Samsung is reportedly testing the One UI 8.5 stable firmware for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and a recently leaked changelog suggests a “lite-like” experience. The company released One UI 8.5 along with the Galaxy S26 series earlier this year. Other devices have also received beta builds before the stable rollout. However, for the Galaxy S23 lineup, Samsung could ship a One UI 8.5 firmware heavily focused on visual refinement and system stability rather than groundbreaking new AI features.
If the leaked changelog (shared by Tarun Vats) is true, the update looks visually promising. Samsung is introducing a cleaner design with transparent blur effects and “floating” UI elements. The lock screen also gets a boost with smarter wallpaper fitting and new clock customization options. However, some exploration brings to light things that seem lost along the way.
Galaxy S23 Ultra One UI 8.5 update misses S26 AI features, changelog reveals
The biggest takeaway from the leak is the absence of key Galaxy AI tools. Features like Call Screening, Creative Studio, and the upgraded AI Audio Eraser are nowhere to be found in this build. Even “Now Nudges” and Notification Highlights—standard on the S26—seem to be missing.
It’s clear that the Galaxy S23 Ultra remains a powerful device. However, it appears Samsung is either hitting hardware limitations with the older NPU or intentionally keeping these features exclusive to drive sales of its newest models.
What actually made the cut?
It isn’t all bad news, though. The update does expand some existing capabilities. Photo Assist, for instance, now supports continuous image generation. This allows you to iterate on AI-generated images without having to save every single version. Bixby is also getting a much-needed conversational upgrade for more natural chats. The AI assistant also gains a new conversation history panel for easier tracking of past requests.
Other quality-of-life improvements include:
- Weather app: New precipitation graphs and a pollen index.
- Clock: Weather-based alarm backgrounds and an improved time zone converter.
- Connectivity: Enhanced Auracast features and a new “Storage Share” function in the My Files app.
If you were hoping for a total AI transformation of your Galaxy S23 Ultra, you might be disappointed. Still, your device will get a more polished, stable, and visually modern interface in the coming months.
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