A leak regarding One UI 8 and Android 16 reveals that Samsung is concentrating on optimization.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S25 Ultra
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Samsung is in the process of rolling out its significant One UI 7 update to more devices. Concurrently, the company is rapidly working on One UI 8, which will be based on the upcoming Android 16. Recent developments suggest positive advancements regarding the update.
SmartPrix has disclosed a collection of images that allegedly depict an early version of One UI 8, referred to as an "alpha." These images indicate that One UI 8 will primarily prioritize optimization rather than introducing new features, unlike its predecessor. This approach is logical considering the extensive changes brought by the One UI 7 update, which is built on Android 15.
It is anticipated that Google will unveil the first official version of Android 16 at Google I/O 2025 next month. One UI 8 may also be introduced alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 later this summer.
SmartPrix has identified two potential changes coming with One UI 8 for Samsung devices. The first involves an enhanced and organized layout for the File Manager. The second entails "subtle enhancements" for the Gallery.
Lastly, Samsung is likely to broaden the availability of its Now Brief feature with One UI 8, extending it beyond the exclusive Galaxy S25 series. Now Brief serves as a personalized content aggregator that delivers updates relevant to users' daily schedules and activities.
Since its release on the Galaxy S25 devices, One UI 7 has encountered several issues, the latest being a bug that has temporarily halted further distributions of the update. One UI 7 introduces considerable changes, such as separate notification and quick settings panels reminiscent of iOS, as well as a vertical-scrolling app drawer. The home screen has received a visual refresh with new icons and simplified widgets. Notably, the "Now Bar" showcases real-time updates from select apps directly on the lock screen.
The update enhances Galaxy AI capabilities with features like Writing Assist, Drawing Assist, and Call Transcripts. Additional improvements encompass Auto Highlight Clipping for video editing, enhanced health management tools, and better multitasking capabilities for Samsung devices.
Bryan M. Wolfe has over ten years of experience as a technology writer, focusing on mobile topics.
Samsung One UI 8 might be launched as early as August 2025. Samsung has recently begun rolling out One UI 7, based on Android 15, starting with the Galaxy S25 models. However, with Google advancing the timeline for the release of Android 16, One UI 7 might have a brief existence on devices before it is replaced by One UI 8.
The premise of this report is Google adjusting the expected release schedule for the next Android version. Google is moving this forward, and Android 16 is anticipated to be available around June 2025. For Samsung to prevent falling further behind, it would need to act quickly to deploy its next update.
Samsung has officially commenced the rollout of Android 15 and One UI 7 to its existing devices after the earlier launch of the Galaxy S25 series that debuted the software this year. The company has received considerable criticism for the slow delivery of this update, particularly as Android 15 debuted on Pixel devices on October 15, 2024. It has been nearly six months since the software was first made available, and Android 16's launch is only about two months away.
OnePlus has introduced a customizable button to replace its Alert Slider. Just a month ago, OnePlus co-founder Pete Lau announced that the traditional two-stage alert slider would be discontinued. Lau expressed that the company wanted to adopt a more versatile approach, ultimately opting for a button format. At that time, further details about the button's design and functionality were not disclosed, but now a OnePlus executive has shared an image of the button on an upcoming device, along with insights regarding its use.
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A leak regarding One UI 8 and Android 16 reveals that Samsung is concentrating on optimization.
It appears that One UI 8 will emphasize optimization rather than introducing many new features, which is likely a positive development.