Samsung’s One UI 8 is now making its way to users around the world, but the company’s software engineers aren’t taking a break. We’ve already heard that development on One UI 8.5 kicked off, with the initial test build hitting the servers not long ago.
Today, we’ve got an exclusive early glimpse into what this update has in store for Galaxy phones, thanks to a tip from One UI enthusiast and port specialist devcore over on Telegram. These screenshots come from a leaked version originally meant for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but tweaked to run on a Galaxy S21+ for testing purposes.
Diving into the Settings menu, there are some noticeable shifts in the interface. The main screen feels tighter, with slimmer menu options that ditch the extra descriptive lines underneath. The search field has shifted down to the bottom for easier reach, and you’ll spot subtle fade-out gradients at the top and bottom to handle scrolling. Plus, everything from the sections to the search bar now has soft shadows for a bit more depth. When you tap to expand the search, it switches to a neat three-column layout for browsing categories.
The real standout tweaks show up once you’re inside a submenu. The back arrow, when it’s minimised, gets its own shadowy border and hovers over the page content—reminding me a lot of how things work in iOS 26. On top of that, the various panels gain shadows along their upper and lower edges, giving them a lifted, layered vibe, complete with those gradient fades for overflow.
It might not scream “major overhaul,” but these adjustments tweak the core feel of Samsung’s interface and are likely to roll out across their native apps in time.
