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Samsung's One UI 8.5 is taking shape behind the scenes, and a fresh leaked build reveals a string of visual refinements that polish the interface ahead of a wider release. The changes are subtle but meaningful, touching apps across the system to improve clarity and consistency.
Visible updates in the latest build
The newest One UI 8.5 firmware — pulled from an early Galaxy S25 Ultra leak — cleans up several unfinished elements seen in earlier leaks. Most tweaks are cosmetic, but they combine to create a more cohesive experience.
Key changes spotted so far include:
- Quick Panel: Previously clumsy widget-list buttons have been tidied to match the rest of the interface.
- Digital Wellbeing: The app received a subtle redesign with larger, easier-to-tap buttons for common controls.
- Lockscreen shortcuts: Tapping the corner app shortcut now opens a pop-up that displays the full list of available apps instead of a limited view.
- Phone app: Samsung moved to an icon-only bottom bar and in the latest build that bar expands across the full screen width, even though the actionable icons still occupy a smaller centered area.
- Weather and Settings: Hitting search now places the search bar at the bottom of the screen, and the Weather app also boxes the location name at the top to improve readability.
- Gallery and Galaxy AI: The photo-editing menu has been restyled, and the bottom navigation now shows all tab names without requiring horizontal scrolling.
- Subtle scroll previews: A gentle gradient at the top and bottom of some apps provides a faint peek of the content you’ll encounter as you scroll.
- Screen recorder: Redesigned controls with larger buttons and icon labels make the recorder easier to understand at a glance.
Why these small changes matter
At first glance these are modest refinements, but they add up. Consistent iconography and better spacing reduce cognitive load, boxed labels and bottom-search placement improve one-handed reach, and clearer editing menus speed up workflows like photo adjustments. For users with larger devices — such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra — these polish items can make everyday interactions feel smoother and more intentional.
For example, moving the search field to the bottom suits one-handed use, while the boxed location name in Weather helps quick glances when you’re checking conditions on the move.
What to expect next and rollout prospects
One UI 8.5 is still in active development. The leak gives a useful snapshot but not the final feature set — more tweaks and additional visual changes are likely before Samsung issues an official release. Historically, Samsung tests incremental builds internally and through beta programs before wider distribution, so expect a phased rollout across eligible Galaxy devices.
If you follow firmware leaks or hands-on previews, keep an eye out for further refinements and features like AI notification summaries that have already been hinted at in other reports. We’ll continue monitoring the leaked builds for more discoveries and hands-on impressions.
Conclusion
The latest One UI 8.5 build demonstrates Samsung’s focus on polish: small but thoughtful UI adjustments designed to improve clarity, ergonomics, and visual consistency. While nothing here appears revolutionary, these refinements can noticeably improve daily use. We’ll update with more details as additional leaks or an official beta reveal the final layout and feature list.
Source: sammobile
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