Galaxy S25 Beta Update Adds Galaxy S26 and Z Fold 8 Features

What the new beta brings

The Galaxy S25 beta that arrived this week expands the phone’s intelligence toolkit. Samsung has taken features that were previewed for the upcoming Galaxy S26 and the Z Fold 8 and integrated them into the current flagship. Users can now experience smarter call management, contextual daily briefings and a refreshed multitasking experience.

AI call handling and daily briefings

Two of the most visible upgrades focus on communication. The phone now listens for incoming calls and offers suggested replies based on the conversation history. If a call is missed, the system can draft a short follow up message that the user can send with a single tap.

Daily briefings have also been upgraded. At the start of each day the device presents a concise summary that includes calendar events, weather, traffic conditions and any pending messages. The briefing adapts to the user’s routine, highlighting the most relevant items.

Smart reply suggestions for missed calls
One‑tap message drafting from call history
Personalised daily briefing with calendar and weather
Context aware traffic alerts

Borrowed features from Galaxy S26

Samsung has hinted at a major redesign for the Galaxy S26. The beta now includes a preview of the new camera processing pipeline that promises better low light performance. The software also introduces an adaptive refresh rate that can switch between 60 Hz and 120 Hz depending on the content, a capability that will become standard on the S26.

Another S26 preview is the enhanced privacy dashboard. Users can see which apps accessed the microphone, camera or location in the past 24 hours, and can revoke permissions directly from the dashboard.

Improved low light camera algorithm
Adaptive screen refresh rate
Expanded privacy dashboard

Z Fold 8 influences on multitasking

The Z Fold 8 introduced a more fluid split screen experience. The Galaxy S25 beta adopts a similar approach, allowing three apps to be displayed side by side in a compact layout. Users can drag and drop content between windows without leaving the current view.

In addition, the new "Flex Window" mode lets the phone remember the last three app positions, enabling quick restoration of a previous workspace with a single gesture.

Three‑way split screen layout
Drag and drop between windows
Flex Window memory for quick workspace restore

Performance and battery impact

Early benchmarks shared by Samsung indicate that the beta adds roughly 3 percent overhead to CPU usage during intensive AI tasks. Battery life tests show a modest reduction of about 5 percent in mixed usage scenarios. Samsung recommends enabling the new features only when the phone is plugged in for extended sessions.

For users who prefer a leaner experience, each feature can be toggled off in the Settings menu under "Advanced Features".

How to install the beta

The beta is distributed through Samsung’s official Members app. Existing members can opt in by navigating to the "Beta Programs" section and selecting "Galaxy S25 Beta". The download size is approximately 1.2 GB, and the installation process takes about 15 minutes on a fully charged device.

After installation, the phone will reboot and present a short onboarding tutorial that explains the new AI call handling and daily briefing options.

What users can expect next

Samsung has said the beta will receive monthly updates that fine‑tune the AI models and add more features from the upcoming S26 and Z Fold 8. Community feedback is collected through the Members app, and Samsung promises to incorporate popular suggestions into the final release.

For now, early adopters can explore a glimpse of the next generation of Samsung smartphones while still using the familiar Galaxy S25 hardware.

For more details on Samsung’s beta program, visit Samsung Newsroom. Additional technical specifications can be found on the Android Developers site. Independent analysis of the performance impact is available at TechRadar. For a broader view of mobile privacy standards, see the GSMA website.