8.5 isn't fully released, and won't be for a few months still. You could still use it, but you may experience issues. As for whether to use it it over 8.2 or 8.3, I would always advise using the latest stable version, as you benefit from all the new features, and maximise the window of support for the actual version of PHP. I believe PHP versions recieve support now for bugs for 1 year and security updates for 2 years, or possibly vice versa. You should treat updates to PHP very similarly to phone updates. Whilst your phone hardward may stay the same, updating adds new features and security fixes, and if you don't update, then you are more likely (even if it is only by a tiny amount) to experience issues or fall victim to securit problems. More on reddit.com

I’m using php 8.1 on all my sites now. All reputable themes and plugins support it. You should always be running the latest version of wordpress. More on reddit.com

PHP versions below 8.1 are no longer being supported ( https://php.watch/versions ) i.e. if a bug or vulnerability is discovered in 7.4 or 8, it ain't getting fixed. There's not really any reason to NOT upgrade. Recent versions offer performance improvements. You should always be running up to date WP, theme and plugins anyway - if you're running a plugin or theme that requires php 7.4, it's just a matter of time until you're hacked, because the theme/plugin isn't getting patched. More on reddit.com

I love the idea of always working with the latest version of PHP. I also would love to only work on Greenfield projects aside from my own packages. I would also love to only do maintenance and feature additions on small codebases with few dependencies, where I myself own the project. The problem is I live in the real world. And my development cycles are a cost center. Writing code for me is a secondary function to providing software to a business so that they can earn revenue and provide jobs and drive economy. I live in a world of back office tools, of legacy codebases, b2b sass integrations, deadlines, client needs and support, budget limitations, business rules and bottom lines. I don't live in a world of pretty content, buzz words, trendy best practices, likes and subscribes, fun tools and programming as a purely academic function. It's a tough job but someone has got to do it, to find and justify all the need for all this churn in the first place. I like what I do. You do what you do. It drives progress. Don't expect us to keep up. I gotta pay that jetbrains bill somehow... More on reddit.com