Samsung has quietly expanded its One UI 8.5 beta program to the Galaxy S23 lineup, giving owners of the two-year-old flagship a chance to test what’s coming before the stable release lands.
The beta is available for the Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra in select markets. The Galaxy S23 FE is not part of the program at this stage. To sign up, open the Samsung Members app, navigate to the beta section, and follow the enrollment steps. Once registered, check for a software update and download over Wi-Fi since the package is considerably large.
So what does One UI 8.5 actually bring to the S23? The headline changes include a redesigned quick panel that users can now customize more freely, refreshed visuals across core apps, and general system improvements aimed at making the phone feel more responsive. Nothing earth-shattering, but meaningful polish for a device that many people are still actively using.
Samsung has also bundled the April 2026 security patch with this build, though that update has already reached S23 devices running One UI 8.0.
This is the first beta build for the S23 series, so rough edges are expected. Samsung will follow it with additional test firmwares carrying bug fixes and refinements before pushing the stable update, which could arrive as early as May.
For context, the Galaxy S25 and S24 series are further along in their respective beta cycles, with features like Quickshare AirDrop support and new camera filters already in place.
