Samsung’s international Galaxy A35 variant is now getting One UI 8.0 based on Android 16, following a short Korea-first phase that began days earlier. The international rollout underscores Samsung’s accelerated October schedule for A-series phones, with the A35 listed among models slated to receive One UI 8 in early October in regional roadmaps.
Rollout regions
The update first landed on Korean Galaxy A35 units with firmware A356NKSU5CYI8 before moving to international markets shortly after. Iran is highlighted as one of the earliest international countries to see the update live, with reports also indicating broader availability ramping up across multiple regions. Third-party trackers and community reports further corroborate that a global push for both Galaxy A55 and A35 began ahead of mid-October expectations.
Firmware details
For international Galaxy A35 units, the One UI 8 firmware is identified as A356EXXU5CYI8, delivered as an over-the-air package roughly 2.34GB in size. The Korean build for the A35 carries firmware A356NKSU5CYI8, marking the initial stable release in Samsung’s home market before scaling internationally. As with other One UI 8 updates, this release is based on Android 16 and is considered a stable, public build rather than beta software.
Key features
One UI 8 focuses on refinements rather than sweeping visual upheaval, with a slightly redesigned interface in select areas to improve clarity, organization, and ease of use on Galaxy devices. Feature additions span communication, camera, multitasking, productivity, health, privacy, and security, aligning with Samsung’s broader One UI 8 platform goals announced at rollout. The update also builds on One UI 7’s redesign by adding function-first upgrades such as enhanced split-screen controls, improved app updates surfaces, and subtle UI polish across apps and settings.
- Multitasking gets quicker splits, including a 90:10 split-screen option to prioritize one app while keeping another accessible for rapid switching.
- Camera and media controls see refinements, with updates to Samsung apps like Weather and Files for a more consistent and responsive experience.
- AI-forward additions such as Portrait Studio and improved assistant integration continue Samsung’s push into on-device intelligence under the One UI 8 umbrella.
- Privacy and security receive meaningful upgrades, reflecting Samsung’s emphasis on protected spaces and enhanced data safeguards in its One UI 8 communications.
How to install
The update can be checked and installed directly on the Galaxy A35 via Settings > Software update > Download and install, with availability appearing in waves by region. Samsung’s support documentation also outlines One UI 8 availability and compatible devices, reiterating that rollouts proceed gradually across markets and models. As always with staged OTAs, availability may vary by carrier, CSC, and country, so devices in some regions will see the update earlier than others.
Availability outlook
Official rollout schedules for select regions, including Korea and Brazil, place the Galaxy A35 in the early-October window, and the live deployments in Korea and Iran suggest Samsung is slightly ahead of plan in some markets. Broader international expansion is ongoing “as we speak,” per reporting that tracked the first non-Korean appearances of the A35’s One UI 8 build. Community and tracker coverage similarly points to a rapid expansion cadence for the A35 alongside the A55 as October progresses.
Why it matters
For a high-volume mid-ranger like the Galaxy A35, a swift jump to Android 16 with One UI 8 brings feature parity closer to Samsung’s flagships while sustaining a long-tail update promise for mainstream buyers. The combination of UI refinements, practical multitasking tweaks, and platform-level privacy and security enhancements makes this release a significant quality-of-life update rather than a purely cosmetic refresh. Early international availability also indicates that the A-series is a core priority in Samsung’s 2025 Android 16 rollout, reducing wait times that often hit mid-tier devices in previous cycles.
