Samsung One UI 8.5 Beta Devices Are Also Getting Google Play System Update
Samsung smartphones that recently received the January 2026 Google Play system update are now seeing a second, smaller update rolling out in quick succession. It is minor by almost every measure — 1.3 MB in size, no visible changes after installation, and the reference month stays at January 2026 — but it is still worth understanding what is happening and why.
For most of 2025, Samsung devices were stuck on an older Google Play system update version, with the blockage lasting through July or September depending on the model. Samsung acknowledged the delay and promised a resolution. That resolution arrived a couple of days ago, when the January 2026 update finally pushed through to a wide range of Galaxy devices.
This follow-up update appears to be a minor patch on top of that, likely addressing a small bug or delivering a quiet security fix. Nothing user-facing seems to change.
What About the One UI 8.5 Beta?
Galaxy S25 devices running the One UI 8.5 beta are also receiving a 1.3 MB update, but with one notable difference: their update rolls back to November 2025, not January 2026. That gap is worth keeping in mind if you are on the beta channel and comparing notes with someone on stable firmware.
How to Check on Your Device
Go to Settings, then About Phone, then Software Information, and tap Google Play system update. If nothing appears immediately, give it a few hours and check again. After downloading, a restart is required to finish the installation.
Google Play system updates have worked this way since Android 10, letting Google push security and feature improvements without waiting for a full OS update cycle.
