Joe Maring / Android Authority
It’s been a couple of days since Samsung launched its One UI 8.5 beta, and so far, it’s off to a solid start. My colleague Robert Triggs had almost nothing but good things to say in his One UI 8.5 beta hands-on, praising the update for its enhanced customization features and updated Samsung apps.
I’ve been using the One UI 8.5 beta on a Galaxy S25 since the update was released, and while I agree with all of Rob’s praise for the software, I can’t help but feel uneasy about it. Specifically, how much One UI 8.5 makes my Samsung phone feel like an iPhone.
Samsung has never shied away from taking “inspiration” from Apple, but it feels like the company has gone a step too far with One UI 8.5.
What do you think of One UI 8.5's iOS-like changes? 104 votes I can't stand them. I don't want my Android phone to look like an iPhone! 41 % They aren't my favorite, but it's just a minor annoyance. 13 % I don't care either way. 20 % I think they look great. 25 %
One UI 8.5 feels like iOS 26 by a different name
Joe Maring / Android Authority One UI 8.5 (left) and iOS 26
One of the best examples of this is the new Quick Settings interface. One UI 8.5 lets you customize your Quick Settings more than ever before, including the ability to separate your brightness and volume sliders and add new individual controls. It’s a largely positive change, especially since One UI 8.0 was pretty restrictive with its Quick Settings customization.
Using these new customization tools, it takes just a second to turn your Quick Settings panel into a copycat version of iOS’s Control Center — especially since you can now orient the brightness and volume sliders vertically. Combined with similar icon shapes and grab bars in the edit mode, it all just feels a little too familiar.
One UI 8.5 Clock app iOS 26 Clock app One UI 8.5 Phone app iOS 26 Phone app One UI 8.5 Gallery app iOS 26 Photos app
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