One UI 8.5 Leak: Battery, DeX, AI and Cross-Device Upgrades

Samsung's next One UI milestone, version 8.5, has leaked in a detailed changelog — and it reads like a practical refresh rather than a radical overhaul. Expect smarter battery tools, DeX tweaks, deeper cross-device sharing, Auracast additions and AI refinements when it arrives alongside the Galaxy S26 series.

Practical DeX and battery improvements you’ll notice

One UI 8.5 appears focused on smoothing day-to-day use. DeX will remember app window size and position, making the desktop-like experience feel less repetitive and more desktop-ready. If you tether a phone to a monitor often, those little conveniences add up fast.

• Battery: a redesigned info screen will show remaining time, charging status and a seven-day usage summary so you can track trends at a glance.
• Power Saving mode: choose between Standard and Maximum saving levels for clearer, more predictable battery behavior.

Smarter sharing — Quick Share, face recognition and storage sync

File sharing gets a security-and-convenience tune-up. Quick Share will gain a receive-only mode limited to devices signed into your Samsung or Google account, which should reduce accidental transfers at crowded events. At the other end, Quick Share will use face recognition to suggest sharing photos with people who appear in them — a small but thoughtful time-saver.

Cross-device storage is another highlight: phones will be able to access files on Samsung tablets and PCs, and you’ll be able to browse photos and videos on a Samsung TV. The update also enables phone screen mirroring to compatible Samsung devices, expanding how you interact with media across the ecosystem.

Is Samsung shifting away from OneDrive?

The changelog hints at a move away from deep OneDrive integration toward enhanced Samsung Cloud capabilities and tighter Samsung-centric syncing. That explains many of the new cross-device features and might reshape how Samsung phones handle backups and media access inside the company’s ecosystem.

Auracast, Galaxy AI and Bixby get smarter

Auracast support is expanding with new options to broadcast your voice to compatible headsets and speakers — useful for sharing audio in small groups or for accessibility use-cases.

AI updates touch several fronts. Bixby will be better at toggling settings and navigating features, plus it will keep a conversation history for smoother follow-ups. Galaxy AI Photo Assist will let you generate and edit images without forcing you to save every single iteration; an edit history will let you revert to a previous favorite, speeding up creative workflows.

Extras: customization, security and health refinements

The leaked list also mentions new customization options, theft-protection features and several improvements for Samsung Health. Together, these smaller additions aim to polish the platform rather than reinvent it — more refinement than headline-grabbing change.

One UI 8.5 is expected to debut with the Galaxy S26 series in late January. Eligible models across the Galaxy S, Z and A lines should receive the update afterward, though Samsung hasn’t published an exact rollout schedule yet.