Samsung One UI 8.5 & Android 17: Is Your Galaxy Phone Getting the New AI?

Google I/O 2026 starts on May 19. One of the most important events in Google’s calendar, this is when the search engine giant shares most of its biggest updates across Android, Workspace, AI and Gemini. This year, the two-day event looks set to announce some major changes, with Android 17 one of the event’s biggest talking points.

Android 17 is expected to underpin Samsung’s next major One UI update later this year. It should come as no surprise that AI is the biggest focus of the update, with agentic AI looking set to play a major role in the user experience.

One UI 8.5 is Samsung’s mid-cycle features update, released in early 2026 to help refine the experience between major software revamps. Samsung One UI 8.5 brings features like Galaxy AI, Quick Share and Bixby to a wide range of smartphones and tablets including the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, S25 Ultra, S24 line-up and Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Are you eager to experience the latest innovations in Samsung AI technology but reluctant to pay full-price for a new Samsung Galaxy flagship? There’s a solution at hand: refurbished Samsung phones.

Refurbished Samsung mobiles are more than just second-hand smartphones. They are smartphones that professionals have restored to full working order so they can function as well as new models. Buying refurbished can save you several hundred dollars or more. You still take home a phone with a warranty, and it’s a far more environmentally-friendly option.

A leading Australian seller of refurbished smartphones, OzMobiles has refurbished Samsung phones that can support the brand’s latest AI updates. In this article, OzMobiles describes what you can expect from Samsung One UI 8.5 and the most recent AI developments, as well as how refurbished Samsung mobiles can help you embrace AI.

Google I/O 2026: The AI Revolution Comes to Android 17

While the annual Made by Google event showcases Google’s major hardware updates, Google I/O is when we hear all about the software developments happening across the brand’s ecosystem. This year, Google I/O will run on May 19 and 20 with the main keynote kicking off at 1pm ET. As in previous years, Google will livestream the whole event across its YouTube channel and official I/O websites so you can tune in from anywhere in the world.

The event is shaping up to be one of the biggest Google conferences in recent years as the brand focuses on several major new operating systems including Android XR headsets and glasses, Galaxy XR headsets and Aluminium OS for (Google's internal desktop codename for a unified Android platform). According to Google, Android 17 offers “the next stage of our adaptive roadmap”. Of course, artificial intelligence is set to be a central feature as smartphone companies rush to embrace the latest AI innovations.

While Android 17’s AI capabilities still need official confirmation, here are some rumours of what we can expect from its AI-powered tools:

One UI 8.5: Bringing Galaxy S26 AI Features to the S24 & S25 Series

On May 6, the Samsung One UI 8.5 rollout introduced brought a suite of new UI design and AI features to 25 Galaxy phones and tablets. In light of this news, you may be eager to know if your device is on the list.  Two smartphone generations that are definitely included are Samsung Galaxy’s previous two generations: the S24 and S25.

One UI 8.5 brings four new AI-powered tools that originally debuted on the Galaxy S26 to these previous models including:

 

Do you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone released prior to 2023? Unfortunately your One UI 8.5 experience won’t come with the above features, but it will come with some handy new tools such as the Privacy Alert feature.

Whatever the full roll-out reveals, Samsung One UI 8.5 & Android 17 bring a lot of new developments to be excited about and refurbished Samsung phones let you explore the best of their AI capabilities.

Looking for an AI-ready Samsung device without paying flagship prices? Explore OzMobiles’ range of refurbished Samsung phones tested for performance, battery health, and security.

Why Hardware Matters: The "Roadworthy" Test for AI

Buying a refurbished smartphone has a number of benefits. The savings are tremendous. The level of quality is assured, as long as you buy from a good retailer. Buying refurbished also cuts down on the amount of e-waste (electronic waste) taking its toll on the planet and threatening human health. But not all sellers are created equal. When you buy an untested second-hand phone, you can end up having problems with all kinds of components including the AI-powered features.

The solution is Phonecheck.

Phonecheck is the smartphone industry’s leading certification program for refurbished devices. It’s used by insurance companies, trade-in programs and, of course, refurbished sellers including OzMobiles. It’s based on an 80-point diagnostic test that’s not just a checklist, but a structured in-depth test that works through every component on the device in the same order each time: battery health, cameras, connectivity, speakers etc.

Hardware matters for AI performance, with high-performance circuits like Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) required for running Large Language Models (LLMs). By leveraging these chips, AI can carry out complex tasks faster and more efficiently.

The benefits of Phonecheck for ensuring efficient AI performance on refurbished Samsung phones include:

Validating AI-dependent hardware

AI camera features like real-time photo enhancement and augmented reality rely on fully functional cameras and sensors to work properly.

Battery health

AI computations use their share of battery power. OzMobiles’ battery health guarantee ensures that your phone meets at least 80% of its original battery performance.

Unrestricted functionality

AI features require high speed and seamless connectivity. Phonecheck checks for any locks that might stop the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth from operating efficiently, and checks systems such as facial recognition to help guarantee speed and security. Features of all kinds from Face Recognition to Voice Assistants rely on biometric sensors, GPUs, batteries etc. Phonecheck ensures that all of those components are working as well as they should be.

Trust and security

A lot of AI features process personal data, and phones that aren’t properly checked can end up creating privacy risks. Testing the status of the hardware helps keep user data secure and prevent a mishap with your personal information. 

Shop Smarter: Get AI-Ready Flagships for Less

Have you been looking for an affordable second-hand Samsung Galaxy that’s locally sourced in Australia and high in quality? OzMobiles’ Refurbished Samsung phones are extensively checked for security and functionality and delivered directly to your door. Like all OzMobiles devices, our smartphones are put through a detailed testing process and come with 12-month warranties and 30-day money-back guarantees. Part of our Phonecheck testing process involves completely wiping the previous owner’s data so you can make the phone entirely your own.

Some devices primed for the new Samsung AI tools available through OzMobiles include:

Preparing Your Device for the One UI 8.5 Rollout

It’s not hard to do a little preparation to prepare your device for a software rollout. It helps keep the installation process smooth and guard against data loss. Some steps you can take to prepare your device for Samsung One UI 8.5 include:

Back up your data

Major Android updates can occasionally cause issues with your apps or reset settings. Back up any important photos, messages, notes and other files to a PC, SD card etc. so you don’t lose important data.

Charge your device

Make sure your battery is charged to at least 50% or keep your device plugged into a charger so it doesn’t shut down unexpectedly.

Free up your storage space

One UI installations are large, and it pays to make sure you have at least 10-15% free space available and a strong Wi-Fi connection. Cleaning up unused apps and cached data is an excellent way to free up some space quickly.

Update your apps

Older apps can suffer in their performance after a major update. Open the Galaxy and Google Play stores and update all of your important apps before the rollout to make sure they remain compatible.

Secure the Latest Galaxy AI Features Today at OzMobiles

Would you like to find out more about OzMobiles refurbished Samsung phones? Maybe you just need a little extra help finding the right device for you? Contact the OzMobiles team online. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you choose an AI update-ready smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which refurbished Samsung phones will support Android 17 and One UI 8.5? 

The Samsung Galaxy S25 and S24 series are the primary devices confirmed for these updates. High-end foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 also support the latest AI features. When you buy refurbished Samsung mobiles from recent generations, you ensure the hardware can handle the processing requirements of the new software.

What are the best new AI features in the One UI 8.5 update? 

The update introduces several helpful tools like Creative Studio for generative image editing and Audio Eraser for cleaning up background noise in videos. It also features an improved version of Bixby that acts as a conversational assistant. These tools work best on refurbished Samsung phones that have passed strict hardware inspections to ensure the processors are performing at their peak.

Are Refurbished Samsung mobiles powerful enough to run agentic AI? 

Yes, as long as the device has the necessary hardware like a modern GPU or NPU. Flagship models from the last two years are built specifically to manage complex AI tasks. At OzMobiles, we use an 80-point diagnostic test to confirm that every internal component is ready to support the high demands of Android 17.

How does the OzMobiles Price Beat Guarantee work for Samsung devices? 

We want to make sure you get the best value on AI-ready technology. If you find a cheaper price on the same model of refurbished Samsung phones from a major Australian competitor, we will beat that price by $10. This helps you access premium features like Call Screening and Photo Assist without overspending.

Will my battery life decrease after installing the Android 17 update? 

Major software updates can sometimes increase power usage because they run more background processes. However, buying refurbished Samsung mobiles with a battery health guarantee ensures your device starts with at least 80% of its original capacity. This provides the stable power needed to run the new AI tools throughout the day.

Is it safe to download large updates like One UI 8.5 on a refurbished phone? 

It is very safe if the phone has been professionally wiped and tested. Before you install Android 17, make sure to back up your personal data and clear out old files to create enough space. Because our phones are locally sourced and cleared of previous data, they behave just like a brand-new device during the installation process.