Samsung launched its One UI 8 beta late final week to the Galaxy S25 sequence late final week. It’s an open beta, so anybody can strive it, and that’s precisely what I did. As you’ve little question ascertained from the headline, my aim right here is to point out you all of the enjoyable new stuff that One UI 8 is bringing to the desk for Galaxy customers.
If you wish to strive the beta your self, merely obtain and set up the Samsung Members app (assuming you’ve got a Galaxy S25 telephone). Within the app, you’ll be capable of enroll within the open beta. As soon as enrolled, merely test for a software program replace — which you are able to do proper from the app — and set up the One UI 8 beta. After the telephone is up to date, reboot, and also you’ll be met with One UI 8.
Not like One UI 7, the beta doesn’t have any large new design adjustments, like we anticipate to see with iOS 26 and Android 16. In reality, I let my spouse fiddle with my telephone a couple of occasions over the weekend and didn’t inform her that I used to be on One UI 8. She by no means observed, and I’d wager most people wouldn’t both. So, if you would like a one-line overview of One UI 8, I’d let you know that it’s all about iterative refinements moderately than one thing new.
With that mentioned, there are many adjustments beneath the hood, and also you’re in all probability curious what they appear like. So, with out additional delay, listed below are all the brand new options and updates that include One UI 8.
Fast Share overhaul
Credit score: Joe Hindy / Mashable
Samsung’s Fast Share perform has acquired a full overhaul. Rather than the previous model, the brand new UI consists of two screens. One is devoted to sharing and the opposite is devoted to receiving. To it see it, decide a file out of your telephone and share it to Fast Share to open the UI and get began.
On the Obtain facet, your telephone will instantly begin searching for one other telephone that has engaged in Fast Share to share a file to your telephone. The display is tremendous primary and straightforward to make use of, with a fast hyperlink to the Settings so you may change who can and may’t share with you.
For the Ship facet, the file you wish to share is proven and your telephone lists close by units that may obtain the file. Alternatively, you may generate a QR code that briefly uploads the file to Samsung’s cloud servers. Then, the opposite machine can scan the QR code and obtain the file. In all, it really works simply and with out a lot fuss in our testing.
My Information will get per-app filters
Credit score: Joe Hindy / Mashable
Have you ever ever downloaded a file after which instantly forgotten the place it was or what its title was? This modification would possibly enable you discover it. Within the My Information app, now you can filter your recordsdata based mostly on which app downloaded them. This works within the Latest recordsdata and Obtain views. As soon as there, choose the app to see all of the recordsdata — together with paperwork, photographs, and movies — downloaded by that one app.
Cut up display can now break up apps 90:10
Credit score: Joe Hindy / Mashable
Cut up display has at all times been a polarizing characteristic. Some of us use it on a regular basis, and a few hardly do. One UI 8 provides a brand new trick to the combination that will make it extra palatable for the latter of us. The brand new 90:10 break up means that you can principally disguise the second app and provides one app many of the consideration. You’ll be able to then flip forwards and backwards between the 2 by tapping on whichever app is generally hidden.
To make use of the characteristic, put two apps in split-screen mode as regular. The quickest approach is lengthy urgent an app within the latest apps menu after which choosing the second app from there. As soon as achieved, drag the divider bar till one of many apps is 90 % displaying and the opposite is 10 % displaying.
The Reminder app has been redesigned
Credit score: Joe Hindy / Mashable
Reminders are a giant deal for individuals, and Samsung is making an attempt to make its Reminders app the one you decide. The redesign now places a bunch of classes on the prime of the app that functionally function organizers on your varied kinds of notes and reminders. Thus, you may rapidly see what’s there for at the moment, scheduled for later, and even look over accomplished reminders.
The app additionally now homes new kinds of pattern reminders for customers to check out as a tutorial for the varied issues the app can do. Lastly, there’s an Add Reminder field on the backside of the display that permits you to rapidly add a reminder. The field will populate with ideas as you kind that will help you save time.
Samsung additionally built-in Reminders with the Calendar app and vice versa. You should utilize the Calendar app to create or view reminders with no need to open the Reminders app.
An enormous checklist of small enhancements
For probably the most half, One UI 8 is an enchancment over One UI 7, and loads of the adjustments replicate this philosophy. A lot of the new stuff I noticed in One UI 8 was kind of an iteration over what was there beforehand. Let’s briefly undergo all of these adjustments as effectively.
Calendar
On prime of the mixing with Reminders, Calendar additionally has some new ideas whereas creating occasions to assist make occasions extra rapidly. You’ll additionally be capable of drag and drop reminders round in your calendar to reschedule them.
Mashable Mild Velocity
Samsung Web
Samsung’s built-in browser continues to enhance. In One UI 8, the browser now enables you to reconfigure your fast menu to get entry to options you employ most frequently. It’s similar to how Microsoft’s Edge browser does it the place you may add, subtract, and transfer choices round.
The climate app seems nicer
Performance stays the identical, however the graphics now characteristic extra clear components and extra realistic-looking imagery.
AI Choose
The screenshot characteristic is now sooner to make use of. You’ll be able to instantly choose an space of the display when partaking with AI Choose as a substitute of getting to attend for it.
Enhanced DeX assist
Samsung has improved DeX a little bit bit. If you hook up with a tool, you may rotate the show 90, 180, or 270 levels and there are extra decision choices for higher monitor assist.
Samsung Well being
The Well being app has been revised a little bit bit as effectively. Now you can set reminders to document your meals consumption and problem your folks to distance operating challenges. For the operating, you may set a distance after which the primary good friend to hit that distance wins.
Digital camera
Samsung has added a brand new choice to swipe up or down on the digital camera viewfinder to entry fast controls in Digital camera sooner. It’s important to allow this within the settings menu earlier than it’ll work. Search for the Swipe Up/down possibility.
New modes and routines
New preset routines are actually accessible for climate. They may also be custom-made to fulfill your particular wants. There are additionally new actions and integrations for Clock, Calendar, and Samsung Notes.
Profile playing cards
You’ll be able to additional design and configure your profile card after which ship it to different customers. Different customers will see your profile card while you name them.
Contact historical past now consists of recorded calls
When viewing a contact’s historical past, any recorded calls are actually readily seen and accessible, making it simpler to hear on previous telephone calls.
Safe Folder will get some enhancements
Safe Folder can’t forestall hidden apps from sending notifications while you lock them away. The Safe Folder can even now be fully hidden and encrypted for max safety.
Accessibility
Samsung has enhanced its accessibility options. There’s nothing too massive right here, however there are some useful adjustments. The Assistant menu has extra methods for customers to zoom in on their display, together with a pinch-to-zoom and buttons to extend or lower zoom.
As well as, now you can set your mouse to your keyboard. By urgent the keys on the keyboard, you may transfer the mouse pointer round. Your keyboard may also be magnified for simpler typing, and Bluetooth listening to aids are actually simpler to pair.
Auracast broadcasts are actually simpler
The characteristic means that you can broadcast audio to a number of units without delay. That is now simpler to do in One UI 8 with the inclusion of QR codes. You’ll be able to generate one for different individuals to scan or scan one your self to turn into part of the printed.
Group alarms get a little bit higher
Now you can add present alarms to an alarm group. As well as, you may add alarm teams to widgets on your private home display, which lets you flip all of them on or off with a single faucet.
Faster assist at service facilities
Going to a Samsung service middle is now simpler. You’ll be able to scan a QR code or NFC scan prompts on the service middle to rapidly share primary info like your title and telephone quantity. Samsung says the info is encrypted and may solely be accessed by assist employees.
My ultimate ideas
So, as beforehand said, One UI 8 is extra of a refinement than a giant departure from what you already know.
General, the beta appears fairly steady. I haven’t run into any notable bugs, which is smart since many of the stuff right here is identical. For now, I like to recommend leaving One UI 8 for the official launch except you actually wish to check out considered one of these enhancements or new options.
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Apps & Software program
Samsung
