Samsung is widening access to its One UI 8 beta (based on Android 16), moving beyond the new Fold/Flip flagships to recent S-series and select A-series devices. Starting next week, the beta opens to the Galaxy S24 lineup, Galaxy Z Fold6, and Z Flip6 in India, the U.S., the U.K., and Korea via the Samsung Members app. In September, Samsung plans to add the Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, and mid-rangers like the A55 5G, A54, and A35/A36 5G
Feature-wise, One UI 8 focuses on polish and useful AI: streamlined setup (choose gestures or buttons up front), a smarter Now Bar with live call/Do Not Disturb controls, tighter Galaxy AI integration, and deeper visual/translation smarts. Samsung also highlights privacy and Knox enhancements alongside improved multitasking on large screens
Strategically, Samsung’s cadence mirrors a “newest devices first” approach, then fast beta diffusion to volume flagships and key mid-tiers—keeping current owners engaged while seeding Android 16 features broadly ahead of the stable build expected later this fall.
If you’re joining the beta: back up your data, expect occasional app incompatibilities, and watch for region/slot limits inside Samsung Members. Stable timing can shift per model and market
This expansion turns One UI 8 from a foldable showcase into a cross-portfolio preview—useful AI upgrades, quality-of-life tweaks, and enterprise-friendly privacy improvements landing early on Samsung’s most popular phones.