One UI 8.5 testing on Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE: features and early 2026 rollout

Samsung has kicked off internal testing of One UI 8.5 for its foldable Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. The update promises smoother animations, three-dimensional app icons, and a redesigned quick settings panel. The official rollout is expected in early 2026, shortly after the Galaxy S26 series makes its debut.

Insider Tarun Vats reports that Samsung is putting a clear emphasis on visual polish and usability. Early builds suggest One UI 8.5 takes cues from Apple’s Liquid Glass concept, leaning into a more expressive look and feel. The quick settings panel has been reworked top to bottom: users will be able to freely move and remove items, arranging toggles and cards to their liking. That extra control should make routine tweaks less of a chore.

Among the practical changes, Samsung is shifting the search bar to the bottom across its own apps, a quality-of-life move meant to make one-handed use easier—especially on tall, foldable screens. The lock screen is gaining new clock styles, and Always On Display will get smoother animations. A small change on paper, but on elongated devices it tends to matter.

Beyond the visual refresh, Samsung continues to evolve its own services and AI-driven tools. For Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE owners, the update promises better interface optimization for foldable displays and improved stability. Fine-tuning for foldables often pays off where it counts: in fewer hiccups as the device switches states.

What also stands out is a test firmware for the Flip 7 FE running on the same Exynos chipset as the Galaxy S24 and S24+. That points to One UI 8.5 for last year’s flagships progressing according to plan, a sign the wider release pipeline is lining up.

Originally, Samsung aimed to launch the One UI 8.5 beta in November 2025, but delays tied to the S26 series pushed the schedule back. The update is now expected in early 2026, presumably in March, shortly after the Galaxy S26 unveiling that is rumored for February. The new interface should land first on S26 devices and then roll out to the Flip 7, Flip 7 FE, and Fold 7.