With the official release of Android 16, the Android OEMs are now running to release their custom skins, and Samsung is surely among the first. The company announced its plans for One UI 8 at last, including the official rollout of the new update with the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Z Flip7 FE. There is still a long road ahead of development, and the company has just begun the open beta for the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra owners. As the name implies, it’s open to all Galaxy S25 owners as long as they’re residents of the US, the UK, Germany, or South Korea.
One UI 8 Brings New Features to Galaxy Smartphones
One UI 8 will build on the AI features that come with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. The Galaxy AI features mix on-device and cloud processing. However, One UI 8 will give users the option to limit their particular data to only on-device processing. So if you’re concerned about having your data go to the cloud, you can simply disable the option. The AI will still be multimodal, and will understand more than text and use what you’re looking at or what you are watching at the moment as context for future responses. The new Now Bar and New Brief will become more powerful and personalized with the update.
Although AI is one of the big trends among smartphones, the next update isn’t only about it. There are new features, including one that turns your phone into an Auracast broadcaster – It’s a Bluetooth audio technology that works with compatible headphones without pairing. This way, you and several of your friends will listen to the same audio stream without hassle.
Quick Share and New Samsung Repair Features
There is also a new Quick Share app that removes the barriers between sending and receiving files. By tapping Quick Share in the Quick Settings, it will be possible to swap files with people nearby. The Reminder app is also built for travel. It allows users to manage checklists and schedules. It offers support for voice input, allowing you to easily add new things. These checklists can be shared with the people you are traveling with.
Interestingly, One UI 8 also brings some benefits for those who need to repair the device or simply go into Samsung’s services. It will be possible to walk into a service center and use a QR code or NFC to sign in. This process skips all the hassle of filling in registration forms. All relevant data will be stored in your Samsung account. One more step to transform information into digital information.
Hopefully, One UI 8 will have a smoother development cycle when compared to One UI 7. The latter took a long time to finally arrive and we hope Samsung address the issues with the next update and return to its former spot as one of the best Android OEMs for updates.
