From S25 Flagships to the Wider Galaxy Lineup
Samsung has quickly broadened the One UI 8.5 update beyond its newest premium phones. The rollout began earlier in the week on the Galaxy S25 family and the latest Z Fold and Z Flip flagships, and has now moved down to the Galaxy S24 series. Owners of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, and S24 FE can already download the One UI 8.5 update, signaling that Samsung is wasting no time extending its latest software to slightly older hardware. This phased strategy mirrors Samsung’s recent practice of seeding major builds on its newest devices before pushing them to the previous generation. It also underscores how central One UI 8.5 has become to Samsung’s Android 16 plans, effectively unifying the experience across slab phones and foldables while leaving room for device‑specific tuning and features.
Galaxy S24 and S24 FE: Stable One UI 8.5 with AirDrop Integration
For Galaxy S24 owners, One UI 8.5 is a sizable upgrade anchored by AirDrop compatibility with iPhones, marking a rare step toward tighter interoperability between Android and iOS ecosystems. On carrier variants, the official changelog is lean, prominently highlighting AirDrop support and Creative Studio, while the rest of the changes mirror what arrived earlier on the S25 line. The Galaxy S24 FE joins the party as well, now receiving the stable One UI 8.5 build after initially debuting in another market. Firmware identifiers such as S928USQU5DZDR for the S24 Ultra and S921USQU5DZDR for the base S24 help users confirm they are on the latest software. Samsung’s decision to push the same feature set, including Galaxy S24 AirDrop capabilities, to the full S24 family suggests it sees these devices as a single, long‑term platform rather than a tiered experience.
Samsung Foldable Updates: Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 Join with Android 16 QPR2
The One UI 8.5 update is also reaching Samsung’s 2023 foldables, with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 now eligible for the stable release based on Android 16 QPR2. This step is significant for users who invested in last‑generation foldable hardware but still expect parity with the newest Z Fold and Z Flip models. Aligning these devices on the same Android 16 QPR2 foundation simplifies app optimization across varied screen sizes and form factors while ensuring that new platform‑level features arrive simultaneously. Although detailed changelogs are still sparse, the move confirms that Samsung’s foldable portfolio is being treated as a first‑class citizen in its update roadmap. By unifying software across clamshell and book‑style devices, Samsung aims to deliver a consistent experience regardless of where a user sits in the foldable lineup.
AirDrop Support and a Carefully Staggered Rollout
AirDrop integration stands out as the signature capability of the One UI 8.5 update, enabling direct file sharing between compatible Galaxy devices and iPhones. This reduces friction for users who live in mixed‑device households or collaborate with iOS users, and it pushes Samsung closer to a genuinely cross‑platform ecosystem. At the same time, the rollout remains deliberately staggered. Newer flagships such as the S25 series and latest Z Fold and Z Flip models were updated first, followed by the Galaxy S24 family and then older foldables like the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. That sequencing suggests Samsung is prioritizing stability and testing across its most powerful, uniform hardware before scaling to more varied configurations. Users who have not yet received One UI 8.5 are encouraged to manually check via Settings > Software update > Download and install.