According to SamMobile, Samsung is actively developing One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a planned 2026 launch alongside the Galaxy S26 series. The company was preparing to launch a beta program in November 2024, but with potential Galaxy S26 delays, the beta will likely be pushed back though still expected before year’s end. After the Galaxy S26 phones go on sale, Samsung will begin rolling out One UI 8.5 to older devices including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. The update appears to be visually focused with Samsung taking design cues from iOS and Apple’s Liquid Glass UI based on early Galaxy S25 Ultra firmware leaks. However, the company is still fine-tuning the software so the final version could look quite different from current leaks.
The Apple Design Influence
So Samsung is looking to iOS for design inspiration? That’s pretty telling. We’ve seen this dance before – Android manufacturers borrowing from Apple, Apple borrowing from Android. But here’s the thing: Samsung’s software identity has always been about feature density and customization options. If they’re really leaning into Apple’s design philosophy, that could mean simplifying the interface at the expense of some of those power user features.
The leaked firmware showing Liquid Glass UI influence is interesting, but let’s be real – by the time 2026 rolls around, Apple will have moved on to something else. Samsung might be chasing a design trend that’s already outdated by launch. Remember when everyone copied the notch? Yeah, that didn’t age well.
The Timing Problem
Now about that delayed beta program. This is becoming a pattern with Samsung’s software updates. They announce ambitious timelines, then reality hits. The Galaxy S26 delay pushing back the One UI 8.5 beta isn’t surprising, but it does create a domino effect. Later beta means less testing time, which could mean buggier initial releases.
And let’s talk about that 2026 launch window. We’re talking about software that won’t see widespread release for nearly two years. In tech time, that’s basically forever. By then, we’ll probably be hearing about One UI 9.0 development. It makes you wonder if this extended timeline is really about polish or if Samsung’s software teams are stretched too thin across too many devices.
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The Update Rollout Reality
Here’s what bothers me about Samsung’s update strategy: they’re still talking about staggered rollouts. Galaxy S26 gets it first, then older devices like the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. Basically, if you bought a $1800 foldable phone, you’re still waiting in line behind the latest slab phones.
And we all know how this goes – the initial rollout will hit a few regions, then there will be carrier delays, then some devices will get buggy builds that need pulling. It’s the same song, different version number. When you’re paying premium prices for foldables, shouldn’t you get premium software support timing too?
The visual focus of One UI 8.5 sounds nice in theory, but I’m skeptical. Samsung has a history of adding visual flair that sometimes comes at the expense of performance, especially on older hardware. Will the Z Fold 7 from 2024 still run these fancy new animations smoothly in 2026? That’s the real question.
