What One UI 8.5 Is — And Why Galaxy S23 Owners Are Upset
One UI 8.5 is Samsung’s latest Android interface update that refines visuals, reorganizes settings, and expands Galaxy AI and device-to-device sharing features while selectively limiting some options on older flagship phones. For Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra owners, the controversy is not that the update is small, but that it brings an uneven set of tools compared with newer models like the Galaxy S26. They receive a more customizable Quick Settings panel, fresh lock screen tweaks, and updated Galaxy AI capabilities, yet some headline additions are absent. This selective rollout has led users to accuse Samsung of favoring its newest flagships even while advertising strong long-term software support. The result is a strange middle ground: the Galaxy S23 series stays current on paper, but misses several attention-grabbing One UI 8.5 features that define the update on newer devices.
AirDrop Compatibility: The Biggest One UI 8.5 Feature S23 Never Got
The most glaring omission in One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S23 series is AirDrop-compatible file sharing with Apple devices. Newer top-tier Galaxy models can use the Android implementation of Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) to move files seamlessly between Android and iOS, but the S23 line is left out of Samsung’s own compatibility list. That has angered owners who point out that their phones run the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7800, a platform that supports advanced Wi-Fi standards and, in theory, the rapid channel switching AWDL demands. According to Android Authority, several S23 users on Reddit describe this as “planned obsolescence,” arguing that Samsung and Google are skipping the work of validating the feature on older hardware. Officially, nothing suggests it will be added later, pushing S23 owners toward third-party tools like NearDrop instead.
Galaxy AI Gaps on the Galaxy S23 Ultra Update
Galaxy S23 Ultra owners get a sizable Galaxy AI refresh in One UI 8.5, but not the complete package available on newer devices. Call assist is present, yet its more advanced call screening ability is missing, reducing its usefulness compared with the latest flagships. Photo assist also loses some creative flexibility: the Create tab lacks the text icon, and the new Style tab for AI-powered transformations such as watercolor-like edits is absent. Another high-profile omission is Audio eraser for videos, a feature that can remove unwanted background sounds and is a major selling point on newer phones. SamMobile notes that it is unclear whether these gaps stem from hardware constraints or deliberate decisions. Either way, the Galaxy S23 Ultra update feels partial, reinforcing a sense that One UI 8.5 on older devices is a trimmed-down version of the full experience.
Samsung Keyboard Resize: Still There, But Hidden
One UI 8.5 also changes how basic tools like the Samsung Keyboard work across Galaxy phones, including the S23 line. The keyboard’s toolbar loses three shortcuts—Text Editing, Extract Text, and Keyboard Size—while adding a Themes option. For users, the most noticeable change is Samsung Keyboard resize. The feature survives, but the quick toolbar shortcut is gone, so adjusting height or reach now means diving into Settings, opening Samsung Keyboard settings, and then using the familiar resize screen. Functionally, nothing about the resizing process itself has changed; Samsung has trimmed the redundant entry point in the name of a cleaner interface. SamMobile explains that One UI 8.5 reflects a broader move to streamline navigation, but for Galaxy S23 owners who often tweak keyboard size for one-handed use, this small friction point adds to a pattern of quality-of-life regressions in an update that was supposed to refine the experience.
A Tiered Update Strategy and Growing User Frustration
Taken together, the AirDrop gap, missing Galaxy AI tools, and reduced keyboard shortcuts paint a clear picture of Samsung’s tiered software strategy. The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra still receive major OS upgrades and important security patches, but headline One UI 8.5 features are reserved for newer models. This helps Samsung highlight what the latest Galaxy phones can do, yet it also erodes trust among owners who bought recent flagships expecting several cycles of fully featured updates. A Reddit poll reported by Android Authority shows that 42% of respondents “want [AirDrop compatibility] bad,” underscoring how visible omissions are to engaged users. As One UI 9 testing begins on the Galaxy S26, S23 owners are left wondering whether future updates will deepen this divide or if Samsung will reconsider how it distributes high-profile features within its flagship lineup.