Samsung One UI 8: First Impressions of the Successor to the New One UI 7 0 comments
As we know, even before the update, and even though Samsung is currently distributing Android 15 for many of its One UI 7 smartphones, the successor is already showing signs of wear and tear. However, innovations are likely to be significantly limited, as a first version suggests.
Android 16 Could Arrive Sooner Than Expected on Samsung Devices
In recent weeks, there have been increasing reports that the implementation of Android 16 for the South Korean manufacturer‘s models could take less time than was the case with the current update. Individual polls even suggest that Samsung could release the new version alongside the presentation of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7. If this is true, the new operating system would be available a few days to a maximum of weeks after Google‘s official release. A UI 8 should only bring subtle changes.
A report from Smartprix now supports the hypothesis that this scenario could be quite realistic. According to this, the first test versions of Samsung have already been distributed, which would certainly confirm the previous assumptions. For example, an early alpha version of One UI 8 with the version number F956BXXU2CYD7 for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which provides interesting information about the manufacturer’s next update. Accordingly, users should not expect any fundamental changes, as the upcoming version should rather be classified as an additional development. Among other things, the changes and innovations that have now been identified could also justify the name One UI 7.1—an interim version that focuses on optimization and graphically adapts to the changes in Android 16.
One UI 8 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Standard apps currently show only minor changes
This focus is apparently already evident in some standard One UI apps. The file manager doesn’t have any major innovations, but does have various minor user interface improvements. In particular, the “categories” area is said to have been visually revised and made clearer. According to the report, this first version of the app is currently available exclusively on devices with Android 16 or higher, indicating a reliance on the new operating system framework.
The situation is similar to the gallery, where only subtle changes are also expected. It can also be seen that One UI 8 is still in an early stage of development, as many other Samsung apps have so far been unable to find settings. The leak also indicates that the “Now Letter” feature, which analyzes daily usage behavior to make personalized suggestions and was originally reserved for the Galaxy S25 series, is also expected to come with One UI 8 on older devices in the future. The file manager under One UI 7 (left) and One UI 8 (right) in comparison
The file manager under One UI 7 (left) and One UI 8 (right) in comparison (image: smartprix) Image 1 of 2
Given that Samsung is already testing the new version of the operating system, the report suggests that it will be moved to a beta phase in the near future and could be released, at least for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, within the next three months—a period that would correspond to the previously expressed assumptions. If this procedure is indeed implemented in this manner, it must be widely assumed that until the final release, for reasons of time alone, no major functional innovations will be incorporated into the new operating system.
Distribution of One UI 7 on display
For now, however, Samsung must first get One UI 7 issues under control, in which, according to the South Korean manufacturer, some models can no longer be unlocked “normally” after the update. For this reason, the company initially stopped distributing One UI 7 worldwide. So far, Samsung has not provided any information on what this error means or what the cause is.
Topics: Android Android 16 Operating Systems Samsung Smartphones Source: SmartPrix
Sarah tracks innovations in smartphones, evaluating their performance, design, and key features.
