One UI 8.5 Beta Shows Samsung Copying Apple’s Glassy iPhone Look

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta shows Samsung copying Apple’s glassy iPhone look. Expected to arrive on Galaxy phones in 2026 alongside the Galaxy S26 series, the update reportedly borrows heavily from Apple’s iOS 26 “Liquid Glass” design language with translucent elements, floating buttons, and glassy effects.

The beta reportedly introduces rounded floating navigation bars (like in the dialer), a floating back button in Settings, subtle transparency in the Gallery app, and 3D “pop-top” buttons in Calculator. It’s basically mirroring Liquid Glass’s crystal-like, dynamic UI without going overboard on transparency. These changes aim for a more premium, responsive feel while staying Android-native.

The beta is supposedly live on Galaxy S25 series, with a stable rollout likely after the S26 launch in early 2026. This would mark a departure from Google’s Material 3 Expressive design to create a distinct Samsung look. No hardware changes are rumored. It’s purely software, and early tweaks might be available through Good Lock’s Theme Park.

Is Samsung Just Copying Apple?

This isn’t the first time Samsung has taken design cues from competitors. However, the company seems to be cherry-picking Liquid Glass’s least divisive elements. No heavy blur or aggressive transparency, just enough to make the UI feel more “alive” without tanking performance.

Samsung is also blending these visual changes with One UI’s existing customization options, which could help it outpace iOS in personalization while widening the gap from stock Android. Following Vivo’s OriginOS 6, which also borrowed from Liquid Glass, this signals Android makers are chasing Apple’s glassy trend for 2026.

For users, floating elements and transparency could make navigation feel lighter and more intuitive. However, it might strain batteries on high-refresh screens or clash with third-party apps that don’t match the new style. If you’re running a Galaxy S25, you can apparently test these changes now through the beta. Everyone else will have to wait until the One UI 8.5 stable release next year.