- New features leaked in Samsung One UI 8.5
- We have Privacy Display and Bixby with added Perplexity
- Software will be fully released soon
Samsung One UI 8.5 is currently in beta testing and is expected to arrive alongside the Galaxy S26 phones sometime in February, and as the beta program continues, we’ll get some sneak peeks of the software features on the way to the best Samsung phones.
First of all, SamMobile found a new privacy display feature hidden in the One UI 8.5 beta code. This feature was leaked last year and essentially makes it harder for anyone to view your phone’s screen from an angle, once it’s activated in Settings.
In this new leak, we can see how the Privacy Screen feature is presented in the Tips app. The information screen reveals that the Privacy Screen can be turned on and off manually or enabled automatically based on certain criteria (such as when you’re away from home).
The same screens have been unearthed by SammyGuru, with a bonus animation included showing the screen dimming at an angle. According to tipster @UniverseIce, the animation actually shows an accurate representation of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Bixby with increased bewilderment
Welcome everyone to 2026! Let’s start this year with a great success. A look at the new Bixby, powered by Perplexity. Thanks to @achultra for connecting me with the apk pic.twitter.com/sKZQlEX6w7January 1, 2026
That’s not all we have today from One UI 8.5. Tipster @thatjoshguy69 has posted a look at Samsung’s Bixby AI running in the software, with additional powers provided by Perplexity – a partnership we’d already heard was on the way.
The interface is pretty much what you’d expect: you run a query, Bixby scans the web, and you get a detailed response with links to sources. The only real clue that another AI bot is involved is the Perplex button at the end of the answer.
This appears to be a similar deal to the one Apple and Siri have with ChatGPT, and raises a question or two about how Samsung will position both Gemini and Bixby on its phones in the future (it’ll still want to remain Google-friendly, of course).
Neither Privacy Display nor Bixby with Perplexity are available yet in One UI 8.5; both are hidden in the beta code. As the release of the software update approaches, we should hear some official announcements from Samsung regarding these features.
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