The One UI 8 software, based on Android 16, debuted earlier this month with the latest foldable phones, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. Fortunately, things have been a lot quicker this time, as the brand has already opened One UI 8 beta access for multiple devices, and it should also be preparing for a stable rollout to older Galaxy devices very soon.
One UI 8 update is coming soon to Galaxy phones and tablets
After announcing the One UI 8 beta program for the Galaxy S25 series in May, the brand has recently announced its expansion to more devices along with the release timeline. Next week, the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and Galaxy Z Fold 6 users will be able to install One UI 8 beta.
More Galaxy devices will join the One UI 8 beta program in September, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and several Galaxy A-series models (see the complete list here). Following the One UI 8 beta release to these eligible devices, Samsung will kick off the stable rollout, likely starting with the Galaxy S25 series in late September.
As always, the Galaxy S-series and Z-series models will be among the first phones to receive the One UI 8 update, followed by the mid-range Galaxy A-series, and then gradually rolling it out to the remaining devices. Samsung will likely upgrade all eligible devices to One UI 8 before the end of this year.
After a frustratingly slow rollout of One UI 7, Samsung’s making a quick turnaround with One UI 8, and a big reason is the adoption of Google’s trunk-based development. This helped Google build Android 16 faster, and as a result, it was released months ahead of its usual release timeline. Samsung was also able to release One UI 8 faster using trunk-based development. In fact, that’s also changing how Samsung releases major software.
According to recent reports, Samsung will release major One UI software with its new Galaxy Z series foldable phones in the middle of the year, while the new Galaxy S-series phones will release with One UI x.5 software featuring notable improvements. In fact, this change is already live, as the latest foldables, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Fold 7, and Fold 7 SE, were released with One UI 8, and the upcoming Galaxy S26 series is said to debut in early 2026 with One UI 8.5.
Related:
1. Samsung silently drops software support for these 4 Galaxy phones
2. Samsung makes significant changes to One UI rollout strategy
What’s new in One UI 8?
One UI 8 doesn’t bring major changes like One UI 7, but still, there are many useful additions and improvements to look forward to. Here are the major highlights of One UI 8.
1. Enhanced productivity and multitasking
One UI 8 brings a dedicated full-screen layout for Quick Share. Tapping on the icon in the Quick Settings panel triggers the “Ready to receive” action. There’s also a “Send” tab that allows you to send files without needing to use a different app.
The split screen has become more useful with the latest changes. You can now stretch one app to as much as you want, previously limited to around 70% of the screen. When you tap the minimized app, it takes up the larger space, and the other app gets minimized.
Samsung Dex also gets nice upgrades. It now allows users to change the screen resolution. The display rotation can also be tweaked, which is particularly helpful when you want to use a monitor vertically.
2. Personalization and automation
The update brings new dynamic live wallpapers that change the colors based on the time. They are usually bright and colorful during the day and gradually transition to a darker theme as the sun sets. Although not a major thing, it’s a nice quality-of-life improvement.
One UI 7 introduced significant changes to modes and routines, and the new version builds upon that. It brings new routines, such as Cold weather alert, Morning briefing, and Umbrella reminder.
The latest changes make it easier to customize a Profile Card by displaying the full layout while making changes.
3. Redesigned and smarter apps
One UI 8 introduces notable enhancements to various apps, making them more useful, intuitive, and visually appealing. Take the Gallery app, for example: it automatically sorts screenshots into categories such as Boarding passes, Coupons, Shopping, and Locations for quicker access.
The downloaded files in the My Files app now allow you to filter files based on the app from which they were downloaded. There are also some UI changes. The categories are now compact, making room for more content on the screen. The Weather app has also been updated with smoother animations and features hyper-realistic backgrounds.
The Reminder app receives a fresh, modern look, with categories displayed prominently at the top of the home screen in rounded boxes. The app now suggests templates or past reminders as you type, speeding up the process. There’s also a new toolbar that lets you add checkmarks, media, date, location, and assign reminders to categories directly from the input area.
The Calendar app isn’t left out, as it also gets several meaningful upgrades. It now features a cleaner, modern look with deeper black backgrounds for improved eye comfort. It’s now integrated with the Reminders app, and as a result, you can now create reminders directly from the Calendar app. This simplifies task and schedule management.
Another helpful feature is that you can easily reschedule reminders in the Calendar app by dragging and dropping them to new dates.
4. Privacy and accessibility
The Secure Folder gets more secure in One UI 8 with the latest features. You can now assign a different fingerprint to access the Secure Folder. You can also hide other apps within for additional protection. One UI 8 allows users to completely hide Secure Folder, which means it won’t show any notifications or appear in app suggestions.
One UI 8 also introduces several accessibility improvements, including the ability to zoom the screen with buttons, control mouse actions with a keyboard, magnify the on-screen keyboard, and pair Bluetooth hearing aids directly from the Accessibility settings.
5. Other notable improvements
The Camera app now lets you customize the swipe-down/swipe-up action to open the camera controls; previously, it was limited to camera switching. One UI 8 also makes it easier to connect multiple Bluetooth audio devices by allowing other users to scan the QR code to join the audio.
Users can now control all alarms in a group directly from a Home screen widget. Also, they can add existing alarms to groups. The Samsung Health app gets a nice addition that lets you challenge friends to fitness goals. The app also reminds you to have good, provided that you have set it up already.
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Also read:
1. One UI 8 update: here’s everything you need to know
2. One UI 8 will be the last big upgrade for these Samsung devices
