Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Receives Fourth One UI 8.5 Beta with Enhanced Voicemail
Samsung continues to refine its upcoming One UI 8.5 software through beta testing on current flagship devices. The latest development sees the fourth beta release rolling out to the Galaxy S25 series, bringing a notable new communication feature alongside important bug fixes and security enhancements.
What's New in the Fourth Beta
The fourth One UI 8.5 beta, identified by firmware version ZZAL, represents a significant 1.48GB update for Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra devices. This release focuses on stability improvements and introduces functionality that hints at what users can expect when the stable version launches with future devices.
Most notably, the update introduces a Direct Voicemail feature that enhances call management capabilities. Users can now configure their devices to automatically send calls to voicemail based on specific criteria or manually redirect calls during an active call. The feature integrates seamlessly with the Phone app, providing real-time text transcripts of voicemail messages as they're being recorded.
Bug Fixes and Security Updates
Beyond the new voicemail functionality, this beta addresses several issues reported by previous testers. The update resolves problems with the lock screen clock display that affected some users, improves Bluetooth headset call switching reliability, and fixes unexpected closing behavior with the AI Select feature.
Security remains a priority with this release, which includes the February 5, 2026, Android security patch. This ensures beta testers receive the latest protection against potential vulnerabilities while helping Samsung identify and resolve any compatibility issues before the stable release.
One UI 8.5 Development Timeline
One UI 8.5 represents Samsung's next major software iteration, though it's important to note that the stable version will debut with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. The development process has followed a measured timeline, with the first two betas arriving in December, the third in January, and now this fourth iteration in February.
This beta testing approach allows Samsung to gather valuable feedback from Galaxy S25 users while ensuring a polished experience for those who will receive the stable update later. The company typically extends major One UI updates to previous-generation flagships several months after their initial release on new devices.
Conclusion
The fourth One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series demonstrates Samsung's commitment to iterative improvement and user feedback. The introduction of Direct Voicemail with real-time transcripts addresses a common pain point in modern communication, while the various bug fixes show responsiveness to community testing. As Samsung prepares for the official One UI 8.5 launch with its next-generation devices, current Galaxy S25 owners participating in the beta program gain early access to features that will eventually benefit the broader user base through future updates.