Samsung plans to address the issues with the Now Bar for Galaxy Z Flip phones, but it won't be happening in the near future.

      Joe Maring / Digital Trends

      Samsung's Now Bar is a standout feature of One UI 7. This pill-shaped interface appears on the lock screen and adjusts dynamically according to the most significant activities on your device, similar to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. However, it seems somewhat unfinished on foldables, particularly in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series, as it is confined to the internal screen. Fortunately, Samsung is addressing this issue, although it may take some time for a solution to be implemented.

      The anticipated fix is reportedly part of Samsung’s upcoming platform upgrade — One UI 8, which will be based on Android 16, rather than the current One UI 7. A user named @Gamer0mega on social media platform X shared a video showcasing the Now Bar in action. Instead of being displayed on the inner screen, the footage reveals the Now Bar functioning on the cover screen of a Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Flip 5.

      X / Gamer0mega

      The video also cycles through various Now Bar tiles on the cover screen and illustrates the music player being launched. This suggests the clip is likely authentic, though, as with many online videos, there's always a degree of uncertainty.

      While the wait for One UI 8 may be lengthy, it probably won't be as drawn out as other version upgrades. Samsung’s slow rollout of One UI 7—along with the intense criticism it faced while resolving bugs during the beta stage—reportedly motivated it to skip a typical mid-cycle release, jumping directly from One UI 7 to One UI 8. Consequently, instead of debuting alongside the Galaxy S26 series next year, One UI 8 is speculated to arrive sooner, potentially as early as August 2025.

      It would be reasonable to anticipate that the firmware update will coincide with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. However, given the short time frame, it's unlikely that Samsung will prioritize significant aesthetic changes in One UI, especially considering the major improvements in appearance seen in One UI 6 and 7. One UI 8 is expected to concentrate on enhancing user experience.

      Tushar is a freelance writer at Digital Trends and has been involved with the Mobile Section for the past three years...

      Forget the Z Fold 8; a new leak regarding the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 suggests it could be a worthwhile purchase. The latest rumors from an X post by @The Galox_ indicate that the new Fold 7 may come equipped with the latest Samsung Galaxy One UI 8 right out of the box.

      The Galaxy Z Fold 8 could feature a significantly improved camera, transitioning away from the under-display camera (UDC) in favor of a traditional pinhole camera, according to well-known tipster yeux1122. For a long time, Samsung has favored the under-display technology, but it is exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold series. Although UDCs create a seamless look, they do not match the quality of dedicated cameras. Yeux1122 shared this information on the Korean blog site Naver, suggesting that under-display cameras are not as economically viable as other options. Given the economic circumstances, Yeux1122 notes that Apple has delayed implementing this technology in its devices, and Samsung's Galaxy division appears to be following a similar path. Cost considerations and the ongoing challenges in enhancing the technical aspects of the camera are cited as reasons for this shift.

      The next Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 might introduce a unique charging method that could eliminate the need for a separate charger. This new technology would allow the ring to be charged directly from a Samsung phone, enabling users to recharge it wherever they are without needing a dedicated dock.