Lead: Samsung has begun rolling out a new One UI 8.5 beta build (Android 16 QPR2) to the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra in India. The OTA carries firmware ID ZZAN and is a 553.08MB package that the changelog lists as a Bixby version update. In India this is the fourth beta build; if the same package appears elsewhere it would count as the fifth global beta. Samsung is expected to ship the stable One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26 on February 25, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The update targets the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra in India and uses firmware tag ZZAN.
- Package size is 553.08MB, unusually small for a beta increment.
- Changelog lists a single change: “Applied Bixby version update.”
- This release is the fourth One UI 8.5 beta in India; if deployed elsewhere it would be the fifth global beta.
- Users can install it via Settings > Software update > Download and install on eligible phones.
- Samsung is widely expected to release a stable One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26 on February 25, 2026.
- The small size and limited changelog suggest a targeted fix rather than a feature rollout.
Background
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 (Android 16 QPR2) is the next incremental update in the One UI 8.x family and is being tested through public and regional beta channels. Historically, Samsung runs multiple beta waves per region to validate fixes and compatibility before flipping to a stable release tied to a flagship launch. The Galaxy S25 series has been included in early One UI 8.5 betas since the program began, receiving frequent incremental builds to address performance, stability and compatibility with third‑party apps.
Beta releases often bundle a mix of user‑facing features and behind‑the‑scenes patches; however, Samsung typically publishes larger beta packages when adding or changing visible functionality. Small, narrowly focused beta uploads are less common and usually indicate an urgent correction — for example, a security or voice‑assistant fix — that engineers chose to expedite. Stakeholders include Samsung’s software teams, device owners enrolled in beta testing, and third‑party app developers monitoring compatibility with Android 16 QPR2.
Main Event
The newly observed build, identified by firmware tag ZZAN, is available now for Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra units in India. Users who are enrolled in Samsung’s beta program can fetch the update by navigating to Settings > Software update > Download and install; the OTA is 553.08MB in size. The official changelog provided with the package lists a single line: “Applied Bixby version update,” and provides no further detail about functional changes or bug fixes.
Industry tracker Tarun Vats flagged the rollout and noted that this represents the fourth One UI 8.5 beta observed in India; if the same build is pushed to other countries it will count as the fifth global beta. The timing and unusually small file size prompted both curiosity and caution among testers, who are checking for behavioral changes in voice assistant performance and system stability after installation.
Given Samsung’s cadence, many observers expect the company to reserve larger, visible changes for later beta waves or for the stable release accompanying the Galaxy S26 launch on February 25, 2026. For now, the patch appears narrowly scoped; testers have been asked to report regressions or confirmations of a fix through Samsung’s Feedback Hub or the official beta community channels.
Analysis & Implications
A 553.08MB beta package that lists only a Bixby version update is notable because beta firmware typically includes multiple changes or broader compatibility adjustments. The small size points to a focused binary or dependency update — possibly a patch to the Bixby runtime, a library update, or a regression fix that affected voice features or wake‑word behavior. If Bixby was exhibiting a defect that degraded core voice functionality or privacy checks, Samsung would have an incentive to push a targeted fix quickly.
For owners of the Galaxy S25 series, the direct implication is limited: users should expect minimal visible UI changes but may see improved Bixby responsiveness or stability. For enterprise and accessibility users who rely on voice features, even a small version bump can materially affect workflows. App developers and QA teams should revalidate voice‑related integrations against this build, especially if they saw issues on earlier betas.
From a program management perspective, an expedited small update suggests Samsung is willing to break larger, aggregated beta releases into smaller, surgical patches when necessary. That approach reduces the chance of introducing unrelated regressions but increases the frequency of updates that beta participants must test. Looking ahead to the February 25, 2026 stable launch of One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26, such targeted fixes reduce the risk of shipping outstanding bugs in the public release.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Observed Value |
|---|---|
| Firmware tag | ZZAN |
| Package size | 553.08MB |
| Changelog entries | 1 (Bixby version update) |
| India beta count | 4th build |
| Global beta count if wider release | 5th build |
The table above summarizes the confirmed metadata for this release. By contrast, earlier One UI 8.5 betas for the S25 series were typically larger and listed multiple fixes and feature tweaks; this package’s compact footprint reinforces the assessment that it addresses a limited set of files or a single subsystem.
Reactions & Quotes
“Applied Bixby version update.”
Firmware changelog (reported by SamMobile)
“This appears to be the fourth One UI 8.5 beta for India; if deployed elsewhere it will be the fifth global beta.”
Tarun Vats (industry tracker)
Testers and some community members noted surprise at the small download size; several asked Samsung beta moderators for clarification on whether the package fixes voice‑recognition or privacy‑related issues tied to Bixby. Samsung has not posted an expanded public note explaining the change.
Unconfirmed
- The specific internal fix addressed by the Bixby version update has not been disclosed by Samsung and remains unverified.
- Whether this build will be distributed outside India in the immediate term is unconfirmed; wider rollout would change the global beta count.
- Reports that the update resolves a critical Bixby outage or security flaw are speculative until Samsung publishes details.
Bottom Line
Samsung’s ZZAN beta — a 553.08MB package that lists only a Bixby version update — appears to be a narrow, targeted patch for the Galaxy S25 lineup in India. For most end users the change is unlikely to deliver visible new features, but it may fix behavior or stability issues tied to the voice assistant. Beta participants should install and monitor the device, reporting any regressions through official channels.
Given Samsung’s expectation to ship One UI 8.5 broadly with the Galaxy S26 on February 25, 2026, this incremental patch reduces the risk that a known Bixby problem will reach the stable release. We’ll update this report if Samsung publishes a fuller changelog or if the firmware appears in other regions.
Sources
- SamMobile — News site reporting the firmware roll‑out and changelog (news).
- Samsung Support — Official vendor support and software update resources (official).