Samsung has started rolling out the first One UI 8.5 beta update for the Galaxy S24 series. The 2024 flagship lineup is now officially part of the beta program, with the update already live in South Korea, India, and the UK. If you’re in the US or another region, it should reach you soon.
The beta carries firmware version ZZCD and is a hefty download at over 4.4GB, though the exact size can vary by model and region, as shared by Tarun Vats. It’s built on Android 16 and also bundles the March 2026 security patch alongside the UI overhaul. Before you rush to download it, you’ll need to enroll through the Samsung Members app first. Look for the beta program banner after opening the app, register your device, then head to Settings > Software update > Download and install to get it going.
As for what’s actually new, One UI 8.5 brings a handful of changes worth noting. A floating pill-shaped navigation bar shows up in select system apps, giving the interface a slightly cleaner look. The Photo Assist tool has been updated to support continuous editing without forcing you to save after each change, which makes the whole process less clunky. Quick Share has also gotten smarter, with suggestions that can now recognize people in photos.
It’s hard to say how many beta phases the Galaxy S24 series will go through before the stable build arrives. Samsung didn’t expand the beta program beyond the Galaxy S25 series for a while, so the S24 lineup is getting a later start. The S25 series, for reference, is already on its eighth beta. That said, the S24 might move through fewer phases since Samsung can lean on all the refinement work done for the S25.
If you want to check whether your device is in line for the stable One UI 8.5 update, you can also take a look at the full One UI 8.5 eligible devices list to see where your Galaxy stands.
