Samsung continues its consistent approach to software updates, extending this to tablets as well. Having launched a beta program for the Galaxy S25 series in recent weeks, the tech giant is now focusing on its popular tablet models. Investigations of the company’s servers have revealed that the One UI 8.5 update is under development for the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S9 series. This development has excited owners of older generation flagship tablets.

First test builds detected on servers

The new software builds discovered on Samsung servers prove that the company has officially begun integrating One UI 8.5 for these two popular tablet series. However, this doesn’t mean tablet users will be included in the beta program. According to reports, it seems unlikely that Galaxy Tab S8 and S9 owners will participate in the beta process. Users will have to wait for the stable release to experience the new interface.

While Samsung hasn’t yet shared an official timeline, past strategies offer clues about the roadmap. The company is known to typically begin distributing major interim updates after the launch of new flagship phones. In this context, the One UI 8.5 update is expected to reach tablets after the release of the Galaxy S26 series, which is anticipated to be introduced in February or March 2026.

Whether all the new features of the update will be available on older devices is not yet clear. Due to hardware differences, it would not be surprising if Samsung were to reserve some advanced features for the newest models or reduce them on older devices. In particular, some AI-based functions may be offered in a limited way on these tablets depending on processor capacity.

So, are you satisfied with the update support Samsung provides for tablets? What are your expectations for the One UI 8.5 update? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!