key features and how to try it

Summary

Samsung’s One UI 8 beta is now live for the Galaxy S25 series and offers AI improvements, a new Quick Share feature, a redesigned Reminder app and more.
One UI 8 is based on Android 16, and will launch this summer with Samsung’s newest foldable phones. It will then rollout gradually afterward to Samsung’s other devices.
To download the One UI 8 beta, you’ll need the Samsung Members app and reside in either the US, UK, Germany, or South Korea.

Fear not, Galaxy fans. While you may have waited a long time for One UI 7 to finally arrive on your device, that doesn’t seem to be the case with Samsung’s next major software update, One UI 8, based on Android 16.

Samsung recently announced that the One UI 8 beta is now rolling out, starting with the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra in the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea. Samsung states that One UI 8 builds on the success of One UI 7 by enhancing AI features like the Now Bar and Now Brief while introducing new features like Quick Share and a redesigned Reminder app.

Samsung is definitely trying to make amends for its flawed One UI 7 rollout.

The One UI 8 beta is debuting ahead of the official launch of Android 16, which is expected in June. Samsung says that One UI 8 will officially begin rolling out this summer with its “newest foldables” and then gradually to other Galaxy devices. The foldables Samsung is likely referring to are the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, which are rumored to be announced in July.

In contrast to the One UI 7 rollout, One UI 8 already appears to be in much better shape. The One UI 7 beta launched in December 2024, two months after the release of Android 15, and it did not start its official rollout in the US until April of this year. Based on what Samsung has stated today, it seems a stable build of One UI 8 will be in the hands of users this summer, possibly within two months of Android 16 launching. Samsung is definitely trying to make amends for its flawed One UI 7 rollout.

“Through open communication, Samsung and Google actively shared their respective design systems and real-time feedback with one another, accelerating software development that made One UI 8 one of the first UI platforms to adopt Android 16,” Samsung said in a press release.

Brand: Samsung
SoC: Snapdragon 8 Elite
Display: 6.9-inch
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery: 5,000mAh

The highest-end variant of Samsung’s flagship smartphone lineup for 2025, the S25 Ultra ships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a massive 6.9-inch display, and a quad camera setup.

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How to download the One UI 8 Beta

Test One UI 8 ahead of its official launch

Samsung

If you have a Galaxy S25 series device and live in the US, UK, Germany, or South Korea, and want to try out the One UI 8 beta, the process is relatively simple. All you need is the Samsung Members app. However, before installing the One UI 8 beta, I recommend backing up your device in case you encounter any issues and ensuring it’s fully charged.

Once you’re ready to install the One UI 8 beta, follow these steps:

1. Open the Samsung Members app. You can install it from the Galaxy Store if you don’t already have it.

2. Tap the One UI 8 Beta Program banner at the top of the app’s home screen. If you don’t see it, make sure you logged into your Samsung account.

3. Enroll in the One UI 8 Beta Program.

4. Then, head to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install. If you have access to the One UI 8 beta now, the option to install it will be there.

5. Tap the Install Now button and the One UI 8 beta download process will begin. Your phone will likely restart within a few minutes.

A reminder that this is a beta test, so expect bugs and issues to arise as you use One UI 8. Any problems will likely be resolved by Samsung in time for the official release this summer.

At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether Samsung will expand this beta to more countries, such as Canada, and to other Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, the new Galaxy S25 Edge, or the Galaxy S24 series.

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What’s new with One UI 8?

Samsung is enhancing the Now Bar and Now Brief

Samsung / Pocket-lint

Samsung states that with the launch of One UI 8, the goal is to make your “everyday smarter and more convenient by enhancing the AI features first introduced in the Galaxy S25 series.”

To achieve this, the South Korean tech giant is highlighting several key enhancements that One UI 8 brings, including a refined UX design “tailored for different device form factors” (especially for its foldable devices), improved multimodal capabilities that facilitate communication with AI through text, voice, and vision, and more personalized suggestions.

…Samsung is emphasizing improvements made to the Now Bar and Now Brief, which will now deliver more “customized insights and suggestions.”

In particular, Samsung is emphasizing improvements made to the Now Bar and Now Brief, which will now deliver more “customized insights and suggestions.” Now Brief and the Now Bar launched with One UI 7, and admittedly, they were somewhat underwhelming, so hopefully, the enhancements Samsung is making with One UI 8 will make them more useful.

Next, Samsung is introducing a new Quick Share feature with One UI 8 that allows you to send and receive files quickly by going to the Quick settings panel. Auracast is another new addition to One UI 8, which enables users to seamlessly connect multiple hearing devices (like Bluetooth earbuds and headphones) into a single audio stream.

Finally, the Reminders App is also receiving some attention with One UI 8, featuring a redesign that makes it easier to categorize your reminders, discover new reminder templates, and create new reminders more easily than ever before. The One UI 8 beta is currently rolling out on the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra in the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea. A full release is expected this summer, coinciding with the launch of Samsung’s newest foldable devices.