I’m not usually someone who gets overly excited about Android skins, but One UI 8.5 genuinely deserves some credit. Samsung has always been strong on customization, and this update takes things a step further in a way that actually feels useful. There are already plenty of ways to tweak how your phone looks and behaves, but now Samsung is refining the experience where it matters most. The Quick Panel, which you probably swipe down dozens of times a day, is getting even more customization options.
What’s new?
Samsung is clearly leaning deeper into personalization with the latest QuickStar update. The Quick Panel is no longer just functional; it’s starting to feel a lot more like your space. You can now dress up different elements with custom backgrounds, whether it’s the brightness slider, media player, or even individual quick toggles. It adds a layer of personality that simply wasn’t there before, especially if you like your phone to look a certain way. There’s also more control over how things appear in landscape mode, which is a nice touch for those who often use their phone sideways for media or gaming.
Beyond looks, there are a few practical tweaks that make everyday use a bit more intuitive. You can now resize certain elements, like shrinking the media player so it doesn’t dominate the panel, and even see exact values for brightness and volume sliders. That said, it’s not perfect yet. The slider values are locked to a single font style, which limits how well they blend with different themes. Still, taken as a whole, this update makes the Quick Panel feel more flexible and a lot more personal than before.
The devices that can finally get fancy
Right now, the shiny new QuickStar features are rolling out only for devices running One UI 8.5. That means if you have a Galaxy A37, Galaxy A57, or any of the Galaxy S26 lineup, you’re in luck.
But Samsung isn’t leaving others out entirely. If you’re on a Galaxy S24 or S25 series, or one of the foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Z Flip 7, Z Fold 6, or Z Fold 7, you can get a taste of the update through the One UI 8.5 beta program, as long as it’s active in your region.
