Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta program just got a lot more interesting. The company has opened up the beta for the Galaxy A36 in India, making it one of the more unexpected moves in recent memory for the mid-range lineup.
For context, the One UI 8.5 beta started with the Galaxy S25 series and has since expanded to several other devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. There were also signs that Samsung was testing One UI 8.5 on more Galaxy A-series phones, but the A36 getting a public beta was still a surprise. Samsung rarely opens beta programs to non-flagship devices, so this is a genuinely notable exception.
The update itself is a fairly hefty download at around 2,507.71MB and carries the firmware version A366EXXU8ZZD2. India is the only market where this beta is available, at least for now. And in case you were wondering, the Galaxy S23 series has also joined the One UI 8.5 beta program today, so it’s shaping up to be a busy day for Samsung beta testers.
To get the update on your Galaxy A36, you’ll need to register first. Open the Samsung Members app and tap the banner for the One UI 8.5 beta. Once you’re registered, head to Settings > Software update > Download and install, and the update should show up there.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this is still a beta, so expect bugs. If you want to check whether your device is eligible for One UI 8.5 at all, we’ve got a full list covered. We’ll keep you updated as the beta program continues to expand.
source: Samsung Community
