A leak from tipster Ice Universe suggests Samsung is preparing a major performance overhaul for its upcoming One UI 8.5 software. The update reportedly upgrades the core Android kernel from version 6.6.77 to 6.6.98, a fundamental change that governs how the phone's software interacts with its hardware. This modification is said to be currently available in beta versions for the Galaxy S25 series.

The kernel upgrade reportedly yields a noticeably smoother and more responsive user experience. Ice Universe claims improvements in touch response, animation fluidity, and overall system performance. This discovery was made in the ZZAA beta version for the Galaxy S25, though a conflicting report suggests this build might actually be destined for the stable public launch rather than just the beta program.

Samsung had previously released One UI 8.5 Beta 3 in January, which addressed a laundry list of bugs including lock screen glitches and excessive battery drain. The timing of this new kernel leak is significant, as it hints at a substantial under-the-hood refinement for Galaxy devices. Users are now watching closely to see if Beta 4 will deliver these reported performance gains.