One UI 8.5 Looks Too Much Like iOS 26, Galaxy Fans Raise Concerns

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta version, released at the start of this week, is already getting the chat going in the Android camp. Apart from very good user experience, critics are highlighting the update’s very big similarity to Apple’s iOS.

The first reactions to the beta, along with tech reporters’ hands-on impressions, have the software very much appreciated for granting users greater freedom of control over Quick Settings and other system features. The so-called brightness and volume sliders can now be separated, controlled individually, and the layout can be changed in ways which were simply not possible in One UI 8.0.

However, some users are saying that with the new features in the customization department, One UI 8.5 is ever more resembling iOS 26 in terms of looks. Custom-made Quick Settings panels have iPhone’s Control Center vertical sliders and iconography so close that they can almost be mistaken for each other.

This similarity can be noticed in Samsung’s native apps, such as Clock, Gallery, and Phone, which now have a bottom navigation bar that can bring to mind iOS. The floating bar method is working as intended, but many Android lovers have expressed their concerns about the similarity being a little too close for comfort.

While the update comes with more iOS-like features, they are not all so obvious. The app drawer search bar has changed its size to a smaller pill-shaped one, and the Settings app now has a floating circular back button. The Calculator app is also using the glow effect similar to that of the Apple’s Liquid Glass design.

A recent survey among users gives a mixed view of the changes: 43% do not like the iOS-like elements at all, 27% are in favor of them, 20% are neutral, and 11% regard them as minor annoyances. The survey results signify a split in the expectations of users, as they indicate different positions on the topic of Android’s interface changing over time.

Samsung's adoption of iOS-like design cues is not solely the case of Samsung, as other Android phone makers are also practicing such transformations, but the metamorphosis of One UI 8.5 is tremendous. Some people say that Samsung is giving up its original One UI personality, which was introduced in 2018 and provided a unique Android experience.

The beta has not been completed yet, and users are looking forward to more polishing before the official launch in early 2026. Although One UI 8.5 is packed with great customization and functionality enhancing features, some Android users are still wishing for a design that is entirely different from Apple's operating system.