Samsung is in a hurry with One UI 8 beta testing for a variety of Galaxy phones and tablets. The Android 16 based One UI 8 firmware is live-testing internally at the company, currently on older Galaxy devices through both beta and internal builds of the software. While some products are, or will be, part of a public beta, others are being tested internally.
As per a report by Sammy Fans, CheckFirm app showed a list of devices that would get One UI 8 testing. These include:
- Galaxy S23 series
- Galaxy S22 series
- Galaxy S21 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4
- Galaxy A56, A55, A54, A36, A35, A26, A73, A33, F23, F13, M23, M13, S23, S33, S23, S13 and more.
- Galaxy Tab S10 series
- Galaxy Tab S9 series
- Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro
- Galaxy M34
The vast majority of those listed devices have internal or beta builds, some were even seen on Geekbench. Samsung has not confirmed a One UI 8 launch schedule, so read it with a pinch of salt.
Will Galaxy S21 Get One UI 8?
It looks like Galaxy S21 owners are out of luck in that department, though. Galaxy S21 could miss One UI 8 and Android 16, after Samsung’s four-year major software update rule This is consistent with last year’s model, Galaxy S20 which wasn’t given One UI 2.1. Samsung’s seven years is from the name launch (the Galaxy S24 series) on.
One UI 8 Beta Availability
Samsung’s latest phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, come preloaded with One UI 8. Galaxy S25 has been getting beta versions since May, with August for Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. Samsung says more betas are coming for:
- Galaxy S23
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
What’s New in One UI 8?
One UI 8 introduces:
- Refreshed design language
- Updated icons and smoother animations
- More consistent menus
- Performance improvements
- Extended AI integration
The update is concentrated on design and function, offering a smoother and more visually appealing experience on mobile and desktop.
Samsung vs Apple Software Updates
Samsung has faced some criticism over its fragmented One UI rollout in the past. Apple on the other hand keeps an on-time developer and public beta schedule for iOS 26 with the Liquid Glass redesign. Samsung hopes to win back the trust of users and to be able to compete with Apple’s equally regular roll-out with One UI 8.
FAQ
One UI 8 is undergoing testing on the Galaxy S23, S22, S21 FE, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, a slew of Galaxy A series as well as Galaxy Tabs like S10 and S9 series.
Most of the reports hint that the Galaxy S21 may not get One UI 8, as the device is limited to get only four years of software update support as per Samsung’s policy.
New UI 8 brings improved design, icons, new animation, unified menus, performance boost and more in-depth AI integration.
Samsung hasn’t actually said when its next phones will get the update, but betas for some newer Galaxy phones are already turning up.
