The Fix for My Galaxy's Most Annoying Quirk in One UI 8.5

The Evolution of Samsung's One UI and the Promise of One UI 8.5

Samsung Galaxy flagships, like the S25 Ultra, showcase the pinnacle of mobile engineering. The hardware is flawless, with top-tier screens, industry-leading cameras, and a premium build quality that appeals to power users. However, while the hardware continues to impress, the software experience—specifically One UI—has had its share of challenges.

One UI often undergoes sudden changes that seem more focused on style trends than on improving core usability. This has led to frustration among users who value a streamlined and intuitive interface. A prime example is the Quick Panel issues that began with One UI 7.0. While the update introduced some customization options, it fell short of delivering the full flexibility users desired.

The Missed Opportunities in One UI 7.0 and 8.0

Before One UI 7.0, the process was simple and intuitive. Users could swipe down once from anywhere to see notifications and main toggles, then swipe again or use two fingers to open the full Quick Panel. This made accessing settings and features effortless.

With One UI 7.0 and later versions, the interface was split, moving notifications to the upper-left of the status bar and limiting Quick Settings access to the upper-right swipe. This forced layout created poor ergonomics, especially on larger devices like the Galaxy Ultra series. Adding to the issue were large, always-visible SmartThings and Smart View buttons that many users rarely used.

While users could switch back to the old style, the design shift felt overly iOS-like, which wasn’t ideal for all users. Fast-forwarding to One UI 8, there were no meaningful additions to customization. It was more of a maintenance update rather than a true upgrade.

Good Lock: A Temporary Fix with Limitations

The ongoing problems with the Quick Panel pushed many power users to turn to Samsung’s customization tool, Good Lock. Modules like QuickStar existed because the core One UI experience lacked enough control for users seeking fine-tuned customization.

Even with these semi-official tools, power users still hit a wall with the rigid One UI 7.0/8.0 Quick Panel. Good Lock could tweak visuals or change the quick settings grid layout, but it couldn’t overcome the hard limits baked into the system’s core.

One UI 8.5: A New Era for the Quick Panel

One UI 8.5 feels like the Quick Panel we should have had. The update completely rewrites how the Quick Panel works. The biggest change is that it does away with the distinction between fixed system cards and quick toggles. Every element, such as the Device Control block and the brightness and volume sliders, is now a movable item.

Moreover, these sliders can now be resized and switched between horizontal and vertical orientations (though the vertical look may bring iOS to mind). This makes one-handed operation comfortable again.

Equally important is the freedom from fixed buttons. The Smart View and Device Control buttons no longer have to be there all the time. You can drag them off the panel and remove them completely. This opens up the panel, cuts clutter, and gives more room for the toggles you use most.

Being able to delete almost every toggle and widget from the Quick Panel is a significant improvement. After spending a week tracking which toggles I actually use, I found that only four or five are tapped regularly. I arranged those up front and deleted the rest.

Which Devices Will Get One UI 8.5?

This is an important win for Samsung users. It acknowledges that the recent Quick Panel design was restrictive, complex, and awkward. By moving advanced customization into the main settings instead of keeping it in Good Lock, Samsung is putting user control front and center. This should make things smoother for power users who felt boxed in by the old system.

One UI 8.5 is expected to debut next year alongside the launch of the Galaxy S26 series. Following that, Samsung will gradually roll out the update to a wide range of Galaxy phones and tablets from previous years. If your device is eligible for One UI 8.0, it’s safe to assume One UI 8.5 will follow at some point, since both versions run based on Android 16.