One UI 8.5 Leak Reveals iOS-Inspired Design for Galaxy S26

Earlier this week, Samsung reportedly began internal testing of One UI 8.5, the next major update to its custom Android skin. This software will debut on next year’s Galaxy S26 series before rolling out to older Galaxy devices.

Now, a fresh leak has given us a first glimpse at Samsung’s new design language — and surprisingly, it looks a little Apple-ish.

A First Look at Samsung’s Next Big Visual Refresh

According to SammyGuru, a developer managed to grab an early build of One UI 8.5, porting it to a Galaxy S21+ for preview. The leak includes just four images — all from the Settings app — but they give us an idea of Samsung’s direction for its 2025 software update.

While this is technically Samsung’s second pass at Android 16 after the One UI 8 update earlier this year, the visual tweaks are still relatively minor and subtle.

Key Design Changes: Floating Search & Minimal UI

The most noticeable change is the AI-powered floating search bar, which now hovers at the top of the Settings menu. Additionally, a persistent search bar has been added to the bottom of the main Settings page, effectively replacing the top tab where the “Settings” label and search icon used to live.

The result is a cleaner, more airy layout, with subtle blur and overflow effects at the top and bottom of the page. Inside menus, the back button now floats in the upper-left corner instead of being integrated into the header banner.

Heavily Inspired by iOS?

These are early, relatively small adjustments, but the Apple influence is hard to miss. Twitter user DalgleishGX pointed out that iOS 26 uses almost identical floating search bars and back buttons in its Settings menu.

Samsung’s version lacks Apple’s glossy “liquid glass” effect, but even without it, the resemblance is unmistakable — especially if you compare the two side by side.

What It Means for One UI’s Future

One UI 8.5 has leaked... And I'm shocked at how fast Samsung has copied the UI layout of iOS 26. 😭 pic.twitter.com/P1xQdnnII3
— DalgleishGX (@DalgleishGX) September 19, 2025

It might feel a bit disappointing to see Samsung borrowing inspiration from one of its oldest rivals, but we’re still in the early stages of development. With Material You (Material 3 Expressive) now nearly finalized on Android, these subtle iOS-like elements might evolve into something that feels more native to Google’s design language over time.

One thing’s certain: One UI 8.5 will ship alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup next year, and by then we’ll see whether Samsung sticks with this Apple-inspired look or refines it into something uniquely its own.