If you own a Galaxy S26 Ultra, head toward the Galaxy Store > Updates. Check if a newer Expert RAW version is available for download. If you never installed it, give it a try as it worth your attention for epic photography.

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Samsung held a Reddit AMA this week to talk Galaxy AI and it did not go the way they probably hoped.

Annika Bizon, Samsung UK and Ireland’s VP of Product and Marketing for Mobile Experience, fielded questions from real Galaxy owners about the AI features the company has staked its flagship identity on since the S24 series.

Redditors did not come to celebrate; they came with receipts.

One S26 Ultra owner wrote, plainly, that they “can’t find the niche in which AI is anything but a burden.”

Another asked how Samsung supports customers who don’t want AI on their devices at all.

A third asked when Samsung plans to shift focus away from what most people consider useless AI features.

One person just wrote: stop putting AI in your phones.

The pattern across the questions is hard to ignore. People aren’t asking how to use Galaxy AI better, but they are asking why it exists on their phones in the first place.

After years of Samsung treating AI as its headline selling point, a significant chunk of its own customer base still sees it as clutter.

Samsung’s answers were actually decent

On the question of AI feeling like a burden, she offered genuinely grounded advice: start with one feature, let it earn your trust, and go from there. It’s the kind of answer that actually makes sense; not a marketing script, just practical.

She framed Galaxy AI as something that should eventually become invisible, like electricity powering a home, something you depend on without thinking about it. Whether Samsung can execute it is a different conversation entirely.

On data privacy, Bizon pointed to Knox security and confirmed that cloud-based AI processing deletes data after delivering a result.

When asked about customers who simply don’t want AI, Bizon explained that users can go into Galaxy AI settings and switch individual features off.

Questions Samsung didn’t answer

• One person asked about the obsessive push for AI on smartphones.
• Another asked about the removal of Bluetooth from the S Pen, a decision that still irritates Galaxy S25 Ultra owners.

Samsung has spent two product generations leading with AI as a headline feature. Galaxy buyers feel like AI is happening to them, not for them. Bizon’s answers show the company understands this intellectually.

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Spotify has pushed out a redesigned app experience built specifically for tablets, and it includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab lineup and the Z Fold series.

The update lands on both iOS and Android, which matters less to us here than the fact that Samsung’s foldable and tablet hardware is finally getting the treatment it deserved two years ago.

The core problem with Spotify on large screens was always embarrassingly obvious. Engineers had been scaling up the mobile layout and calling it done. More screen space, same cramped thinking; that’s not a tablet app.

The new design addresses this with a collapsible sidebar that lets you browse your library, scroll through recommendations, or dig into settings without stopping playback.

You keep the music going on one half of the screen while you hunt for your next album on the other. On a Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Tab S11 Ultra, that kind of parallel browsing actually makes physical sense.

Adaptive orientation is in here, too. Flip from portrait to landscape, and the interface actually reconfigures rather than just reshuffling the same tiles into a different rectangle.

Spotify’s new design doesn’t call out foldables by name, but the adaptive orientation behavior and parallel browsing setup map directly onto what those screens do best.

Buried in the update is a small but meaningful change for video content. The toggle to switch from audio to video is now front and center rather than tucked somewhere you’d only find by accident.

The collapsible sidebar isn’t just a navigation shortcut. It carries scrollable, interactive content, meaning you can explore playlists, browse new releases, or check your recent plays without ever leaving what’s currently playing.

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New smartphone loyalty survey data has surfaced, and if you’re an Apple or Samsung loyalist, you might want to sit down.

SellCell polled over 5,000 US smartphone users to map out brand loyalty in 2026. Where people plan to go next, why they are staying put, and who’s bleeding customers to whom.

The numbers are not flattering for Android. A staggering 96.4 percent of iPhone users say their next phone will be another iPhone, with only 3.6 percent considering the jump to Android.

Six in ten say they simply prefer iOS. Another 17.4 percent cite the Apple ecosystem, which is a polite way of saying they are trapped and they’ve made peace with it. Reliability, ease of use, and trust in Apple’s privacy practices round out the reasons.

Flip it around, and the picture falls apart completely. Among Android users, 13.6% are planning to switch to iPhone. That’s nearly four times the defection rate going the other direction.

Samsung builds genuinely brilliant hardware. The Galaxy S26 lineup is sharp, the AI features are interesting, and One UI has matured considerably. However, brilliant hardware clearly isn’t enough to move the needle on loyalty at scale.

The real problem isn’t the phones. It’s that Apple has built something people don’t want to leave, and Android as a whole hasn’t figured out how to replicate that psychological lock-in.

Samsung keeps winning the specs sheet and Apple keeps winning the customer.

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Rumored One UI 8.5 release date and roadmap are already there, but Samsung is still refusing to confirm or debunk them.

One UI 8.5 Beta Program is the biggest in history, and Samsung has already made it the longest, yet denying to reveal the release date and roadmap. It’s not the way Galaxy consumers should be treated for a software update.

A response from Samsung support has surfaced in the Korean community. It’s linked to the latest software version, but the wording of the response is familiar. Executives are not giving an exact release date or a tentative roadmap.

What we know from rumors is that April 30 is the Stable One UI 8.5 release date for the Galaxy S25 series. The initial drop will happen in South Korea, with expansion to Global users likely to start on the 4th of May 2026.

These dates were first claimed by a seasoned Samsung leaker TarunVats. Shortly after, a Samsung chat support executive in the US validated the dates. However, Samsung hasn’t yet confirmed rollout plans and a roadmap for users.

Software updates are unpredictable, especially at Samsung. The company has a vast user base and a tiny mistake can trigger a massive blunder. Therefore, the software will stay away from the masses until the verification is done.

To recall, Samsung is rumored to roll out One UI 8.5 Beta 10 as the last Beta. It could arrive by April 20, if the leaks hold and Beta participants will have to wait for around 10 days to start receiving the Stable release along with general users.

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Google Messages has silently added the Satellite SOS feature on Galaxy S26 series in the US. A consumer posted on Reddit the interface screenshots, showcasing how the feature works when you are not in the reach of networks.

Samsung Messages is gone, and Google Messages is the only SMS service on the Galaxy S26 series, which also offers Satellite SOS in the US. It allows you to send an emergency SOS even if you are not connected to a cellular network.

It’s a pretty useful feature and becomes a boon when you are in need. You may have faced a situation where network is not available, but you need to contact to your friends, family or loved ones to share the status.

The post contains three screenshots, with the first displaying the setup page of satellite service. An in-app pop-up card appears with a brief description of the feature and tapping “Continue” opens the satellite detection page.

Google Messages assists you in aligning your phone according to the positioning of the satellite. It will showcase a proper guide to turn your phone left/right/up/down in order to bolster the strength of the signal transmitted through satellite.

To make the Emergency SOS even more reliable, Google Messages can also minimize the satellite alignment page to the app’s header. It displays the connectivity status in real time, while allowing you to send SMS through the app.

Tapping “End” allows you to disconnect the app and revert to cellular. The app mentions that mobile data, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi will turn off when the satellite is connected and revert to normal after the end of the satellite connection.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ Kids Edition launches in the US as a purpose-built tablet for younger users, while still staying firmly inside the broader Galaxy ecosystem.

The Galaxy Tab A11+ Kids Edition is a proper Galaxy tablet with meaningful hardware upgrades. You get an 11-inch display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate.

Samsung pairs that screen with quad speakers and Dolby Atmos support. This features a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is something parents will quietly appreciate.

Under the hood, the tablet packs a 7,040mAh battery that Samsung says can push up to 15 hours of video playback. When it finally runs out, 25W fast charging gets it back up without much downtime.

Storage starts at 128GB, which already covers most needs. If that is not enough, microSD expansion goes all the way up to 2TB.

Samsung is promising up to seven generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades, along with seven years of security updates. The device will evolve alongside One UI 8 and beyond, keeping it relevant deep into the future.

You get a protective Kids Cover with customizable stickers, a Crayo-pen with tether for drawing and creativity, and a Samsung Kids setup guide. The software side focuses on parental controls, letting you manage screen time, apps, and content.

If you are wondering about the price, the Galaxy Tab A11+ Kids Edition comes in at $350 in the US. Retail availability spans Samsung’s official store, Experience Stores, and Best Buy. Amazon sales kick off on April 23, 2026.

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Samsung has launched Food Can cases for the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro earbuds in the U.S. These cases come in three themes – Sardines, Sweet Corn, and Tomato Soup.

A unique thing about these cases is their design. Their themes resonate realistically with added cuteness. For instance, the Sardines case has a Sardine connected with a lanyard, which could be used as a keychain, and can be hooked onto a bag or belt loop.

These cases fit perfectly on Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro without complicating the process. When you don’t need it, the case comes off effortlessly by pressing it out from the bottom.

The Food Can Cases for Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro are available at $29.99 (each unit) via the official online shop. Customers can also opt for $7.50 in 4 installments.

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There is finally a clean way to shut out Shorts on YouTube. After months of testing and controls, the platform has started rolling out a zero-minute limit for Shorts, effectively removing the feature from your feed on both Android and iOS.

The change builds on YouTube’s earlier time management tools, which originally capped Shorts usage at a minimum of 15 minutes. Now, setting the limit to zero does exactly what many users have been asking for: it stops Shorts entirely.

Back in January, YouTube expanded Shorts limits for supervised accounts, with a promise that stricter options were on the way. According to YouTube spokesperson Makenzie Spiller, that promise is now fulfilled, via TheVerge.

Once you hit the limit, or set it to zero from the start, the Shorts tab goes blank. You get a simple message saying you have reached your limit. More importantly, Shorts also disappear from the Home feed in many cases.

Infinite scroll formats like Shorts are designed to keep you hooked. One video becomes ten, then fifty, and suddenly half an hour is gone. Samsung users already have Digital Wellbeing tools baked in but those controls often sit one layer above the app.

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Google officially launched Android 17 Beta 1 on  February 13, 2026, and the tech world has shifted its focus to Samsung’s next major move: One UI 9. Even though the One UI 8.5 rollout is yet to start, Samsung’s internal test servers are already showing early builds for its next-gen software.

Here’s the breakdown of what to expect from the One UI 9 rollout.

When will One UI 9 launch?

We expect One UI 9 to make its official debut around July 2026, likely alongside the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.

However, if you own a recent flagship like the S26 Ultra or S25 series, you won’t have to wait until July to see the software. A public beta phase is rumored to kick off as early as May 2026. This gives users a chance to test Android 17’s new features before the stable build hits the masses.

The Eligibility List: Is your Galaxy safe?

The big question is always: “Will my phone get it?” While there is no “official” list from Samsung yet, the seven-year update promise makes the math simple.

The upcoming Galaxy S26 series will be the first to test One UI 9 Beta this May. Joining it in the confirmed category are the Galaxy S25 and S24 series, both of which are in Samsung’s internal Android 17 testing.

The same logic applies to the foldable family. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are already being used for internal One UI 9 “Now Nudge” testing, and the upcoming Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 (along with the rumored “Wide Fold”) will likely launch with this software out of the box this July.

For the A-series, the lines are a little blurrier but still promising for newer models. The Galaxy A56 and A36 are expected to stay in the loop, likely receiving the stable updates toward the end of 2026. Premium tablets; the Galaxy Tab S10 and S11 lineups are now on the same high-priority support track as the S-series phones, making them safe bets for One UI 9.

One surprising entry might be the Galaxy S23 series. Technically, the oldest active flagship will receive One UI 9 as its fourth and final major OS upgrade. If you are still rocking an S23, you have likely got one more big year left.

Now for the tough news. As of early February 2026, Samsung has officially moved the Galaxy S22 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 to a quarterly security schedule. These devices, along with the S21 FE and A53, are expected to stop at One UI 8.5.

If your device is on that list, it won’t stop working, but you will be missing out on the new AI-driven “Ask AI” browser tools and system-level resizability features that Android 17 is bringing to the table. If you are looking for a reason to trade in for the S26 this month, this might be it.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed if those older models will get a test of Android 17, so keep an eye on the Samsung Members app for a formal roadmap later this spring.

Eligible Devices

If your Galaxy received One UI 8, the odds are in your favor. The full tentative list:

Galaxy S series phones

• Galaxy S23 Series (S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE)
• Galaxy S24 Series (S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE)
• Galaxy S25 Series (S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, S25 FE)
• Galaxy S26 Series (S26, S26+, S26 Ultra)

Mid-Range A Series

• Galaxy A35 5G
• Galaxy A25 5G
• Galaxy A15 5G
• Galaxy A16 5G
• Galaxy A26 5G
• Galaxy A36 5G
• Galaxy A56 5G
• Galaxy A37 5G
• Galaxy A57 5G

Z Fold Series

• Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Galaxy Z Fold 6
• Galaxy Z Fold 7

Z Flip Series

• Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Galaxy Z Flip 6
• Galaxy Z Flip 7

Galaxy Tablets

Samsung’s tablet lineup follows a similar update schedule to smartphones, with premium models receiving longer support.

• Galaxy Tab S9 Series (S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE)
• Galaxy Tab S10 Series (S10+, S10 Ultra)
• Galaxy Tab S11 Series (S11 and S11 Ultra)

Important disclaimer:

This is not an official Samsung confirmation for One UI 9 eligibility. No device list has been published by Samsung for this specific update as of February 2026. Eligibility depends on how many major OS versions remain in each device’s promised cycle, regional variations, carrier involvement, and final decisions from Samsung. Policies can change, and some features (especially advanced Galaxy AI ones) may be limited to newer hardware. Always wait for Samsung’s official announcement, check website, newsroom, or the Samsung Members app for the real confirmed list when it drops. Don’t base any purchase or upgrade solely on this info.

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Samsung is promoting a new Galaxy AI feature that is currently exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series, but awaited by the Galaxy S25 series users.

Audio Eraser has been one of the widely recognized features of the most recent One UI ecosystem. First introduced with Galaxy S25, it helps to reduce background noises that interrupt the voices and sounds that need your attention.

However, the initial integration was limited to the video player, which later expanded to system apps such as the voice recorder, allowing users to remove the background noises and get nearly clean audio.

The Galaxy S26 series takes the Audio Eraser to the next level with real-time sound separation and optimizations. The phone enables you to not only reduce the unwanted background noises in audio but also let you select the strength of the audio eraser.

The feature lets you focus on the voice by reducing the background music volume and other noises in real-time while boosting the voice. Overall, the improved audio eraser instantly improves the audio experience without waiting for it to download to your device’s local storage.

The best use case of the real-time Audio Eraser would be the YouTube livestreams, and our hands-on experience reveals that the feature works pretty well.

Yet to cover the previous Galaxy S-series devices

Yes, it’s a good feature, but it could have been better if Samsung had announced its support for the previous generation of S-series devices. The Galaxy S26 series, the S25, and the S24 series users are still in the queue to get their hands on the latest Galaxy AI suite.

Both of these lineups, along with the most recent foldable phones, are still testing One UI 8.5 software, and they’re expected to get the stable version starting early May. But the compatibility with the latest Galaxy AI features remains unconfirmed.

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Samsung has a new A-series device in the launch pipeline, and Galaxy A27 is one of them, which has been leaked in CAD renders, revealing its furnished design over the predecessor.

A collaboration between HotEUDeals and Onleaks has brought us the first look at the upcoming Galaxy A27 5G. Looking at the front, it brings a flat display with slim bezels all around. The major improvement here is the removal of the water-drop camera cutout, which is replaced by the hole-punch design.

The next thing to see here is the frame; the aluminum design gives it a premium look. The side of the phone has a power + fingerprint reader, a combined button, and a volume adjustment key. The company may have paid special attention to the frame, which is slightly bumped in the physical buttons area, and it’s a special feature of the device.

The bottom side has a USB Type-C interface, speakers, and a SIM card tray. The rear side comes with a pill-shaped camera island, and the lenses are arranged vertically.

Based on the latest details, the Galaxy A27 measures around 162.3 x 78.6 x 7.9mm compared to the 164 x 77.5 x 7.7mm on the Galaxy A26. So, the new phone is slightly wider and thicker than the previous generation.

Despite an unconfirmed specs sheet, the design of the Galaxy A27 is certainly a major leap from the Galaxy A26, and users can look forward to its release.

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With the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung shipped the first Android device to support APV, its Advanced Professional Video codec. If you’ve spent any time watching mobile cameras struggle through post-production color grading, you understand exactly why this matters.

APV was designed from the ground up for the full production workflow, capture through final edit, with minimal quality loss even after multiple rounds of compression.

Professional codecs have historically been computationally brutal. They live on high-end workstations, so getting one to run in real time on a mobile processor, while maintaining reliability, required two specific moves.

Samsung introduced lightweight entropy coding to cut computational load, and frame tiling to split encoding and decoding across multiple processor cores simultaneously. The outcome is real-time 8K video processing on mobile hardware.

Back in February 2026, Samsung published APV through the Internet Engineering Task Force as RFC 9924, making it a de facto global standard. The full source code landed on GitHub under the name OpenAPV.

Thereafter, the ecosystem started moving fast, with Android 16 adding native support, FFmpeg integrating it, and DaVinci Resolve, the professional editing software that serious colorists actually use, adding support as well.

So who actually cares?

• Filmmakers who’ve been duct-taping professional workflows onto phone cameras for years.
• Advertising directors shooting campaigns on mobile.

Samsung has an expansive vision for its Advanced Professional Video codec. The company will continue to elevate the APV experiences and capabilities until its aim of democratizing mobile filmmaking is achieved.

“Our goal is clear. We aim to make professional-grade video production accessible to everyone through APV. Technology delivers its greatest value when it is open, and APV will shape a more creative future for video content.”

You may like:

• Samsung APV codec will evolve to elevate video editing experience

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As the public One UI 8.5 rollout nears, Samsung is bringing back the Galaxy S26’s enhanced “Audio Eraser” feature to the limelight.

Samsung is quietly turning one of its smartest AI tricks into a frontline feature. Audio Eraser, which started as a niche editing tool, has been pushed as a real-time audio control system on the latest Galaxy S26 series.

From cleanup tool to live audio control; Audio Eraser has come a long way in a short time.

On the Galaxy S25 series, it was all about fixing clips after you recorded them. You shot a video, opened the Gallery, cleaned up background noise, and moved on.

Samsung then expanded it with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, letting users tweak audio during playback inside apps like Gallery and Voice Recorder.

With the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung has flipped the entire idea on its head. This is no longer about fixing bad audio later; it’s about controlling sound as it happens.

The enhanced Audio Eraser in the Galaxy S26 series introduces real-time sound separation across voices, music, and ambient noise, even when you are streaming content on OTT apps or scrolling through social media.

Access is instant: swipe down from the top right, hit the Audio Eraser icon, and you are in. Once inside, you get two key controls:

1. Voice Focus: Pushes dialogue forward, making speech clearer
2. Strength slider: Lets you fine-tune how aggressively background noise is reduced

Devices like the Galaxy S25, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and even the Galaxy S24 series are in line to receive these upgrades as part of One UI 8.5, likely with some hardware-based limitations depending on the model.

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Samsung is preparing to launch Galaxy Z Fold 8 “Wide” this year, along with the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 successors, and the new Wide model will likely influence the design of the potential Galaxy Z TriFold 2 in the future.

TriFold goes wider, and bolder

A newly surfaced patent, spotted by Network Right in collaboration with known leaker David from xleaks7, shows Samsung already thinking the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 with Wide design overhaul.

The concept is a three-panel device with two hinges, unfolding into a wide, tablet-like canvas. There is also a triple-camera system on the back, and a thicker frame that looks engineered to handle multiple folding positions.

When fully open, it resembles a compact tablet more than anything in Samsung’s current portfolio. Fold it down, and you get a stacked design with a usable outer display.

The patented device can stand on its own in a triangular shape, which opens up use cases like media viewing, quick widgets, or even a mini desktop-style setup. It is a rethink of how a foldable should behave in daily use.

The original Galaxy Z TriFold launched at a steep $2,899, with a limited production run of around 30,000 units. A wider TriFold smartphone could be Samsung’s second attempt, but this time with lessons learned.

Right now, the Fold 8 Wide looks like the immediate step, practical, scalable, and ready for mass production. The TriFold Wide remains a patent, a glimpse into what Samsung might attempt once the wider format proves itself.

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Samsung Electronics’ long-suffering Taylor Foundry chip plant is more than 90% prepared for mass production of 2nm products, according to industry sources.

A ceremony is scheduled for April 16 to mark the milestone, with Foundry Business President Han Jin-man and a crowd of global equipment and materials partners expected to attend. Core equipment started arriving last week.

The first products out of Taylor won’t be some anonymous enterprise chip. They will be Tesla’s next-generation autonomous driving processors, AI5 and AI6. Samsung locked in roughly $16.5 billion worth of orders from Tesla last July.

Elon Musk recently posted on X that the AI5 design is finished and specifically thanked Samsung. AI5 production gets split between Samsung and TSMC, but AI6 belongs entirely to Samsung Foundry.

Samsung ditched its original 4nm plan for Taylor and replaced it with a 2nm process built on Gate-All-Around transistor architecture. That said, Taylor should be more advanced than anything TSMC has operating on American soil.

The South Korean tech giant has pushed its 2nm yield rate to around 60%, which represents genuine progress but still falls short of the consistency that top-tier customers demand before committing production volume.

Samsung’s entire foundry credibility is now riding on whether a chip designed for a self-driving Tesla works the first time, every time, at scale.

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Samsung quietly launched One UI 8.5 Beta for Galaxy A54 and A55 in India. It’s a great opportunity for those waiting for a refresh on their devices. A public rollout would follow in the month of May or June for all users worldwide.

Galaxy A55 initially joined One UI 8.5 Beta in South Korea, while the Galaxy A54 has joined the party along with the A55 in India. Beta 1 is also rolling out to users upon successful enrollment, which carries ZZD5 version, via TarunVats.

One UI 8.5 Beta goes live for more Galaxy A phones

Joining the One UI 8.5 Beta on Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A54 in India isn’t complicated, but it does require timing and a bit of luck since Samsung rolls it out in limited batches.

First, install the Samsung Members app from the Play Store if you haven’t already. Log in with your Samsung account, then keep an eye on the “Notices” or “Beta Program” banner section.

If Samsung opens the Beta for your device in India, you’ll see a dedicated One UI 8.5 Beta banner. Tap it, register your device, and agree to the terms carefully before proceeding.

Once enrolled, head to Settings, then Software Update, and tap Download and Install. The Beta update should appear like a normal OTA update, ready to install on your phone.

Keep in mind, beta builds can be unstable. Backup your data before installing, and expect occasional bugs, battery drain, or app compatibility issues during the testing phase.

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Samsung’s April 2026 update is expanding, with the latest rollout covering various devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5, Fold 4, Flip 4, Tab S10+, and Tab S10 Ultra.

If you own any of the Galaxy devices (Z Fold 5, Flip 5, Fold 4, Flip 4, Tab S10+, and Tab S10 Ultra) in South Korea, the April 2026 update is available for download. The latest OTA carries forty-seven CVE and SVE items combined.

Samsung is continuously expanding the availability of its April patch. Recently, two Galaxy A phones, including the A53 and A55, received the OTA. In the past, Samsung updated the Galaxy A54 to the latest security patches.

Build versions:

• Galaxy Tab S10+: X826NKOS7CZD3
• Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: X926NKOS7CZD3
• Galaxy Z Fold 5: F946NKSS6FZCS
• Galaxy Z Flip 5: F731NKSS6FZCS
• Galaxy Z Fold 4: F936NKSS7IZCS
• Galaxy Z Flip 4: F721NKSS7IZCS

The updates are initially dropped in South Korea (via Mohammed Khatri), with Global expansion following soon. In the meantime, you can manually trigger a check for updates through system Settings > Software update page.

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One UI 8.5 update

Samsung is also optimizing One UI 8.5 for various devices. The company is running its biggest and longest Beta Program in history. However, Galaxy users are eagerly awaiting the beginning of a Stable rollout that will benefit millions.

One UI 8.5 Beta is limited to select models in up to six countries. Samsung sells Galaxy devices in almost every country on the planet. That said, the Beta Program isn’t the thing users are enjoying; they want a public release.

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Samsung has a new firmware update for Galaxy A53 and A55 smartphone users, which carries April 2026 security improvements.

April patch debuted on Samsung’s A lineup, starting with the Galaxy A54. Now, the company is bringing the April 2026 update to the Galaxy A53 and A55.

Samsung’s April SMR patches up to forty-three CVE and SVE items, as well as four specific CVEs from Samsung Semiconductor. Besides, users will notice improvements in overall performance and functionality while using the device.

The update has dropped initially in Korea and India, through PDA GZD1 and CZD1. Galaxy A53 is presently listed on the Quarterly schedule, while A55 on Monthly in Samsung’s update chart. Expect the next software updates with One UI 8.5.

The OTA may expand soon, pushing an update notification on your device. However, you can manually check for updates through Settings > Software update > Download and install.

Like last month, Samsung’s security update distribution seems slow. Flagship Galaxy models are lucky as they’ve already grabbed the latest patches. Meanwhile, mid-range and budget models are still stuck to older patches.

Galaxy A53 was launched with Android 12-based One UI 4. Samsung provided four major OS upgrades to the device. Thanks to Android 16, the device is eligible for the One UI 8.5 upgrade, which should arrive this year.

Meanwhile, Samsung is preparing One UI 8.5 Beta Program for the Galaxy A54 smartphone.

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Google just made it official; its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2026, lands on May 19 and 20, and Android 17 launch is front and center.

The main keynote kicks off at 10:00 AM PT on May 19, with the developer keynote following at 1:30 PM the same day. Google has confirmed sessions covering Android, AI, Chrome, and Cloud. If you think AI won’t dominate every corner of this conference, you haven’t been paying attention.

What Google is actually revealing

A scheduled session titled “What’s new in Android” surfaces at 3:30 PM on May 19. That’s where Android 17’s feature set gets its formal introduction.

Expect camera and media upgrades, performance work, Agentic AI capabilities baked into the OS, and continued investment in large-screen layouts for foldables, tablets, and desktops.

Gemini ecosystem, Google Photos, Workspace, YouTube and its various spin-offs, Firebase, Google Play, all of it gets stage time across the two days, but the session that matters most for Android hardware fans is the Android 17 slot.

Samsung’s One UI 9 could debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and the Z Fold Wide in July. Google releasing stable Android 17 in June or July gives Samsung just enough runway to ship One UI 9 alongside those foldables at launch.

So the question isn’t whether One UI 9 will be ready. Samsung’s engineering teams don’t miss foldable launch windows anymore. The question is what Samsung adds on top of Android 17’s Agentic AI foundation, and whether it’s actually useful.

Android 17 is already in beta on select devices. The stable build is coming fast.

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Samsung has recently started One UI 8.5 Beta Program for the Galaxy S23 series, but the Ultra model has already jumped to Android 17-based One UI 9 in the early test phase.

The majority of users are on One UI 8.0, built on Android 16. One UI 8.5 Beta is available in select countries, while One UI 9 is being tested in labs. Samsung’s software segment isn’t stopping at all; it’s running at a fast pace.

Galaxy S23 Ultra seen with Android 17

US variant of the Galaxy S23 Ultra has made its early appearance on Geekbench, running Android version 17, probably atop One UI 9 (via Alfaturk). This confirms Samsung isn’t waiting till the One UI 8.5 rollout completes for the 2023 flagships.

On Geekbench, the device scored 1743 points in single-core and 3919 points in multi-core. The scores are initial, and there’s always room for improvement. Samsung will further optimize the OS, utilizing the remaining time.

Back in 2023, Samsung launched the Galaxy S23 series. The lineup contains a total of four models: three flagships and one Fan Edition. All come with Android 13-based One UI 5 and guaranteed 4-year OS updates support.

That said, Android 17 is going to be the final major upgrade. Samsung’s version could launch this July, but rollout to existing models may take time. We may see a Beta Program first, months before the official release commences.

One UI 8.5 is currently the latest Android skin for Galaxy users. It brings notable design changes over the Android 16-based One UI 8. The scope of user interface tweaks is not much in One UI 9, but AI features may be elevated.

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Samsung quietly dropped a SmartThings update that’s less about smart home convenience and more about something the industry rarely admits it’s chasing: genuine peace of mind for people caring for aging parents from a distance.

The headline feature is called Care on Call. When a caregiver calls a parent who’s part of the Family Care setup, a floating pop-up surfaces before the call connects. It shows the first activity of the day, the most recent movement detected, and local weather.

The Safety Patrol feature got sharper, too. If the care recipient goes quiet for longer than a set window, the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra can be dispatched remotely to sweep the house. The robot carries a camera and two-way audio.

The Care Insight feature now tracks week-over-week shifts in activity, temperature deviation, humidity, and connected device usage.

SmartThings is also pushing Now Brief beyond Samsung phones. TVs from 2024 onward and Family Hub refrigerators from 2021 onward will get the feature in phases. The rollout is automatic: walk near the TV or touch the fridge screen, and it activates.

Samsung’s enhanced Now Brief supports Home Security, Family Care and Pet Care. The function already supports Home Insight, Energy and the Sleep Environment Report.

Through Now Brief, Samsung users can access the useful information needed to care for themselves, their families and their homes at a glance.

“SmartThings will continue to strengthen its role as a platform that connects customers’ daily lives with AI,” said Jaeyeon Jung, EVP and Head of the SmartThings Team.

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Samsung’s Battery Icon can’t remain free from controversy in One UI 8.5 either. After multiple adjustments in One UI 7 and One UI 8, the specific UI component is yet to hit the level of perfection in One UI 8.5.

The latest problem linked to Samsung’s Battery Icon has emerged on Galaxy S24 Ultra running One UI 8.5 Beta 2. The component has a scaling bug, specifically on the 100 percent battery level, and it’s weird at this stage.

At the 100 percent level, the battery icon’s pill has turned oddly thin. At levels below 100, it returned to its optimal size, which it usually used to appear. The problem seems limited to the 100 level when the icon contains three digits.

As the battery dropped, the battery icon became fine. It appears accurately aligned with other components in the status bar. Samsung will address the scaling problem in the next Beta update, or probably the Stable build.

Battery Icon isn’t safe yet

The new battery icon was debuted in One UI 7. Samsung has improved the pill based on user feedback and suggestions. We’ve seen notable improvements in the One UI 8 and 8.5 versions, but the best is yet to come.

It’s disappointing to see the firmware is failing to keep such a basic component perfect. The software is indeed Beta, which contains such glitches. However, the battery icon should now stop ruining the user interface.

Check if the battery icon turns thinner at 100 percent charge on your Galaxy device. It’s not a deal-breaker, but still, it ruins the level of perfection. Well, you can remove the pill and keep the battery level alone, which looks clean.

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Samsung has released a new update for its Music app, adding a small home screen widget that’s compact and easy to arrange.

Before this update, Samsung Music only had a 4×1 size widget. It includes playback buttons for shuffle, previous, play/pause, next, and repeat. It covers the entire width of the display.

The new version has a 2 x 2 square shape, including prev, play/pause, and next options, and album art in the background. Similar to the wide widget, you can tap on the album art to open the Music app.

Besides, Samsung will let you change the shape of this widget. You can make its corner round in four different variations and preview the change on the same screen.

Random Playback Order

Song playback is getting an addition with this update. If you like to play the song in random spin, this feature is for you. Samsung Music now lets you see the song order in the current playlist when playing randomly.

First, open the Samsung Music app and tap on the Queue button on the left side of the music timeline. However, there’s more to it.

You can sort the view by date, name, and artist. See the current tracks in the playlist on the right side and their order. Add a new track to the playlist with the add button on the top right, or select one or multiple songs from the playlist to delete them.

This new Samsung Music update, with a small widget and a random song playback queue feature, is now available for Galaxy devices. Get it from the Galaxy Store or the Play Store.

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Galaxy S24 series will receive the AI-powered Call Screening feature. Samsung has optimized four of the Galaxy S26’s incredible AI features. It remains to be seen whether it joins the Stable build or arrives early in the next Beta.

Samsung is internally testing DZD9 build for the 2024 flagships. This One UI 8.5 build features the AI Call Screening for Galaxy S24 series.

In addition, Samsung has optimized Advanced Audio Eraser, Creative Studio and enhanced Photo Assist for Galaxy S24 series. These are striking features that Samsung debuted with the Galaxy S26 series in February this year.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Samsung is planning to expand the Call Screening feature to the Galaxy S25 series. The company later confirmed through a Samsung Members app notice, but it’s yet to be deployed.

Call screening will be added as a dedicated option inside system Settings. To access it, open the Phone app on your Samsung device and tap More options icon. Once done, tap Settings, followed by Call screening.

You will encounter three options that are as follows:

• Auto screen calls: Enable automatic screening for unknown callers.
• Language: Select or download your preferred language for transcription.
• Voice: Customize the assistant’s voice and adjust speech speed.

Samsung may have been keeping Call Screening reserved for the stable update. It’s a classic Samsung approach to keep the hype alive. If new features land on older models quickly, the sales could be impacted accordingly.

Stable One UI 8.5 update may begin rolling out next month. Reports suggest Korean users may be offered an early access before wider distribution. Meanwhile, Galaxy S24 users may have to wait a little more to join the party.

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Samsung is all set to launch One UI 8.5 Beta Program for the Galaxy A55 and A54 users. As part of preparations, the company has just published the Beta Forum for both models. The Galaxy A55 has already joined Beta in South Korea.

One UI 8.5 Beta will allow you to experience the software before its public rollout. Samsung has been working on One UI 8.5 for months, and the Beta build is almost ready to arrive on the Galaxy A55 and A54 (via TarunVats).

Galaxy A54 and A55 running Android 16-based One UI 8. It was a solid foundation before Samsung dropped the redesign and features. The stage is set, the Beta Program is getting ready, and the button to rollout will trigger soon.

One UI 8.5 brings subtle changes to the user interface. Samsung introduced Ambient Design, which makes the overall visibility more dynamic. Core functionalities have been refined, too, which elevates the overall user experience.

Galaxy Beta updates are safe to install, even on your daily driver. You can get it on your device without manually flashing the firmware. Enroll through the Members app and receive the Beta OTA, just like a regular update.

It will be an unofficial build, which may have some issues. You may also notice sudden drop in battery life, which will improve with time. Utilize the feedback window to help the One UI team shape the software for all users.

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Elon Musk confirmed on X that Tesla AI5 chip has cleared the design finalization stage, and thanked Samsung and TSMC for production.

Tesla CEO called the AI5 one of the most widely produced AI chips in history. Tesla’s AI5 chip is built for two things: autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. That’s the Optimus line, which Tesla has been pushing hard alongside its self-driving software.

The chip represents the next generation of in-house silicon Tesla has been developing to cut its dependence on third-party hardware and control its own compute destiny.

Samsung and TSMC are splitting production duties on AI5. Musk let slip in the same post that work is already underway on AI6 and something called Dojo 3. AI6 production is penciled in exclusively for Samsung Electronics.

Musk had previously floated the idea that AI6’s tape-out could come as early as December of this year. Landing sole-source production rights on a chip Tesla is calling one of its most ambitious yet, is exactly the kind of win Samsung has been chasing.

What Musk’s post sketches is a roadmap where Tesla’s silicon ambitions scale fast, and Samsung sits at the center of that trajectory. AI5 splits, but AI6 goes to Samsung alone; Dojo 3 is mentioned in the same breath.

Well, TSMC doesn’t run an X account. So when Musk went to tag them in his post, he ended up tagging TSC instead, a completely separate semiconductor company.

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Amazon announced it is acquiring Globalstar in a deal worth approximately $11.5 billion and it matters most for Apple.

Globalstar is the satellite operator powering some of iPhone’s most important features, including Emergency SOS via Satellite, as reported by CNBC.

Back in November 2024, Apple dropped $1.1 billion into Globalstar alongside an equity deal, securing a 20% stake. So when Amazon agreed to buy Globalstar, Apple effectively became a stakeholder in a deal that could hand it somewhere around $2 billion in cash.

Under the terms, Amazon’s Leo satellite business absorbs Globalstar’s infrastructure, its MSS spectrum licenses, its global authorizations, and the whole operation. What Apple gets out of that is continuity for now, plus something more interesting later.

The deal includes a formal agreement between Apple and Amazon to maintain satellite connectivity for existing iPhone and Apple Watch features. Current users won’t notice a thing; the Globalstar network keeps running, and your Emergency SOS still works.

With Amazon’s expanded satellite constellation absorbing Globalstar’s low Earth orbit infrastructure, Apple gains access to dramatically more bandwidth and coverage. Not enough for video calls, but enough to make satellite messaging faster and accessible.

For Samsung, this is the uncomfortable part

Galaxy devices have their own satellite connectivity features, and Samsung has been pushing hard into that space. But Apple just secured a direct pipeline into one of the most substantial satellite infrastructure plays in the industry, backed by Amazon.

The post Amazon just bought Apple’s satellite lifeline and Samsung should pay attention appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung increases the price of Galaxy devices in the US once again. The company’s quiet price hikes are getting hard to ignore. We’re talking phones, foldables, tablets, and even the budget stuff that people buy when they’re trying to save money.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 kept its $1,999 base price intact, but the 512GB and 1TB configurations each climbed $80. The Flip 7 512GB now sits at $1,300, up $80. The Galaxy S25 FE crept up $40 to $750, while the Galaxy S25 Edge 512GB also absorbed that same $80 hit.

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra 256GB is now $1,300 after a $100 increase, while the 512GB version now hitting $1,500. Older tablets like the Tab S10 FE, the Tab S10+, and the Tab S10 Lite all saw hikes, some as high as $180.

Even the entry-level Tab A11 and A11+, which are supposed to be affordable, now cost up to $70 more than they did before. Samsung hasn’t explained a single one of these increases.

The company just quietly updated (via Phonearena) prices and moved on. The working assumption is rising component costs, which is a real pressure across the industry right now, but silence from a company this size feels like a choice.

If you’re buying, Samsung.com tends to carry the sharpest discounts and trade-in offers in the US. The sticker price isn’t always what you actually pay. Worth checking before you walk into a carrier store and get quoted full retail.

The post Is Samsung getting too expensive? A look at the latest US price increases appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung has made Quick Share capable of sharing images, videos, and files with iPhone users through Apple AirDrop. We thought the feature’s functionality was perfect until we managed to discover a glitch that does not impact everybody out there.

Metadata exists with every image, video, or file, and it’s crucial, but only if you care. It’s simply a short description of visuals and graphics backed by date and time, file name, size, location, resolution, aperture, and other aspects, such as exposure.

Smartphone camera apps bring a feature that slaps location data on the image and videos. When enabled, it leverages the phone’s GPS to determine the current location (or approximate) and link it to the output that stays paired until altered manually.

Transferring files from Samsung Quick Share to AirDrop is lacking location data. It retains most of the details, but a bug is causing the location information to be left behind while sharing from a Samsung device to Apple devices.

After reports, we managed to reproduce the problem, which you can read here.

Well, Samsung’s team was fast enough to acknowledge the glitch. The moderator confirmed that location data is being dropped when sharing files with Apple devices. The team is aware of the problem and is working to address it soon.

As revealed by the moderator, the root cause is being investigated for resolution. The next Galaxy update will likely fix the location data problem. Files shared from Samsung to Apple devices will begin carrying location information as well.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has taken the top spot in US Consumer Reports latest smartphone rankings, scoring 88 points and leaving every major competitor behind, including Apple.

Three straight years now: the S24 Ultra won US Consumer Reports ranking, then the S25 Ultra and now the Galaxy S26 Ultra. That kind of sustained dominance doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen because a marketing team got lucky with their timing.

How good is 88 points?

To put it plainly: the iPhone 17 Pro Max scored 86. Consumer Reports doesn’t hand out scores generously, and in a ranking system this strict, two points is the difference between best-in-class and also-ran.

The S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra both sit at 87, which means Samsung is essentially lapping itself while Apple watches from two steps back. That’s embarrassing for the iPhone maker.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra clocked 51.5 hours in Consumer Reports’ testing, the only device in the top 30 to pull a perfect battery score. People forget that most flagship phones are mediocre on endurance because vendors chase thinness and benchmark bragging rights.

The S26 Ultra has emerged at the top of consumer rankings in the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. Samsung’s regional playbook varies, leaning into NCAA partnerships in the United States while pushing privacy messaging in Europe, but the hardware doesn’t change.

Three consecutive years at the top of one of America’s most scrutinized consumer publications is a statement about process, not luck.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is still an exceptional device, and 86 points is nothing to dismiss. But right now, Samsung holds the line, defends it annually, and keeps widening the distance.

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Everyone assumed it might not arrive, but the 9th One UI 8.5 Beta has finally landed in the US. Owners of the Galaxy S25 series, who have participated in the Beta Program, can now download the latest ZZD5 software update.

On April 9, Samsung pushed the 9th One UI 8.5 Beta in Beta-eligible markets, but US users didn’t receive the update. Though a bit late, the company is finally bringing its most Stable build to the Galaxy S25 users in the US.

The update mainly focuses on polish rather than major feature additions.

One of the more interesting additions is support for AirDrop-style connectivity with Apple devices, making file sharing more flexible. Samsung has also introduced three new camera filters: Classic Film, Pop Film, and Blanc.

Several connectivity and stability issues have been addressed. Bluetooth performance has been improved, especially in cases where connections would randomly disconnect and reconnect, making them much more reliable in daily use.

Samsung has also fixed several UI glitches across the system. Notification cards now display properly without being cut off, and their layout behaves better when the device is rotated between portrait and landscape modes.

In addition, camera-related bugs have also been ironed out. Users should no longer experience screen flickering or color distortion when adjusting zoom levels during dual recording, improving overall shooting consistency.

Performance improvements extend to the Gallery app as well. The update reduces stuttering when opening albums under certain conditions, resulting in a smoother and more responsive browsing experience for photos and videos.

There are also fixes for always-on display inaccuracies, where time information would occasionally appear incorrectly. Additionally, the lock screen no longer flashes briefly during incoming calls before switching to the call interface.

Samsung may also release the 10th One UI 8.5 Beta before kicking off the Stable rollout on April 30 or May 4.

Thanks for the tip, Matthew!

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Rising component costs are making 2026 more expensive. The latest Galaxy S26 series is pricier than the Galaxy S25 series, but Samsung is reportedly planning a price cut across the last year’s flagships in India.

Credible leaker AbhishekYadav reports that the Galaxy S25 series prices may be slashed in India soon. The price cut may apply to the base, Fan Edition and Ultra variants in the Indian smartphone market.

The standard Galaxy S25 may go down to INR 65,000 from its original 80,990 price tag. The Galaxy S25 FE may also see a price cut of INR 5,000, hitting INR 55,000. Galaxy S25 Ultra price may get the biggest (INR 20,000) drop.

Revised prices could be as follows:

• Galaxy S25
  • 12 GB + 256GB – INR 65,000
• Galaxy S25 FE
  • 8 GB + 128 GB – INR 55,000
• Galaxy S25 Ultra
  • 12GB + 256GB – INR 1,00,000

Last month, Samsung started selling the Galaxy S26 series. The latest phones are literally incredible, but if you want a true flagship experience and save some money, the Galaxy S25 series should be the first pick.

Unlike the S26 series, the S25 and S25 Ultra come with a Snapdragon processor. In some cases, the Galaxy S25 may outperform the Galaxy S26 with Exynos. Galaxy S25 FE, meanwhile, ships with Exynos processor, worldwide.

Galaxy S25 Ultra was the world’s 10th best-selling phone in Q4 2025. Samsung apparently wants to keep that momentum. A price cut, that too around three months ahead of the festive season, may push sales of the S25 smartphones.

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A Galaxy S26 Ultra user reported having a glitch with the ultrawide camera. Upon checking the log files, Samsung’s moderator advised replacement, but the service center staff is reportedly refusing to replace the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera.

A fresh report from the Samsung Community highlights a frustrating gap between what users are told online and what they hear at official service centers.

The case revolves around a Galaxy S26 Ultra owner who started facing camera issues just days after purchase. According to the report, the camera app throws an error the moment it is opened, warning that some features may not work.

Only limited zoom ranges show up, and even those fail with a “lens cannot be used” message. That alone would be concerning on a premium smartphone; what makes this case stand out is what happened next.

The user did what any reasonable customer would do. They visited an official service center, not once, but twice, and each time, they were told there was no hardware fault.

A Samsung Community moderator, reportedly from the camera team, reviewed the logs submitted through the Samsung Members app. Their conclusion directly contradicted the service center’s assessment.

According to the moderator, the ultra-wide lens module likely needs replacement, and the user should visit a service center for inspection. That leaves the customer in an absurd situation.

The digital side of Samsung says there is a hardware problem. The physical service center says everything is fine. It will be interesting to see whether Samsung steps in to resolve this specific case.

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Samsung has already expanded the AirDrop file transfer support for Quick Share in top-tier Galaxy devices, but there’s an issue that we just uncovered about the image metadata.

The phone maker is enjoying applause from the Galaxy users for this native hack. You need to select the file, change the device’s visibility, and that’s it. That file transfer speed is also good, removing a big hurdle for users who own devices from both ecosystems.

I’ve been trying the Quick Share to AirDrop every day. And recently noticed that the images and videos shared from Galaxy S26 Ultra to the iPhone are missing image metadata.

Just to give you a brief overview, the metadata stores information about the camera settings, such as aperture, zoom, and megapixels. The same goes for the videos. Users can also enable or disable the location where the image/video is captured.

The images from the Galaxy S26 Ultra were showing camera data but missing lens and location tags. A cross verification with Galaxy S25 Ultra created the same outcome.

Next, I sent a video to the iPhone, and it had no metadata except for the resolution and HDR details. The camera and the location details were missing together. Finally, I transferred images and videos from Galaxy S26 Ultra to the S25 Ultra, and those have the details preserved as they should be.

Does the same issue appear for the other way around?

No, images and videos shared from an iPhone to Galaxy S26 Ultra or S25 Ultra aren’t missing any metadata information. That confirms that the issue is part of the Quick Share.

To sum up the findings, I transferred the images from the iPhone back to the Galaxy device, and it had metadata. However, it was missing these details for videos.

Based on these transfer experiments. We can conclude that the Quick Share is either deleting the metadata or it’s not packaging the missing information during transfers. Since these files have preserved some metadata, it appears that the second scenario is most likely to be true.

Quick Share to AirDrop is a good approach, and missing metadata may not be a big deal for many users, but it’s an issue, and Samsung should bring a fix.

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Google Play system update dated March 2026 is making its way to Samsung phones, including the Galaxy S26 series. An update weighing around 70 megabytes is rolling out to devices, enforcing Android functions and security.

Samsung seems serious about Google Play system update with March 2026 version as well. One UI 8.5 Beta is underway, but it hasn’t broken system update releases. As spotted by X user Kailash, the latest March version is available.

What’s new in March Play system update?

March Play system update brings a mix of user-facing features and under-the-hood improvements, with Google continuing to focus on cross-device experiences, stability, and developer tools across phones, PCs, wearables, and Android Auto.

A notable addition is improved device connectivity. Fast Pair now extends to large screens, making it easier to connect accessories to desktop, while Wi-Fi Sync helps users seamlessly share trusted networks across their personal device ecosystem.

Safety also gets a meaningful upgrade. Wireless Emergency Alerts now include a map view, allowing users to instantly see affected areas and their own location within alerts, improving situational awareness during critical events.

System management updates focus on stability, storage optimization, and updatability. Play Store enhancements include better review search, cross-platform gaming support, and improved content discovery, while background services receive routine maintenance.

Developers receive several new capabilities tied to utilities, maps, connectivity, and payments. These updates aim to streamline app functionality, improve authentication flows, and enhance integration with system-level services like Autofill and Credential Manager.

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A supply chain leak pointing to a quiet but telling decision inside Samsung’s Galaxy A18 development pipeline.

The company has reportedly reverted to the older Chip-on-Glass method for mounting display driver ICs onto the panel substrate, walking back an earlier plan to use the more advanced Chip-on-Film approach.

CoF mounting generally allows for thinner bezels and better display flexibility.

Samsung used CoG on the Galaxy A17, the A18’s direct predecessor, and at some point this year someone apparently decided the upgrade wasn’t worth the bill. The A18 is an entry-level phone, sure, but millions of units will ship every month.

Wonik D2I is in discussions with Samsung Display to land the A18 contract. The company just announced its first-ever mass production shipment of OLED panel DDIs, believed to have gone to a Sharp device through Samsung Display.

Here’s the complication: integrating a timing controller into a single-chip DDI solution, the format Samsung Display’s supply chain calls a TED, is technically demanding. Analysts aren’t convinced Wonik D2I is ready for that yet.

Samsung’s established DDI suppliers include Samsung System LSI, DB HiTek, Anapass, and Novatek. DB HiTek currently handles the A17; getting displaced there won’t happen quietly.

The Korean tech giant is betting its cheapest new phone on a supplier whose biggest flex right now is a Sharp model nobody’s talking about.

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One UI 9, built on Android 17, is expected to land this summer alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. Meanwhile, leaks are already exposing that Samsung is preparing an About Phone revamp, an AI photo editor, and more for One UI 9.

About Phone

Samsung’s About Phone section has displayed a massive, screen-hogging render of the device you’re already holding. The giant image of your device staring back at you from the Settings menu has always been a waste of real estate.

The new layout in One UI 9 tucks a compact device render into the top-left corner, via SammyGuru. The rest of the screen becomes functional. Model number, serial number, device name, all of it gets promoted to the prime visual space.

Photo Editor

Samsung is reportedly adding AI-powered suggestion pills that sit above the input field when you’re editing an image. Think of them as smart shortcuts, contextual nudges that read what you’re working on and surface edits.

The AI photo suggestions, if they’re tuned well, could represent something more interesting. Context-aware editing prompts built into a default app would be genuinely useful to people who will never download Lightroom.

Search Bar

Less dramatic but worth mentioning: the Settings search bar is getting a new expansion animation. It stretches and collapses with what’s described as a smooth, flexible motion.

Samsung has spent years adding features and very little time subtracting them. One UI 9 suggests someone inside the company finally asked the harder question.

The One UI 9 beta program should be close. The stable release is targeting summer 2026, so Samsung typically opens beta access a few months before.

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Qualcomm is jointly developing custom DRAM with CXMT, formally ChangXin Memory Technologies, China’s fourth-largest DRAM producer. Qualcomm is also working with GigaDevice on a discrete smartphone NPU targeting Chinese brands.

The NPU delivers roughly 40 TOPS of compute. It’s paired with 4GB of customized 3D DRAM manufactured by CXMT, using TSV and hybrid bonding stacking to push memory bandwidth beyond what standard LPDDR5X can offer.

Shipments are expected in late 2026 or early 2027, aimed at devices priced above RMB 4,000 (~ $585) to 4,500 (~ $660). That’s not a minor spec tweak, but a purpose-built AI memory stack for mid-to-premium Android phones.

CXMT already covers around 30% of the Chinese smartphone market with its LPDDR5X production. The capacity exists, the manufacturing knowledge exists and now there’s a Qualcomm-backed design riding on top of it.

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have been operating in a seller’s market for mobile memory while they prioritize AI server contracts. A qualified CXMT with custom designs in hand is pressure, even if it never ships a single unit outside China.

Samsung sits in an uncomfortable position here

Samsung is one of the companies causing the mobile memory squeeze by chasing AI server contracts, and one of the Android ecosystem players that suffers when memory costs push OEMs toward cheaper silicon choices.

The company could have moved on custom DRAM partnerships for mobile AI. Now, Qualcomm is building an alternative stack with Chinese suppliers, targeting the exact price tier where Samsung’s Galaxy A and mid-range lines compete hardest.

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For anyone who spent five minutes personalizing their Samsung Messages experience, switching to Google Messages feels like moving into a concrete apartment.

Folks over at Android Authority found that Google is preparing to upgrade its Messages app by adding the best personalization features from Samsung Messages.

In Samsung Messages, you could pull an image from your Gallery, and slap it as a chat room background. Theme Park through Good Lock took it even further: bubble colors, contrast adjustments, wallpaper-based themes.

Buried inside the latest Google Messages Beta build, version messages.android_20260410_02_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic, new strings have surfaced pointing at something interesting.

The strings reference a full “Custom” theme section, background styles. Adjustable bubble colors and the ability to upload your own photos as chat wallpapers. References to “Upload photo” and “Your photos” suggest Google Photos integration is coming.

A “Theme Preview” option and an “Apply” button hint that users will get a real, interactive customization experience. Separate controls for backgrounds and bubbles also appear in the strings, meaning you could mix and match.

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Google Messages is now the default on Galaxy phones, and the transition makes sense. Samsung Messages quietly fell behind when it dropped RCS support, leaving millions of Galaxy users stuck with glorified SMS while the rest of the world moved on.

Samsung Messages fans who felt abandoned when the app started its retirement walk finally have a reason to stop mourning.

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Update – Expanding to more A55 users

Samsung has now opened the One UI 8.5 Beta Program for Galaxy A55 in India. Users are getting the first Beta through PDA A556EXXUEZZD5 that carries the April 2026 security patch as well.

Original story as follows

Following the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta has arrived for the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 in India and Korea. This opportunity lets Samsung fans access the latest software advancements before they go live for the public.

One UI 8.5 Beta 1 will be available for participants upon successful sign-up. The update, weighing roughly 2.85 GB, also carries the April 2026 security patch. Meanwhile, Galaxy S23 FE users have also received One UI 8.5 Beta.

To join the One UI 8.5 Beta on your Galaxy A35 or A55, you first need to check if Samsung has officially opened Beta signups in your region. These programs usually roll out gradually and may not be available everywhere at once.

Open the Samsung Members app on your phone and sign in with your Samsung account. Look for a banner or notice related to the One UI 8.5 Beta Program on the home screen or in the notices section.

Tap the banner and follow the on-screen instructions to register. Once enrolled, your device will be added to the beta testing pool linked to your account. After successful registration, go to Settings, then Software update, and tap Download and install.

A couple of quick tips

• Keep at least 40–50% battery before starting
• Use a stable Wi-Fi connection to avoid interruptions
• Make sure you have enough storage space

Before installing, make sure to back up your data, as beta software can be unstable and may cause bugs or performance issues. It’s also recommended to have a sufficient battery and a stable internet connection during the download process.

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