Samsung Galaxy S26 Bixby reboot signals fresh momentum as One UI 8.5 beta expands

Why this matters now: Samsung Electronics has pushed a rebuilt Bixby into beta as a conversational device agent just ahead of the Galaxy S26 launch window, and the change is framed as a move to keep users inside the assistant while giving them live web answers. Samsung Galaxy S26 Bixby appears during a narrow window when One UI 8. 5 beta builds are rolling out to several markets, creating an early testbed for broader distribution.

Market momentum and timing: a beta that arrives before the S26 debut

The company opened a beta program for the latest Bixby on Feb. 20, 2026 in London, UK. This push follows what was described as a false start in January and lands as One UI 8. 5 beta builds reach users in multiple territories. One UI 8. 5 is based on Android 16 and is expected to roll out to Galaxy users in the coming months after launching with the Galaxy S26 series, which is set to go official next week. The latest beta build also just landed in the U. S. earlier today, creating an immediate test audience ahead of the broader rollout.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Bixby: what the One UI 8. 5 update adds

The rebuilt assistant is described as a conversational device agent that accepts natural-language requests for device control and troubleshooting without requiring exact setting names or menus. Examples embedded in the announcement illustrate two practical flows: a user can say, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it, ” and Bixby will enable the ‘Keep Screen on While Viewing’ setting directly; or a user asking, “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?” will be guided to the Accidental Touch Protection setting and offered a direct toggle.

Beyond device control, the update includes real-time web search capabilities that return results inside the assistant interface rather than redirecting to a separate browser. An example given: users can ask, “Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids, ” and see relevant web results appear within the assistant experience.

Device and beta coverage: who sees it first

• One UI 8. 5 beta availability: select markets include Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U. S.
• The reboot has been offered on existing flagship test builds for recent Galaxy models (beta builds mentioned for the Galaxy S25 series) while the S26 launch is imminent.

Here’s the part that matters: the staggered beta across those markets will influence whether the rebuilt assistant reaches millions quickly or trickles out more slowly.

Limits, language support and setup notes

Service availability requires a company account login and a data connection. Available functions and features may vary by country, region and language. The rebuilt assistant is said to recognise only certain accents and dialects, specifically: English (UK), English (US), English (India), French (France), German (Germany) and Italian (Italy).

Background signals and remaining questions

Bixby has been present on Galaxy devices for years, but Google’s services have often been favored by users; the recent reboot is explicitly pitched as building on the assistant’s traditional strength in device controls. The company did not detail what powers the live web results, though an external technology named Perplexity has been mentioned on several occasions. The communication also notes that the company’s newsroom videos will no longer be supported on Internet Explorer and asks readers to try a different web browser.

• Beta announced in London, UK on Feb. 20, 2026.
• One UI 8. 5 is based on Android 16 and tied to the Galaxy S26 launch window.
• Beta builds available in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U. S.; latest U. S. beta arrived today.
• Examples show device control and in‑assistant web results (hotel search example provided).

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: the combination of device-first control and embedded web answers is positioned as a usability play intended to reduce friction and keep more tasks inside the assistant rather than bouncing users to other apps.

What's easy to miss is the emphasis on handling intent rather than exact commands—the examples favor descriptive requests that map to specific settings and toggles, which could simplify setup for less technical users. The real test will be whether recognition, accuracy and the web integration perform consistently across the listed languages and markets.

Key takeaways:

• The rebuilt assistant is in beta and intended as a conversational device agent.
• Real-time web results appear inside the assistant UI; the backend for that capability is not fully disclosed (Perplexity has been mentioned elsewhere).
• One UI 8. 5 beta is available in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U. S.; the S26 launch follows next week and broader rollout is expected in the coming months.
• Service requires an account and connection; language and feature availability will vary.

Note: Details that were unclear in the provided context are left stated as such rather than guessed; this article reflects only the information included in the company announcement and subsequent coverage excerpts.