Samsung · Reviewed by Gyan Therapy · Published 2026-04-09
Based on a review by Gyan Therapy (accessed 2026-04-09).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about dynamic weather effects on the lock screen — just accept dialer notification display sometimes shows only one or an older missed call.
The reviewer concludes that One UI 8.5 brings many positive changes, making the user interface more minimal, customizable, and user-friendly. He particularly appreciates the new lock screen weather effects, enhanced Control Center options, partial screen recording, and the private album feature. However, he also suggests that features like an internet speed indicator and a native app lock are still missing.
This video provides an overview of Samsung's new One UI 8.5, detailing its features and changes. The reviewer demonstrates these updates using a Galaxy S26 Ultra, explaining which features are new and which are expected to roll out to older S-series devices.
Samsung's One UI 8.5 introduces a host of small yet significant changes that generally enhance the user experience, making it a worthwhile update. The lock screen now features dynamic weather effects, and the notification panel offers extensive customization, allowing users to tailor brightness and volume toggles with unique animations and shapes. However, the dialer's updated notification display sometimes prioritizes older or single missed calls, which can be less intuitive. If you prioritize a highly customizable and visually refined Android interface with improved productivity tools, this update is essential. If you expect groundbreaking AI features beyond what was already available, you might find some additions, like the audio eraser, to be situational.
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hands_on_demopositivet=0:47–0:58
The reviewer demonstrates that One UI 8.5 adds a weather effect to the lock screen, showing animations that change based on the current weather situation.
hands_on_demopositivet=1:23–2:05
The reviewer shows that the Control Center/Notification Panel in One UI 8.5 offers more customization options, including setting brightness and volume toggles separately, changing their shapes, and adding more elements. He demonstrates an animation for the brightness toggle.
visual_inspectionpositivet=2:06–2:19
The reviewer notes that the notification panel has become more minimal and usable, with small design changes like the time being displayed in the bottom left corner.
hands_on_demoneutralt=2:20–2:39
The reviewer demonstrates a subtle "magnetic effect" when slowly swiping notifications, giving the impression of notifications attracting or repelling.
hands_on_demopositivet=2:40–3:25
The reviewer shows the new partial screen recording option, allowing users to select and record a specific area of the screen instead of the full screen. He notes the quality will be for that specific area.
visual_inspectionpositivet=3:26–3:48
The reviewer observes that important notifications, like a missed call in the dialer or a critical setting notification, now show at the top of the respective application.
hands_on_demopositivet=4:12–5:02
The reviewer demonstrates a new Finder option on the home screen that allows searching contacts, gallery items, files, settings, and apps from various stores. He notes it doesn't support direct calculations yet.
hands_on_demopositivet=5:03–5:48
The reviewer shows changes in the calculator app, including a minimal layout with red 'C' and 'X' buttons. He highlights a new feature where copied calculations from other apps (like WhatsApp) automatically appear as an option to calculate when the calculator is opened.
visual_inspectionneutralt=5:59–6:18
The reviewer points out a visual change where icons now have a depth effect, resembling a drop shadow, making them appear more pronounced.
visual_inspectionneutralt=6:18–6:46
The reviewer notes that the search bar in the app drawer has changed to a pill or capsule shape.
hands_on_demopositivet=7:05–7:27
The reviewer demonstrates that when zooming into a photo in the Gallery, only main options are visible, allowing the photo to be viewed in full screen without top/bottom bars.
hands_on_demopositivet=7:48–8:36
The reviewer explains and demonstrates the new 'Private Album' feature in the Gallery, which allows users to move important photos into a password or fingerprint-protected album, separate from the existing secure folder.
specification_claimneutralt=11:23–11:57
The reviewer mentions the Audio Eraser AI feature, which was previously in the gallery and is now integrated into third-party apps like YouTube and Instagram to reduce background noise.
specification_claimpositivet=12:51–13:30
The reviewer highlights an AI feature where users can provide prompts to edit photos, noting that the results are often so realistic that it's hard to distinguish them from original photos.
visual_inspectionpositivet=13:58–14:14
The reviewer observes a small change where the torch toggle appears in the navigation bar when the torch is activated, allowing quick on/off access.
One UI 8.5 brings several new features and design tweaks. Key additions include animated weather effects on the lock screen, more extensive customization options for the control center and notification panel, and a new partial screen recording feature. The gallery app has been improved with full-screen photo viewing during zoom and a dedicated private album for secure photos. AI features like audio erasure in third-party apps and prompt-based photo editing are also highlighted.
The reviewer explicitly states that the Control Center and Notification Panel in One UI 8.5 are much more customizable than before. Users can now set brightness and volume toggles independently, apply different shapes, and add more elements to the panel, which was not possible in previous versions.
The review confirms that One UI 8.5 has introduced a partial screen recording option. Users can now select a specific region of the screen to record, in addition to the full-screen recording option. The reviewer notes that the video quality will be for the selected area.
One UI 8.5 introduces a new 'Private Album' option within the Gallery. This allows users to move important photos into a secure album that requires a password or fingerprint to access, offering an additional layer of privacy beyond the existing secure folder.
The review mentions the Audio Eraser AI feature, which was previously available in the gallery and is now extended to third-party applications such as YouTube and Instagram. This feature helps to cut down background noise or 'शोर' in audio.
60/100 source quality
Gyan Therapy reviews the new Samsung One UI 8.5, showcasing its features on a Galaxy S26 Ultra. The update includes dynamic weather effects on the lock screen, expanded customization for the notification panel and control center, and a new partial screen recording option. The reviewer also highlights improvements in the Gallery app, such as full-screen photo viewing during zoom and a private album feature for secure photos. The video touches on integrated AI functionalities, like meeting suggestions and audio erasure in third-party apps, while also suggesting additional features that could enhance the UI.
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This page converts Gyan Therapy's review of the Samsung One UI 8.5 into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
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