Samsung Galaxy S26 series preview leaks early with major One UI 8.5 update details

A new leak has given us a detailed look at what Samsung is cooking up for 2026, and from the looks of it, the upcoming Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra are shaping up to be more evolutionary than revolutionary. The leak, uncovered in an early One UI 8.5 build, not only hints at design tweaks but also reveals fresh software details that will debut with the next-gen flagships. According to the Android Authority, the leaked renders from a One UI 8.5 test firmware provide our first credible peek at Samsung’s 2026 premium line-up, and the visual story checks out with earlier leaks.
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The Galaxy S26 range appears to have borrowed some cues from the Galaxy Z Fold 7, specifically the distinct circular camera cutouts on a slightly raised island. While the renders are rough and stripped of finer elements like LED flashes, they’re convincing enough to give us a good sense of what’s coming.
Samsung Galaxy S26 leaks: Fold-inspired design confirmed
All three devices, internally codenamed M1 (Galaxy S26), M2 (S26+), and M3 (S26 Ultra), sport the same design language. The “M,” according to insiders, stands for Miracle, Samsung’s internal name for the S26 project. The renders suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature softer, rounder corners, perhaps a response to user feedback about the boxier silhouette of the current Ultra model. The camera layout, however, remains the main talking point. Like the Fold 7, the lenses are arranged individually in polished circular rings, maintaining Samsung’s signature minimalist camera look but giving it a sleeker, more uniform finish.
While some fans might have hoped for a complete redesign, this approach makes sense. The Galaxy S26 series looks set to refine the premium aesthetic that Samsung has honed over the past few years rather than reinvent it. The crude nature of the leak means smaller details, like the LED flash placement or texture finish, remain uncertain. Still, the resemblance to the Fold 7 is hard to miss, making this one of Samsung’s most cohesive design languages yet across its flagship families.
Under the hood, expectations are high. While no hardware details were spotted in the firmware leak, the Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to run on Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon processor (likely the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip) in most regions, with Exynos variants reserved for select markets. Samsung will almost certainly back that with upgraded camera sensors and improved image processing, ensuring the S26 Ultra remains a powerhouse for photography enthusiasts.
One UI 8.5: Android 16 gets the Samsung treatment
The leak doesn’t just stop at hardware. It also confirms that One UI 8.5, Samsung’s next major interface update, will make its debut on the Galaxy S26 series, built on Android 16. Early builds of the firmware have already been spotted, with the Galaxy S25 series expected to receive the One UI 8.5 beta as early as the week of December 8.
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One UI 8.5 is said to be more of a refinement than a reinvention, a polished continuation of the One UI 8.0 experience. Expect smoother animations, more efficient multitasking, and deeper AI integrations across Samsung’s apps. The update reportedly tightens system performance, refines design transitions, and expands on the AI features introduced with Galaxy AI earlier this year. It may also include smarter contextual widgets, enhanced lock screen customisation, and better cross-device continuity for Galaxy tablets and wearables.
As Samsung continues to build a unified ecosystem across its devices, One UI 8.5 will likely serve as a bridge between mobile, foldable, and wearable experiences. If the leaks hold true, the S26 series will arrive as the first smartphones to ship with the new firmware straight out of the box, giving early adopters the full taste of Android 16 wrapped in Samsung’s latest software flair.
While it’s still early days, these leaks offer a tantalising glimpse at what’s ahead. With sleeker hardware, AI-enhanced software, and a clear focus on refinement, Samsung seems poised to perfect rather than reinvent its flagship formula. If history is any guide, the Galaxy S26 series could officially make its debut around February 2026, but until then, these leaks might be as close as we get to seeing Samsung’s next miracle.
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