Samsung has officially begun the global rollout of its One UI 8.5 update, a significant software milestone that marks one of the most collaborative shifts in the mobile ecosystem to date. While the update introduces a suite of “Galaxy AI” refinements and interface tweaks, the clear centerpiece is the official expansion of Quick Share, which now includes native, cross-platform compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop.

The End of the “Walled Garden” Sharing Barrier

Revealed earlier this week at The Android Show 2026, the new Quick Share integration allows Samsung users to send and receive high-resolution photos, videos, and documents directly to and from iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This “AirDrop-style” support utilizes a hybrid peer-to-peer (P2P) local wireless architecture, ensuring that files are transferred securely without being routed through external cloud servers.

For the first time, a Galaxy user can simply tap “Share,” select a nearby Apple device, and complete a transfer as if both devices were on the same operating system. To facilitate this, Apple users only need to set their AirDrop visibility to “Everyone for 10 minutes,” while Samsung devices handle the handshake via the updated Quick Share protocol.

video from Samsung

Expanded Features and Device Support

The One UI 8.5 update isn’t just about cross-brand sharing. Samsung has also refined the “Now Bar” a dynamic notification panel that provides real-time updates for activities like food delivery or sports scores. Additionally, the update brings:

• Desktop Windowing: Enhanced productivity for tablets and foldables, allowing users to resize and stack multiple app windows.
• Multimodal Galaxy AI: Smarter context-aware suggestions that analyze on-screen content to offer proactive assistance.
• Enhanced Security: Native integration of Google’s Advanced Protection for more robust defense against sophisticated phishing.

While the Galaxy S26 series is the first to receive the full AirDrop compatible feature set, Samsung has confirmed that the S25 and S24 series, alongside the Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, will receive the update by the end of the month. This move signalizes a broader industry trend toward interoperability, effectively lowering the friction for users moving between different hardware ecosystems.