Samsung Makes Maximum Power Saving Smarter in One UI 8.5

Samsung revamps its battery-saving features in One UI 8.5, making Maximum Power Saving Mode smarter, more customizable, and easier to switch.

A Smarter Battery Interface in One UI 8.5

One UI 8.5 introduces a visually refreshed battery information screen, making it both cleaner and more informative. But the real improvements lie in how Samsung is changing Power Saving Mode, particularly the Maximum mode.

• The update simplifies the interface with a cleaner layout.
• Users now get more granular control over battery-saving settings.

Two Distinct Power Saving Modes: Standard and Maximum

Samsung now splits power saving into two distinct modes:

1. Standard Mode
   • Includes the familiar options:
     • Limit CPU speed
     • Reduce screen brightness by 10%
     • Lock refresh rate to 60Hz
     • Enable dark mode
     • Set screen timeout to 30 seconds
   • This is essentially the same customizable toggle-based system as before, now grouped under one label.
2. Maximum Mode
   • Replaces the old “Limit apps and Home screen” setting.
   • Previously, users could select only 4 additional apps to run.
   • Now, you can select unlimited apps, giving you far greater flexibility while still maximizing battery life.

Maximum Mode Now Retains Your Home Screen

One UI 8.5 makes Maximum Power Saving Mode less disruptive to the user experience:

• Instead of switching to a simplified static home screen, it now only applies a black background to conserve power.
• The original home screen layout and app drawer remain intact.
• Disabled apps appear greyed out, and cannot be launched while in this mode.

This makes the mode feel more like a lightweight restriction layer rather than an abrupt interface change.

Mode Switching Now Happens on the Fly

In previous One UI versions, once Power Saving Mode was activated, you couldn’t switch between standard and maximum modes without turning it off first.

That changes in One UI 8.5:

• Users can now toggle between Standard and Maximum modes freely, even after activating Power Saving Mode.
• This gives you real-time flexibility based on battery status and usage needs.

A Note on Availability

These improvements are currently seen in the first beta release of One UI 8.5. While it’s unlikely, Samsung could still tweak some elements before the final version is rolled out in early 2026 alongside the Galaxy S26 series.