Samsung’s Cheapest 5G Phone Just Got One UI 8.5 in the US

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 expansion shows no signs of slowing down, recently hitting the A16 Galaxy 5G in the United States. As a result, the company’s entry-level 5G smartphone is now getting a healthy dose of fresh features and system optimizations. It’s exciting to see Samsung bringing these updates to budget-conscious buyers so fast.

Galaxy A16 5G grabs the One UI 8.5 update in the US

Samsung, which just pushed One UI 8.5 to several high-end devices, is now targeting the budget tier. The stable update is officially here in the US for both carrier-locked and unlocked Galaxy A16 5G units. The new firmware build number is A166USQU7DZEA or A166U1UEU7DZEB, depending on your variant.

While the A16 doesn’t get the heavy-duty Galaxy AI features of the flagship S-series, One UI 8.5 still delivers plenty. Notably, Direct Voicemail and much smoother system animations are included in the mix. Plus, users get an all-new Quick Panel that lets you freely resize and move around individual tiles. Along with that, you also get new interactive lockscreen wallpapers to freshen up your device.

Beyond the visual overhaul, there are a host of new privacy enhancements that are woven seamlessly into the day-to-day experience. For example, the stock Gallery app now has a built-in Private Album option. This lets users quickly lock sensitive media behind a fingerprint or password. You can do this without having to set up a separate Secure Folder.

​Overall, this rollout is a testament to Samsung’s continued commitment to its entry-level devices like the Galaxy A16 5G. With timely software upgrades to affordable hardware, the company makes sure budget-conscious consumers don’t miss out on the latest interface design. The Galaxy A15 5G could follow soon.

​If you own a Galaxy smartphone in the US, you can check for new updates manually right now. Just go to Settings > Software update and tap Download and install. That said, these rollouts are staged, so it might take a few days for the update to reach all units nationwide.