One UI 8.5 Beta Introduces iPhone-Like Features
Samsung’s latest One UI 8.5 beta has been making waves since its recent release, with users noting a significant shift in the software’s design language. While the update brings enhanced customisation options and refreshed apps, many have observed that the new interface bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s iOS 16. This resemblance is particularly evident in the Quick Settings panel and several core Samsung apps, sparking debate about Samsung’s design direction.
Key Features and Design Tweaks
One UI 8.5 offers more freedom to customise the Quick Settings menu than before, allowing users to separate brightness and volume sliders and add individual controls. Notably, these sliders can now be oriented vertically, which, combined with icon shapes and edit mode grab bars, makes the panel look very similar to iOS’s Control Center. Beyond Quick Settings, Samsung’s Clock, Gallery, and Phone apps have been redesigned with a new bottom navigation bar that closely mirrors the floating bar style found in iOS 16.
Additional subtle changes include a smaller, pill-shaped search bar in the app drawer and a floating circular back arrow in the Settings app, both reminiscent of iOS design elements. Even the Calculator app features a glow effect on its buttons, echoing the Liquid Glass aesthetic of Apple’s calculator interface. These adjustments collectively give One UI 8.5 a noticeably iOS-inspired feel.
Context and Samsung’s Design Evolution
Samsung has long drawn inspiration from Apple’s design, but this latest update represents one of the most overt shifts towards an iOS-like appearance. Since its debut in 2018, One UI has maintained a distinct design identity, but incremental changes over the years have gradually softened this uniqueness. The One UI 8.5 beta appears to accelerate this trend, adopting visual cues from iOS 16 more extensively than ever before.
This move aligns with a broader pattern among Android manufacturers, such as OnePlus, who have also incorporated iOS-style elements into their software. However, for a company of Samsung’s scale and influence, the departure from its original design ethos is particularly notable. While the update remains functionally sound and improves customisation, it raises questions about the future direction of Samsung’s user interface design.
Looking Ahead
As the One UI 8.5 beta progresses towards its final release expected in early 2026, it will be interesting to see whether Samsung continues to embrace this iOS-inspired aesthetic or reintroduces more of its own design character. For now, users who appreciate Android’s distinctiveness might find the new look somewhat disconcerting, even as they benefit from the update’s enhanced features and refinements.
Overall, One UI 8.5 is a solid update packed with useful improvements, but its heavy borrowing from iOS design elements marks a significant shift in Samsung’s software approach that fans will be watching closely.