Get ready to be blown away—Samsung’s upcoming Android update, One UI 8.5, is shaping up to be a game-changer, and the leaks are spilling secrets left and right. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Samsung is doubling down on AI and borrowing a few design cues that might remind you of Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic, not everyone is convinced it’s a winning combo. Let’s dive in.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI has been stealing the spotlight lately, and One UI 8.5 seems poised to take it to the next level. According to a screenshot shared on Twitter/X (https://x.com/nirmalsri7/status/1970354727646044635), Galaxy AI is introducing four exciting feature categories that could transform how you use your device. Here’s the breakdown:
- Meeting Assist: Imagine real-time translation of meeting conversations and presentation screens—perfect for global teams or multilingual environments.
- Touch Assistant: Boost your reading efficiency by processing on-screen text, making it a handy tool for students or professionals drowning in documents.
- Smart Clipboard: Get smart suggestions like summarizing, translating, or searching copied content, turning your clipboard into a productivity powerhouse.
- Social Composer: Automatically generate social media posts from your uploaded images or shopping reviews based on your purchases—a time-saver for the socially active.
And this is the part most people miss: Android Authority (https://www.androidauthority.com/one-ui-8-5-home-screen-ai-apk-teardown-3599988/) uncovered that One UI 8.5 will integrate AI agents like Gemini, Gauss Cloud, and Perplexity via a new launcher shortcut, potentially replacing the Google Search bar. The twist? It’s designed to deliver concise responses in just three sentences or less. Bold move, but will it be enough to outshine competitors?
Meanwhile, SammyGuru spotted a redesign of the My Files app (https://sammyguru.com/exclusive-samsung-my-files-app-one-ui-8-5/), featuring circular categories and a Liquid Glass-inspired look. While it’s not identical to Apple’s iOS 26 design, the similarities are hard to ignore. Is Samsung playing catch-up, or is this a clever nod to a popular trend? The same design language appears in the Samsung Phone app (https://sammyguru.com/exclusive-one-ui-8-5-phone-app/), sparking debates about originality.
Other leaked features include a Pixel-like Call Screening for Galaxy phones (https://www.androidauthority.com/one-ui-8-5-automatic-call-screening-3599737/), a ‘Private Display’ feature (https://www.androidauthority.com/one-ui-8-5-private-display-apk-teardown-3599649/) that limits screen visibility from side angles, NFC-triggered Quick Share (https://www.androidauthority.com/one-ui-8-5-nfc-quick-share-file-sharing-leak-3599799/), and the return of pollen information in the Weather app (https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-one-ui-8-5-weather-app-pollen-feature-3600050/).
Samsung is expected to debut One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26 series early next year, but for now, the focus is on the stable rollout of One UI 8, which kicked off last week (https://9to5google.com/2025/09/20/samsung-galaxy-android-16-one-ui-8-update-list-schedule/).
What do you think? Is Samsung’s blend of AI innovation and design inspiration a step forward, or are they treading on familiar ground? Let us know in the comments!
For more Samsung updates, check out:
- Samsung’s rumored Galaxy S26 display upgrade (https://9to5google.com/2025/09/22/samsung-galaxy-s26-display-upgrade-m14/)
- iOS-inspired visuals in One UI 8.5 (https://9to5google.com/2025/09/19/one-ui-8-5-leak-shows-off-ios-inspired-visuals-coming-alongside-galaxy-s26/)
- Android 16 update for last-gen Galaxy devices (https://9to5google.com/2025/09/22/samsung-expands-android-16-update-to-these-last-gen-galaxy-devices/)
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