Samsung’s newest foldables are up next to get the stable One UI 8 treatment, with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 receiving the update in South Korea right now. The launch focuses on beta testers at first and will slowly scale out to more people in more places, as is Samsung’s way.
Rollout starts in South Korea for beta testers first
As is typical with big platform updates, Samsung is starting in its home country. Users of the Fold 5 and Flip 5 are getting the stable update through OTA if they’re enrolled in the One UI 8 beta. When the first wave is stable, these typically open up to non-beta devices, and after that overseas markets.
- Rollout starts in South Korea for beta testers first
- What firmware versions and file sizes to expect
- What One UI 8 offers on Galaxy foldables and the Flip 5
- How quickly will the update expand to other regions
- Before you update: preparation tips for a smooth install
- Bottom line for Fold 5 and Flip 5 owners
If past Samsung updates are any indication, the expansion is likely to follow a predictable trajectory: Korea first, followed by Europe, India and Southeast Asia, then North America, with carrier-locked phones trailing a few days after unlocked models as they require additional certification.
What firmware versions and file sizes to expect
On the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Community forum members, early stable firmware recipients, report seeing version F946NKSU5FYI8. The delta is around 423MB for beta devices, suggesting a stabilization patch instead of a full reinstall. Non-beta participants will see a larger download — typically in the 2–3GB range — as it includes the full One UI 8 payload.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 build number will differ depending on the region and model identifier, but it’s happening at the same time. Meanwhile, the mid-ranger Galaxy A55 5G is also going to be part of the scene, with firmware version A556SKSU6CYI6 coming in at around 1.9GB – a sure sign of a full-blown system update.
To see if you can download the update, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Staged rollouts can lead to wildly varying phases showing up on devices even in the same country or carrier.
What One UI 8 offers on Galaxy foldables and the Flip 5
One UI 8, which builds upon Android 16, is tuned toward smoother animations and improved responsiveness with deeper system-side optimization — improvements that are especially visible in large-screen form factors like the Fold 5. Look out for enhancements to multitasking, a smoother taskbar experience, and better handoff when pushing apps between the cover display and main phone screen.
Foldable-first touches also bring additional gloss to Flex Mode panels and split-screen controls, making it faster and easier to start new or adjust existing multiwindow setups. Samsung’s system apps are still picking up large-screen layouts, adaptive columns and improved drag-and-drop support, all of which are welcome for power users who depend on the Fold’s generous canvas to stay productive.
Security and privacy are part of the deal as well. According to the release notes for other models that are already on One UI 8, Samsung has tightened permissions, introduced finer controls over data and updated system components to the latest Android security level. And as with everything shown off at Unpacked, local features may differ between markets, and some of those AI-based add-ons may roll out over time based on language support and whether or not the smart stuff is happening on-device.
How quickly will the update expand to other regions
Traditionally, Samsung’s big One UI updates tend to pass through in just a few days from Korea to Europe, then India and other Asian markets, with the US lagging slightly behind due to carrier requirements. Last cycle, most devices finished the initial fillip from one week of pushing in about a week with stragglers completed a little after that. I’d expect something similar here, but carrier and CSC region code will determine exact timing.
Unlocked devices usually get it first, then carrier-branded versions once the certification is over; they may share changelogs. Users can keep an eye out for notifications in the Samsung Members app, which is usually where rollout announcements and local feedback threads show up first.
Before you update: preparation tips for a smooth install
Back up your data using Smart Switch or your favorite cloud service, charge the phone to a minimum of 50% and free some gigabytes from its storage so as not to encounter installation errors. If you rely on Good Lock modules or third-party launchers, be sure to look for compatibility updates — the latter often get patched at the same time as One UI’s biggest releases.
For those of you who own a Fold 5 and rely on S Pen features or specific multiwindow workflows, keep an eye on app updates in the Galaxy Store and Play Store after the firmware hits your phone to make sure everything is running on the latest builds.
Bottom line for Fold 5 and Flip 5 owners
The stable One UI 8 release demonstrates Samsung’s faith in the Android 16 build for its newest foldables. Beta users in Korea get it first, non-beta will get this a bit later and international markets can’t be that far away. If your Fold 5 or Flip 5 hasn’t pinged just yet, don’t go anywhere — the update’s coming at speed and is set to land on more devices in the next few days as the staged waves continue.
