Galaxy S26 series spotted on Samsung OTA server with next One UI 8.5 update

The tech world’s eyes are firmly fixed on Samsung, and for good reason! There’s electrifying news about the Galaxy S26 series, their next-generation flagship lineup: software development has officially begun, months ahead of its anticipated debut in early 2026. The initial code for these devices has already materialized on Samsung’s internal test servers, a definitive sign that the company is putting its upcoming premium smartphones through rigorous evaluation.

We’re expecting these cutting-edge devices to ship running Android 16-based One UI 8.5. This surprisingly early start calendar undeniably underscores Samsung’s unwavering dedication to perfecting the user experience and their supreme emphasis on software optimization. My excitement is certainly building, especially for the stability and integration of new features!

Galaxy S26 Ultra’s One UI 8.5 update surfaces on servers!

Due to a recent find by tech enthusiast and X user @Koram_Akhilesh, experimental software code for the Galaxy S26 Ultra has appeared on Samsung’s servers. Although the actual firmware version, S948USQU0AYG8, does not convey a lot of tangible information, its appearance at such an early point is rather surprising. This shows that Samsung is already working at full steam on software for their 2026 flagships, trying to seamlessly implement new One UI features and bring stability to its maximum possible point.

A possible change in the structure of the Galaxy lineup?

Rumors abound that an interesting twist may be in store for the model lineup of the Galaxy S26 series. We seem to still get a trio of phones, but the conventional “Plus” model may be nowhere to be found. Instead, there’s speculation that Samsung might make the S26 Edge a part of the core series itself, sandwiching it neatly between the regular Galaxy S26 and the behemoth Galaxy S26 Ultra. Recall that this year’s Galaxy S25 Edge was a separate entity as a fourth Galaxy S25 model. And, as always, Samsung’s practice of introducing more budget-friendly FE (Fan Edition) variants later down the line is likely to persist; the Galaxy S25 FE, for example, is expected to be released sometime in September or October.

Model numbers and Android 16 debut

Following Samsung’s traditional naming practices and this latest firmware discovery, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is almost certain to have the model number SM-S948. Most importantly, however, the Galaxy S26 Edge should now be SM-S947. The standard Galaxy S26 model will supposedly come with SM-S942, meaning that the previously presumed SM-S941 designation has been scrapped.

As for the FE family, they usually fall under the SM-S7xx umbrella; thus, if the Galaxy S25 FE is indeed SM-S731, then the Galaxy S26 FE should be SM-S741. As software development continues to pick up pace, it’s only a matter of time before we learn more about the Galaxy S26 series in the months to come.

We’re looking forward to these next-generation flagships debuting with One UI 8.5 on top of Android 16. Given that One UI 8 itself has only just started its broader rollout with phones such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, the next few months are shaping up to be quite exciting for us Samsung fans!