Samsung is wrapping up its One UI 8.5 beta cycle ahead of the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event on February 25, and Beta 5 (Build ZZAN) tells you everything you need to know about where the software stands going into its stable release.
Here is a complete breakdown of what changed, what got fixed, and what it means for your device.
How Beta 5 Differs from Beta 4 at a Glance
The two updates serve very different purposes. Beta 4 was a heavyweight 1.5GB release that prioritized introducing new functionality, most notably the Direct Voicemail feature. Beta 5, by contrast, is a leaner 553MB delta update that shifts the focus entirely toward stability and AI refinement.
The security patch level remains at February 5, 2026, meaning Samsung’s primary goal with this build was not security maintenance but software maturity ahead of the public launch.
What's New in Beta 5: A Smarter Bixby
The most significant addition in Beta 5 is a Bixby version update that brings meaningful improvements to how the assistant understands and responds to natural language.
Previously, Bixby required fairly rigid command phrasing to function reliably. With this update, you can speak conversationally, for example, asking Bixby to stop your screen from turning off while reading, and it will correctly identify and toggle the relevant setting without you needing to know its exact name.
Two other additions expand Bixby’s usefulness further. First, Samsung has integrated Perplexity AI into Bixby’s web search functionality.
Early testers report noticeably faster and more accurate results, with answers surfacing directly within the Bixby interface rather than redirecting to a browser. Second, a new “Circle to Ask” feature gives Bixby screen awareness, allowing it to use what is currently displayed on your screen as context when helping you troubleshoot or find information.
What's Fixed: Bugs Carried Over from Beta 4
Beta 4, despite its feature additions, shipped with several issues that made daily use frustrating. Beta 5 addresses all of them.
Galaxy S25 Ultra users experiencing frame drops when pulling down the notification shade will find that problem resolved. A Bluetooth audio bug that prevented calls from transferring properly to Galaxy Buds has also been patched.
The Phone app, which previously crashed when scrolling through long call or search histories, is now stable. Additionally, a looping “Check for Update” prompt in Google Play System Update that affected some Beta 4 users has been corrected.
What's Improved: Performance and Animations
Beyond bug fixes, Beta 5 brings refinements that affect everyday usability. The animation transition into the Floating Tab Bar, which was introduced in an earlier beta, now runs without stutter even when the device is handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
Thermal management during 4K video recording has also improved on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with the device running cooler compared to Beta 4.
The Device Care section now provides a more granular breakdown of battery consumption tied to AI features, giving users better visibility into what is drawing power.
Should You Install Beta 5?
If you are already enrolled in the One UI 8.5 beta program, this update is worth installing. It brings the software from a feature-testing phase to something stable enough for daily use. For users who have held off on beta participation, the stable version of One UI 8.5 is expected to roll out publicly starting March 11, 2026, following the official Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 where Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S26 lineup alongside the stable release.
