TL;DR
- Leaked builds show Samsung’s next One UI 8.5 update, debuting with the Galaxy S26, will be based on Android 16’s second quarterly release (QPR2).
- This is significant because most device makers skip quarterly Android updates, delaying new features until the next major annual version is released.
- By adopting QPR2, Samsung can bring new Android platform features to Galaxy devices much faster than before, matching Google’s own release cadence.
We’re still over 3 months away from the expected unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, but we already know many of its new software tricks thanks to a trove of One UI 8.5 leaks. Leaked builds of the software have surfaced, giving us a rare opportunity to see what Samsung is developing for its next major release.
As its name suggests, One UI 8.5 will be based on this year’s Android 16 release, not the yet-to-be-released Android 17. However, it will differ from its predecessor. While One UI 8 was based on the initial stable release of Android 16, One UI 8.5 will be built upon the second quarterly platform release, Android 16 QPR2.