One UI 8.5 Keeps Rolling — Four More Galaxy Phones Get the Update Today!
SamsungTuesday, 19 May 2026 at 08:34
Samsung is moving fast. The A-series and older foldables are now in the queue.
Summary
- Samsung has extended the One UI 8.5 stable rollout to the Galaxy A36, Galaxy A56, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy S23 FE — all starting in South Korea, with international availability including Canada expected on May 23.
- The Galaxy A36 update carries firmware version A366NKSU6CZDA and weighs approximately 2.5GB, bringing the May 2026 security patch alongside the full One UI 8.5 feature set.
- The A36 and A56 receive a lighter AI feature tier called Awesome Intelligence rather than the full Galaxy AI suite — a distinction Samsung applies to mid-range devices across the One UI 8.5 rollout.
- Samsung officially closed the One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, signalling the stable build is final and marking the end of the update development cycle for these two-year-old foldables.
- Galaxy S25 owners are waiting longer than expected — a Samsung community moderator confirmed the May 2026 security patch is still in preparation for the S25 series, which has not yet received it despite newer S23 models being updated first.
"The Galaxy S25 series — Samsung's current flagship lineup — has not yet received the May 2026 security patch, while older devices like the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy A36 have already been updated. Samsung confirmed the S25 patch is in progress, but the sequence has frustrated S25 owners."
What the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 Get
For owners of the 2023 foldable lineup, this is a meaningful upgrade. One UI 8.5 pushes several Galaxy AI features that were previously limited to the Galaxy S26 series down to older supported hardware. That means Call Screening, Advanced Audio Eraser for third-party app playback, Creative Studio, and improved Photo Assist are now available on two-year-old foldables — a genuine value addition for users who bought in early and waited.
The beta program closure means the stable build received a full testing cycle before deployment. That matters for foldables specifically, where display and hinge hardware requires thorough validation before a major OS update ships.
A36 and A56: A Lighter AI Tier
The mid-range story is slightly different. Samsung segments its Galaxy AI features, with flagship hardware getting the full suite and A-series phones receiving Awesome Intelligence — a curated selection of AI tools appropriate for the hardware tier. The practical impact is that A36 and A56 users still get real AI-powered improvements, but not every feature available on an S25 or Z Fold 7. That's a fair trade-off at the price point, and the core One UI 8.5 interface changes — Ambient Design, Quick Panel overhaul, and Perplexity-powered Bixby — apply to everyone regardless of tier.
How to Get It
Go to Settings, then Software Update, then Download and Install. The update package is approximately 2.5GB, so connecting to Wi-Fi and ensuring sufficient battery charge before starting is recommended. If the update doesn't appear yet, South Korea typically receives the rollout first with other regions following within 48 to 72 hours.
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