What One UI 8.5 Changes About Auracast Broadcasting
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 makes Auracast broadcasting a front-and-center feature on Galaxy devices, turning compatible phones into wireless audio transmitters that nearby listeners can join with Bluetooth LE Audio headphones for large, shared listening sessions without traditional pairing limits. Instead of hiding the Galaxy Auracast feature in deep Bluetooth menus, One UI 8.5 introduces a clear Audio broadcast entry under Settings > Connected devices. This shift is less about new radio technology and more about discoverability. According to SamMobile, Audio broadcast is “not an entirely new feature, but Samsung has renamed and pushed it to the forefront with its latest firmware update.” For users, that means wireless audio streaming for groups is no longer a niche trick: it appears like a normal system option, ready for ad-hoc silent disco parties, shared podcasts, or group language tours.
How Audio Broadcast Works for Group Listening
Audio broadcast in One UI 8.5 builds on Auracast broadcasting, a form of wireless audio streaming that sends one-way audio from a device to many listeners at once instead of a single paired headset. On Galaxy phones, you open Settings > Connected devices > Audio broadcast and choose whether to transmit your phone’s media audio or your voice. You can name the broadcast, set a password, and then let others nearby tune in. There is, as SamMobile notes, “no limit to how many people can listen as long as they’re close enough to receive the Auracast signal.” Listeners follow the same path but switch to the Listen tab, or they can scan a QR code shared by the broadcasting phone, making group listening technology far more approachable for casual users.
From Silent Discos to Everyday Sharing
By polishing the interface around Auracast broadcasting, One UI 8.5 moves silent disco parties and similar group listening experiences into everyday use. The system relies on Bluetooth LE Audio and compatible headphones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and newer models, but once the hardware is in place, setup is straightforward: one person broadcasts, everyone else joins. That makes it well suited for headphone parties, shared workouts, or communal podcast sessions in public spaces without disturbing others. Because the Galaxy Auracast feature can broadcast either music or voice, it also fits use cases like guided tours, small classes, or live commentary during events. The new QR code join option further lowers friction, allowing friends or attendees to connect without hunting through Bluetooth menus or asking for pairing codes.
Device Support and Backward Compatibility
One UI 8.5’s Audio broadcast screen is the most visible part of Samsung’s group listening technology, but the underlying Auracast broadcasting support extends to a range of Galaxy hardware. SamMobile lists compatible phones and tablets including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy A54, and Galaxy Tab S9 series and newer, plus laptops such as the Galaxy Book 3 Pro, Pro 360, 360, Ultra, and later devices. Older software builds are not left out: users on versions before One UI 8.5 can still start wireless audio streaming through Settings > Connections > Bluetooth > More options > Broadcast sound using Auracast. The experience is less polished than the new Audio broadcast menu, but the core capability remains, which helps keep mixed-device groups on the same listening stream.