Summary

• Samsung has begun public testing of the One UI 8 beta, which is based on Android 16.
• Unlocked and T-Mobile Galaxy S25 models in certain countries are eligible to participate.
• The update introduces new AI functionalities and controls, but being a beta version, significant changes are anticipated.

Samsung Galaxy users, are you prepared for Android 16? Following reports indicating that Samsung’s upcoming major software update, One UI 8 (built on Android 16), would launch sooner than planned this year, it’s already underway. Today, Samsung began distributing the initial One UI 8 betas for the Galaxy S25.

In March, rumors suggested Samsung had initiated internal testing of One UI 8, moving the rollout ahead of the sluggish One UI 7 release, which encountered numerous delays. A couple of weeks ago, reports hinted that One UI 8 might debut in May, which proved accurate.

Related ##### One UI 8 Beta (Android 16) Might Be Coming to Samsung Phones This Month

It’s ahead of schedule.

Starting today, May 28th, individuals with unlocked or T-Mobile variants of the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, or Galaxy S25 Ultra can enroll in Samsung’s One UI 8 beta. It’s currently accessible only in the United States, the UK, Germany, and South Korea, though additional regions and devices are expected to follow soon. The next set of devices will be the latest foldables.

This year, Samsung has introduced an updated and enhanced system for its software update beta program. As always, you’ll need to sign up by joining the beta within the Samsung Members app, provided you have a qualifying device. Once you open Samsung Members and log in, if you’re in an eligible region using an eligible device, you should see a notice near the top stating, “Beta Program.” Click that, then join the beta.

From there, you can check for updates, download the sizable 3GB file, and install Android 16 (One UI 8) on your Galaxy phone. The whole procedure took less than ten minutes on my device. Keep in mind that you might encounter problems, so ensure you back up your device beforehand.

Why is this update rolling out so rapidly? During the initial announcement, Samsung mentioned, “Through open communication, Samsung and Google actively exchanged their respective design systems and real-time feedback with each other, speeding up software development that made One UI 8 one of the first UI platforms to adopt Android 16.”

As everyone knows, beta versions of software may not be entirely stable, and some features might be absent. As the beta progresses and the official update approaches, the experience should enhance. Samsung is already highlighting features that will provide an AI experience making daily life smarter and more convenient. These include new multimodal capabilities, UX enhancements, and personalized suggestions throughout, such as in the Now Bar.

Although the update builds upon Android 15 (One UI 7), which came out towards the end of last year or early 2025, it’s a relatively minor release. Yes, the update is 3GB, but my Galaxy S25 still appears and functions largely the same. Still, I anticipate further modifications over time. Other notable new features include an improved Quick Share, enhancements to Now Bar and Now Brief, QR codes for Auracast, a refined Reminders app, and much more. This is an evolving narrative, and we’ll keep you informed as we discover more.

The above is the detailed content of Samsung One UI 8 Beta Now Rolling Out, Based on Android 16. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!