Samsung fans have been looking forward to One UI 8.5 for months. The update promised smarter AI tools, better customization, and smoother performance. But when the stable version began rolling out in May 2026, something became very clear. Not every Galaxy phone is getting the same experience.
Many users quickly noticed that their device either didn’t receive certain features or didn’t get the update at all. The frustration has been growing across online forums, with people asking why their relatively new flagship phone is being left behind.
This guide explains exactly which features are missing, which phones are affected, and why Samsung made these decisions.
What Is One UI 8.5 and Why Does Everyone Want It?
One UI 8.5 is Samsung’s major software update built on top of Android 16. It launched alongside the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026 and started rolling out to older devices in May.
The update brings a new design language called “Liquid Glass”, a rebuilt Bixby assistant that understands natural conversation, support for Apple’s AirDrop through Quick Share, and a highly customizable Quick Panel where you can drag, resize, and rearrange any toggle.
For many Samsung users, this is the biggest update in years. But getting the update and getting all the features are two very different things.
The Missing Features: What You Won’t Get on Many Phones
Reports from Samsung’s Korean community forums have identified at least nine features that are missing on many Galaxy devices. Here are the most significant ones.
Now Nudge (The Biggest Omission)
Now Nudge is one of the most talked-about Galaxy AI features. It reads what is on your screen and suggests quick actions based on the context. For example, if you are messaging someone about sharing photos, Now Nudge will automatically pull up the photos you recently took. If someone shares a date, it will suggest adding it to your calendar.
The feature does not appear to depend on new hardware. Yet it is missing on most phones outside the Galaxy S26 series, including the S25.
24MP Camera Mode
Inside Samsung’s Camera Assistant app, the S26 series offers a 24MP photo mode that captures more detail than standard 12MP shots. This option is completely absent on older devices, even though their camera hardware should be capable of it.
Notification Highlights
This AI feature does two things. It prioritizes which notifications matter most to you based on your usage patterns. And it summarizes long notification threads into short, readable bullet points. The summary only appears when notifications are collapsed, so you can quickly understand what an alert is about without expanding it.
For some Galaxy A series phones with weaker processors, this feature is not available at all due to hardware limitations.
Other Missing Features
The omissions continue with:
- Samsung Browser Ask AI – An AI chat tool inside the browser
- Home Screen Finder Shortcut – Quick access to search
- File Summaries in My Files – AI-powered summaries of documents
- 30x-Plus Remastering – Enhanced photo processing for zoomed shots
- Horizontal Lock in Super Steady – A stabilization option for videos
Some users have also reported that video filters are gone, and Galaxy Enhance-X has lost features like Filter Styles and Glow after the update.
Which Galaxy Phones Miss Out on the Update Entirely?
While Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.5 to over 40 Galaxy devices, a significant number of older models are being left behind entirely.
According to reports based on Samsung’s own rollout roadmap, the following devices are not expected to receive One UI 8.5 at all:
Galaxy S Series
- Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra
- Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy Z Fold & Flip Series
- Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Galaxy Z Flip 4
Galaxy A Series
- Galaxy A73
- Galaxy A53
- Galaxy A33
Galaxy Tab Series
- Galaxy Tab S8 series
Samsung has officially stated that One UI 8.5 will be available for Galaxy S23 and later flagships, as well as the last three generations of Galaxy A series phones. Devices from 2022 and earlier are essentially excluded.
Why Is This Happening?
Samsung promised four major Android upgrades and five years of security patches for these phones. For the S22 series, Android 16 (One UI 8.0) was their final major OS upgrade.
The jump to One UI 8.5 is different because it is based on Android 16 QPR2, a branch with underlying code changes that make it harder to optimize for older chipsets. Earlier updates like One UI 6.1 shared the same kernel as One UI 6.0, making the transition easy. This time, the optimization cost is much higher, so Samsung has drawn a clear line.
Which Phones Actually Get the Full Experience?
If you own one of these devices, you are in good shape.
Galaxy S series: S25, S24, S23, S22, and S21 FE are on the list
Galaxy Z Fold/Flip series: Z Fold/Flip 7, 6, 5, and 4 are getting the update
Galaxy A series: A73, A56, A55, A54, A53, A36, A35, A34, A33, A26, A25, A24, A17, A16, A15, A07, A06 are eligible
Galaxy M series: M56, M55s, M55, M54, M53, M34, M33, M16, M15, M06 are included
Galaxy Tab series: Tab S11, S10, and S9 series are supported
That said, even within these compatible phones, some advanced AI features will not be available due to hardware differences. For example, Notification Highlights may not work on older or budget models because their NPU (neural processing unit) is not powerful enough to run the AI locally.
Is Samsung Deliberately Holding Back Features?
This is where opinions get strong. Many users on Samsung’s community forums believe the missing features are a case of deliberate gatekeeping. Their argument is simple. The Galaxy S25 already has Snapdragon 8 Elite chips, which should be more than powerful enough to run Now Nudge, 24MP camera mode, and most other missing features.
Samsung has not officially explained why these features are exclusive to the S26 series. A few limitations can be justified by newer NPU hardware in the S26 lineup. But for most of these features, the hardware difference does not seem to be the real reason.
Some users remain hopeful that Samsung will add these features in a future One UI 9 update. But based on past behavior, that is unlikely.
What Should You Do If Your Phone Is Left Out?
If your device is on the excluded list, do not panic. Your phone will continue to receive security updates for about one more year, which keeps it protected from major threats. The phone itself will keep working fine. You just will not get the new software features.
If you absolutely want the One UI 8.5 experience, upgrading to at least an S23 series device or a newer A series phone from 2023 or later is the only real solution.
For those on compatible phones missing some AI features, check your Settings > Software Update regularly. Samsung has started pushing smaller updates that add some missing features. The S25 series recently received an update adding Notification Highlights and File Summaries in some regions. More of these updates may follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Galaxy S22 ever get One UI 8.5?
Unlikely. Reports indicate the S22 series will not receive the update. Their last major OS upgrade was One UI 8.0 based on Android 16.
Why are some Galaxy A phones getting the update but not the S22?
The deciding factor seems to be the release year rather than the product tier. One UI 8.5 is targeting 2023 models and newer, regardless of whether they are flagships or mid-range.
Will Samsung add Now Nudge to older phones later?
There is no official confirmation. Most signs point to these features remaining exclusive to the S26 series.
How do I check if my phone is getting One UI 8.5?
Go to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install. If the update is available for your device, it will appear there. You can also check Samsung’s official newsroom for the complete device list.
Is it safe to install One UI 8.5 if I get the update?
Yes. The update is stable and brings many useful features, even if some are missing. Just make sure to back up your data before installing.
Conclusion
One UI 8.5 is a genuinely good update. The customizable Quick Panel, smarter Bixby, and AirDrop support make daily use smoother and more enjoyable. But the missing features and selective device support have left many Samsung fans disappointed.
Whether Samsung is protecting its newest flagships or facing real hardware limitations, the result is the same. Some Galaxy users get the full experience, and others get a stripped-down version.
If you own a Galaxy S22 or a 2022 foldable, start planning for an upgrade. If you own a compatible device, install the update and enjoy what is there. Just keep your expectations in check.
What has your experience been with One UI 8.5? Did you get all the features you expected, or are you missing some? Drop a comment below and let us know which device you are using.
