What One UI 8.5 Changes for Galaxy Camera Controls
One UI 8.5 is Samsung’s latest software update that expands pro-style Galaxy camera controls, including the Camera Assistant app, to many mid-range and budget Galaxy phones and tablets, giving users access to advanced tuning options that were previously reserved for flagship devices and helping standardize photo and video experiences across the wider Galaxy lineup. With this update, Galaxy A and M-series owners no longer depend only on default camera behavior. Instead, they can influence how the camera focuses, switches lenses, and processes images. According to Android Authority, Samsung is “expanding its Camera Assistant module to a massive roster of budget Galaxy smartphones and tablets” with the One UI 8.5 update. This marks a shift from a strategy where only premium phones got serious camera tuning, toward one where Samsung aims for broader feature parity while still respecting hardware limits.
Camera Assistant App Reaches Galaxy A and M-Series Phones
The most visible change is how far Camera Assistant now spreads beyond flagships. SamMobile reports that the app will “soon support 19 additional Galaxy devices with One UI 8.5,” including the Galaxy A34, A35, A36 and the Galaxy M34, M35, M36. Android Authority adds that support also extends to the Galaxy A37, showing that the Galaxy A phone camera experience is shifting closer to S-series territory. Camera Assistant sits on top of the stock Camera app and is available through Good Lock or the Galaxy Store. It does not replace the main viewfinder; instead, it adds deeper Galaxy camera controls for users who want to tune behavior rather than accept Samsung’s defaults. This closes a long-standing gap where mid-range buyers were “stuck with the factory settings” and had little say in processing decisions.
From Creative Filters to Pro-Level Control
Alongside this expansion, Samsung is quietly rebalancing its camera feature mix. While some creative video filters are being removed from the default Camera app in newer One UI builds, Camera Assistant gives power users a richer toolbox to compensate. The app lets you enable or disable automatic lens switching, adjust picture softening, add extra zoom shortcuts, and even prioritize focus accuracy over capture speed. You can also tweak autofocus speed and sensitivity for both photos and videos, change how many frames the timer captures, toggle Auto HDR, and enable HDR10+ video recording where hardware allows. This set of options turns a mid-range Galaxy A phone camera into something closer to an enthusiast tool. Casual users still get a simple point-and-shoot interface, while enthusiasts gain detailed control that used to be locked behind top-tier models.
Tablets Join the Camera Assistant Club
One UI 8.5 is not only about phones. Samsung is bringing the same Camera Assistant logic to a wide list of Galaxy Tab S models. SamMobile confirms support for the Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, S8 Ultra, Tab S9 family including FE and FE+, and the Tab S10 lineup including FE variants. Android Authority further notes that the Tab S11 series is also covered, with Plus, Ultra, and FE models included. While tablets are not typical camera-first devices, this addition means users can expect consistent Galaxy camera controls across phones and large screens. The same toggles for Auto HDR, lens switching, and HDR10+ video apply when the hardware supports them. For creators who shoot reference photos, scan documents, or record video on tablets, this consistency reduces friction and makes Samsung’s ecosystem more coherent.
A New Strategy: Feature Parity with Hardware Limits
Extending Camera Assistant to Galaxy A and M-series phones signals a strategic shift. Instead of hoarding advanced tools for flagships, Samsung is spreading them widely while keeping some capabilities gated by hardware. Android Authority warns that “not every supported device will get every Camera Assistant feature,” because lower-end sensors and chipsets still limit what is possible. Even so, giving budget and mid-range buyers manual shutter control, autofocus tuning, and HDR toggles changes expectations for affordable phones. It turns Galaxy camera controls into a consistent software layer, with image quality differences tied more clearly to hardware than to artificial feature gaps. That aligns with a broader push toward feature parity across price tiers, where software experiences feel shared, and premium models earn their position through better cameras and performance rather than exclusive toggles.